Remote sensing of rainfall parameters by laser scintillation correlation method-complete equation and numerical simulation

Remote sensing of rainfall parameters by using laser scintillation effect, originally proposed by Wang et al. is a unique approach for getting rainfall rate and raindrop size distribution with excellent temporal and spatial representativeness. In this paper, we review Wang's work, point out the weakness of their basic equations, then establish a complete remote sensing equation in which the observable quantity, the scintillation of light intensity is used. The relationships between the rainfall parameters and the spatial-temporal correlation function of light scintilla tion are systematically discussed. Numerical investigations show that this equation gives at least four different ways to obtain the rainfall rate, and the kernel functions for raindrop size distribution are of excellent resolution. At last, the retrieval scheme of the drop size distribution is discussed.     

Remote sensing of rainfall parameters by laser scintillation correlation method — Numerical simulation of the retrieving

This paper is a continuation of an earlier paper. In this paper, we investigate the stability and the representativeness of the rainfall rate h determined by the B2*-h relationship in the scintillation method of remote sensing of rain parameters, develop an adequate scheme for retrieving rainfall rate and raindrop size distribution (DSD), and finally characterize the technique by numerical simulations. The results show that the B2*-h relationship is quite stable for all the raindrop size distributions used in present simulations; the measured rainfall rate is not severely affected by the distribution of the path-weighting function of B2*. The retrieving of DSDs is successful even if the observation errors are assumed in simulations. The rainfall rates derived from the ratrieving of DSD is more accurate than those determined by B2*-h relationship. This method is superior in heavier rains.     

Simulation of heavy precipitation over Santacruz, Mumbai on 26 July 2005, using Mesoscale model

Summary An attempt has been made to simulate the unprecedented heavy precipitation of 94.4 cm in a day over Santacruz, Mumbai during 0300 UTC 26 July to 0300 UTC 27 July 2005. Three experiments have been conducted using Advanced Regional Prediction System model developed by Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms of Oklahoma University, USA. In first experiment the model input at large domain size has been obtained using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data at 2.5° × 2.5° lat.–lon. resolution. In other two experiments model input at large as well as at small domain sizes, have been obtained from NCEP/NCAR FNL data of 1° × 1° lat.–lon. resolution. In all three experiments model’s horizontal resolution is 40 km and integration period is 30 hours from 0000 UTC 26 July 2005. Based on the temporal distribution of observed rainfall rates it is considered that the rainfall of 38.1 cm during 0900–1200 UTC on 26 July could be due to cloud burst phenomenon and 56.3 cm from 1200 UTC of 26 July to 0300 UTC of 27 July has been due to continuous regeneration of thunderstorm activity under influence of mesoscale cloud complex. It is found that model forecast of rainfall in first experiment was qualitatively as well as quantitatively very poor. Among other two, experiment with large domain size has predicted better rainfall values and location compared to the experiment with small domain size. The larger domain has produced rainfall of 41 cm as against observed rain rate of 56.3 cm. during 1200 UTC of 26 July to 0300 UTC of 27 July. Divergence, vorticity, vertical velocity and moisture parameters are examined in relation with the various stages of the event. The maximum values of convergence, vorticity and moisture fluxes precede the initial phase of mature stage, however vertical velocity follows the later phase of mature stage. Vorticity budget over the location of maximum rainfall, revealed the significant role of tilting term in maintenance and dissipation of the cloud complex responsible for the event. The model has simulated mixing ratios of ice, snow and hail up to height of 15 km which matches with the observations that clouds reaching up to 15 km were present at the time of event of heavy precipitation.     

Using Scintillometry to Estimate Sensible Heat Fluxes over Water: First Insights

An extra large aperture scintillometer (XLAS) was used over several months across the Thau Lagoon (South of France) to retrieve one-wavelength scintillation and, thence, sensible heat flux. We present the experiment with the XLAS, an eddy-covariance station and meteorological stations measuring on or near the Thau Lagoon. Changes implemented to adapt the scintillometry processing schemes to the above water conditions are presented together with a full error budget, including sensitivity tests to the relevant parameters of the scintillometer processing scheme. The XLAS error budget amounts to 16% (systematic part) ±50% (random part). Sensible heat fluxes obtained using the XLAS under unstable atmospheric conditions are then compared to eddy-covariance estimates used as a reference. The scintillometry technique proved to perform satisfactorily in such a watery environment. Some discrepancies observed between the XLAS and eddy-covariance measurements were investigated according to the lagoon fraction of the source area, to discriminate whether they were related to deviations from the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory or to different atmospheric conditions at the respective instrument locations. Local atmospheric conditions agreed well with the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory, especially measurements with source areas largely composed of the lagoon surface. Retaining only the measurements with almost only the lagoon surface in the source area improved the agreement between the XLAS and eddy-covariance measurements. The remaining discrepancies are interpreted as being due to significant location differences between the two instruments, resulting in different atmospheric conditions, and to size differences in the source areas.     

