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Radar-Derived Precipitation. Matt Kelsch Kelsch@ucar.edu COMET RFC/HPC Hydromet 02-1 28 November 2001. Storm complex moving through Dallas 5 May 1995 Radar accumulation (purples 2.5-4.0”). Z-R Relationships WSR-88D, Marshall-Palmer (general), and Tropical. Tropical, Maritime Environment.
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Radar-Derived Precipitation Matt Kelsch Kelsch@ucar.edu COMET RFC/HPC Hydromet 02-1 28 November 2001 Storm complex moving through Dallas 5 May 1995 Radar accumulation (purples 2.5-4.0”)
Z-R RelationshipsWSR-88D, Marshall-Palmer (general), and Tropical
Tropical, MaritimeEnvironment Continental Environment
Rain Gauge Representation Rain is a less continuous parameter than temperature or dewpoint, and more difficult to quality control
Changing Z-R Will help when: • Consistently different average DSD (climate) • Tropical versus mid-latitude (warm vs. cold process) • Maritime versus continental • Consistently different average DSD (season) • Convective versus stratiform Is not the solution when: • Range degradation, overshooting low-levels • Phase change: hail, melting snow • Snowfall
Radar-derived Precipitation:A Summary Of Major Points • Radar provides excellent storm-scale information about the spatial and temporal evolution of precipitation systems. • Radar provides very valuable input as part of a comprehensive, multi-sensor precipitation system. • Quantitative reliability issues are related to the fact that radar samples a volume at some elevation to estimate precipitation at the ground. • Radar-derived precipitation is most reliably modeled for liquid hydrometeors; hail and snow add complexity. • The above two points are not effectively corrected by changing Z-R coefficients; Z-R changes should be related to Drop Size Distribution knowledge. • Radars and rain gauges do not measure equal samples • Rain gauges do not provide a good representation of precipitation distribution, especially convective precipitation.