Future projections of winter rainfall in southeast Australia using a statistical downscaling technique

Much of southeast Australia has experienced rainfall substantially below the long-term average since 1997. This protracted drought is particularly noticeable in those parts of South Australia and Victoria which experience a winter (May through October) rainfall peak. For the most part, the recent meteorological drought has affected the first half of the rainfall season May–June–July (MJJ), while rainfall during the second half August–September–October (ASO) has been much closer to the long term average. The recent multi-year drought is without precedent in the instrumental record, and is qualitatively similar to the abrupt decline in rainfall which was observed in the southwest of Western Australia in the 1960 and 1970s. Using a statistical downscaling technique, the rainfall decline is linked to observed changes in large-scale atmospheric fields (mean sea level pressure and precipitable water). This technique is able to reproduce the statistical properties of rainfall in southeast Australia, including the interannual variability and longer time-scale changes. This has revealed that the rainfall recent decline may be explained by a shift to higher pressures and lower atmospheric precipitable water in the region. To explore the likely future evolution of rainfall in southeast Australia under human induced climate change, the same statistical downscaling technique is applied to five climate models forced with increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. This reveals that average rainfall in the region is likely to decline in the future as greenhouse gas concentrations increase, with the greatest decline occurring during the first half of winter. Projected declines vary amongst models but are generally smaller than the recent early winter rainfall deficits. In contrast, the rainfall decline in late winter–spring is larger in future projections than the recent rainfall deficits have been. We illustrate the consequences of the observed and projected rainfall declines on water supply to the major city of Melbourne, using a simple rainfall run-off relationship. This suggests that the water resources may be dramatically affected by future climate change, with percentage reductions approximately twice as large as corresponding changes in rainfall.     

Radar measurement of rainfall by differential propagation phase: A pilot experiment

Abstract

A pilot project concerning the measurement of rainfall by polarization diversity radar, conducted jointly by the Alberta Research Council and the University of Essex in the summer of 1989, is described. The objective of the experiment was to test the theory that differential propagation phase shift can give a better estimate of rainfall with high rain rates (about 30 mm h^?1 and greater) than reflectivity measurements.

The project comprised a field experiment that was conducted in central Alberta during the period 20 July to 2 August 1989. The field experiment involved observing storms within about a 70‐km radius from Red Deer with the ARC S‐band polarization diversity radar and measuring rainfall at the ground through a network of fixed, volunteer observers and a mobile storm‐chase operation.

Theory describing how differential propagation phase may be extracted from the data recorded by the radar system is given.

Data collected on three days during the experiment (27 July, 29 July and 2 August) have been analysed and the results are presented. A total of 31 samples of total rainfall amount were collected on these days. All but three of the 31 radar rainfall amount predictions obtained from the differential propagation phase are within a factor of 2 of the rainfall observed at the ground. In fact, the average ratio of the total rainfall amount predicted from the differential propagation phase to the total rainfall amount measured at the ground is 1.16 for the 31 samples. This suggests that, on average, the total rainfall amount predicted from the differential propagation phase is only 16% higher than that measured at the ground. Of the 31 events, over a third involved some contamination of the differential propagation phase measurement through hail. Furthermore, because the K_DP technique does not rely on parameters dependent on precipitation characteristics or adjustment factors, the technique can be validated in a convenient location and then applied anywhere.

On the other hand, the radar rainfall amount estimates derived from Z‐R relations represent, in general, a large overestimation of the rainfall amount observed at the ground, especially when hail is present. No attempt was made to adjust or calibrate the radar rainfall estimates with raingauge data.     

上海地区几类强降水雨滴谱特征分析

用Parsivel激光降水粒子谱仪资料对2013年上海地区4—10月份期间4种类型 (层状云、对流暖云主导型、对流冷云主导型和强台风影响下的混合暖云型) 降水过程的雨滴谱特征进行了分析。通过平均雨滴谱及其拟合特征、雨滴数密度与含水量分布、雨滴尺度与速度二维谱分布等对比分析发现:各类降水中, 雨滴谱的峰值结构与雨强大小有关, 其中直径介于0.187~1.312 mm的小雨滴均出现峰值且总数最多。各尺度雨滴数密度及其比例决定了其降水量贡献比, 在冷云强降水中的雨强贡献最大的雨滴尺度要显著大于其他3种类型。雨滴谱宽按大小排列依次为对流冷云主导型、混合暖云型、对流暖云主导型和层状云。最后综合运用雨滴谱、雷达、雨量站、闪电等观测资料对9月13日对流冷云主导型降水过程进行分析后发现:在雷暴的演变过程中, 雨滴谱特征与雷达反射率因子、垂直液态水含量、自动站雨强、闪电频次等要素均有较好的相关性。冷云产生的冰晶和冰雹融化后的大雨滴进入中低层的广谱小雨滴群, 并通过破碎分裂增加了大雨滴的形成概率, 尤其是捕捉碰并过程更加快了大雨滴的增长速度, 使雨强在短时间内迅速加强。雨滴谱中各档粒子数的演变, 揭示了降水强度的变化, 用雨滴谱资料可有效弥补现有雷达定量估测降水的偏差, 且在冷云中改善明显。     

GMS卫星遥感资料监测暴雨技术

利用时空分辨率较高的GMS－5红外、可见光两通道1：1原始图像资料，结合常规雨量观测资料，通过对逐时降水率、日降水量的估计，讨论了卫星遥感监测暴雨的技术方法，建立了山东省暴雨遥感监测模型。实例分析表明，暴雨监测图像产品直观清晰，能较准确地监测暴雨发生的区域和面积，实际应用取得较好的效果。     

Saturation of the Large Aperture Scintillometer

The saturation aspects of a large aperture (0.3 m) scintillometer operating over a 10-km path were investigated. Measurements were made over mainly forested, hilly terrain with typical maximum sensible heat fluxes of 300–400 W m ⁻², and over flat terrain with mainly grass, and typical maximum heat fluxes of 100–150 W m⁻². Scintillometer-based fluxes were compared with eddy-correlation observations. Two different schemes for calculating the reduction of scintillation caused by saturation were applied: one based on the work of Hill and Clifford, the other based on Frehlich and Ochs. Without saturation correction, the scintillation fluxes were lower than the eddy-correlation fluxes; the saturation correction according to Frehlich and Ochs increased the scintillometer fluxes to an unrealistic level. Correcting the fluxes after the theory of the Hill and Clifford gave satisfying results     

Ground-based remote sensing of LWC in cloud and rainfall by a combined dual-wavelength radar-radiometer system

This paper describes the retrieval procedure of liquid water content (LWC) in cloud or rainfall distri-bution by a combination of microwave radiometry and radar and its numerical simulation. The per-formance of a combined dual-wavelength (35.0& 9.375 GHz) radar-radiometer system for the remote sensing of cloud LWC and rainfall is given. During the two summers of 1980 and 1981, the preliminary obser-vations of different clouds and storms by the combined system and combined radar-radiometric cloud and rain parameter retrievals are carried out. Research results show that by the use of the combined radar-radiometric method, improvement are obtained in accuracy of rms LWC and rainfall over the pure radio-metric technique or the radar alone.     

2014年7月14日高原低涡降水过程观测分析

利用第三次青藏高原大气科学试验的多种雷达、雨滴谱仪以及MODIS卫星观测资料、常规气象站地面和高空观测资料,针对2014年7月14日发生在青藏高原中部那曲地区的一次降水过程,研究了降水的时空变化特征,触发不同阶段降水的天气尺度和中尺度环流系统以及相关的云降水物理特征。从降水演变特征看,这次降水过程包括3个阶段,即发生在下午的强降水阶段和夜间的两个弱降水阶段。从影响系统看,下午的降水主要由天气尺度的高原低涡发展引起,此时那曲位于低涡中心前部的中尺度辐合线上;发生在晚上的降水主要与高原低涡前部的暖湿东南气流爬越地形有关,东南气流为产生降水提供了有利的水汽、大气不稳定和浅薄的动力抬升条件。从云降水微物理特征看,高原低涡降水初期,低涡前部的上升运动深厚,对流发展明显,而后期的对流性减弱。东南气流爬坡引起的地形降水表现出层状云降水的特征,高原低涡降水的雨滴谱分布较宽（0.3~4.9 mm）,而夜间降水过程的雨滴谱分布较窄（0.3~2.1 mm）。     

南京地区雨滴谱参数的详细统计分析及其在天气雷达探测中的应用

雨滴谱包含了降雨的丰富信息,不仅能反映雨滴群的微物理特性,也能反映降雨类型、降雨强度等宏观特性,并且在雷达气象领域也有重要的价值。论文对2015和2016年度南京地区32次降雨过程的雨滴谱资料进行了处理、并对多种雨滴参数进行了详细的统计和分析,拟合了层状云降雨、对流云降雨以及积层混合云降雨的雨滴谱Gamma分布参数。另外,还基于雨滴谱数据拟合了雷达反射率因子Z与降雨强度R的Z-R关系,计算了差分反射率Z_DR、相位常数K_DP以及衰减参数,并利用衰减参数进行了C波段雷达回波的衰减订正试验。结果表明:（1）层状云降雨的各微物理参数比较稳定,积雨云的变化剧烈;层云降雨和积层混合云降雨的中雨滴、积雨云降雨的大雨滴对雷达反射率因子的贡献最大。（2）积雨云降雨的滴谱最宽,层状云降雨的最窄。（3）利用依据雨滴谱数据拟合的三类降雨Z-R关系,可以一定程度地提高雷达估测降雨的精度。（4）利用基于雨滴谱数据拟合的衰减系数,有效地进行了C波段双偏振雷达回波强度的衰减订正,体现了统计参数和拟合参数准确性。     

激光雨滴谱仪尺度测量精度的设计与应用

强降水时降雨量测量偏差较大是激光雨滴谱仪在应用中的普遍问题需要被改善。以探测源头激光器为着眼点,深入研究其特性,针对雨滴谱仪应用原理,采取了光栅设计、优化处理算法和尺度标定措施,以加强降雨粒子尺度测量精度,实现了在强降水过程中较小的测量偏差。经过国内多地强降雨的实际观测检验,结果表明:该雨滴谱仪尺度测量精度的设计,实现了强降水过程中降雨量测量精度平均绝对偏差6%左右,最大偏差不超过10%的目标;设备经受住了台风过程中的强降雨考验,取得了较好的观测和应用效果。     

下垫面对郑州城市强降水的影响:城市化及地形影响的数值模拟研究

利用WRF-ARW中尺度区域数值模式耦合单层城市冠层模式(slab-UCM),采用ERA-interim 0.5°×0.5°再分析资料作为初始场和边界条件,对2016年6月5日郑州地区发生的一次强对流天气进行模拟,并通过改变下垫面的土地利用类型与地形高度数据设置敏感性试验,探究了城市化及郑州西北部山脉地形对对流性强降水过程的影响。结果表明:1)此次强降水过程主要受高层的低槽系统影响,前期的对流不稳定层结为对流触发提供了有利的热力条件;2)城市热岛效应能够改变下垫面的热力状况,有利于在城市地区激发更强的上升运动,使降水向城区集中;3)郑州西北侧山脉激发的重力波能够使郑州地区对流增强;4)山脉能够阻挡低层干空气向郑州地区输送,因此山脉高度的削减造成郑州地区低层相对湿度减小,使雨滴蒸发冷却增强,进而导致与降水相联系的冷池的增强,雨带移速加快,进一步导致累积降水的减少。     

Rain rate estimation from a synergetic use of SSM/I, AVHRR and meso-scale numerical model data

Summary In this paper a retrieval technique for estimating rainfall rates is introduced. The novel feature of this technique is the combination of two satellite radiometers — the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and the Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) — with mesoscale weather prediction model data. This offers an adjustment of the model atmospheres to reality which is necessary for calculating brightness temperatures that can be compared with microwave satellite measurements.In sensitivity studies it was found that the estimation of precipitation is determined to a high degree by the particle size distribution of rain and snow, especially by the size distribution of solid hydrometeors. These studies also reveal the influence of the knowledge of the correct cloud coverage inside a SSM/I pixel and the importance of using a realistic temperature profile instead of using standard atmospheres.The retrieval technique is based on radiative transfer calculations using the model of Kummerow et al. (1989). The algorithm consists of two parts: First Guess (FG) brightness temperatures for the SSM/I frequencies are generated as a function of the cloud top height and the cloud coverage, derived from AVHRR data and predictions from a meso-scale model. The rainfall rate of different types of clouds containing raindrops, ice particles and coexisting ice and water hydrometeors is then calculated as a function of the cloud top height. As an example, a strong convective rain event over the western part of Europe and over the Alps is taken to evaluate the performance of this technique. Good agreement with radar data from the German Weather Service was achieved. Compared to statistical rainfall algorithms, the current algorithm shows a better performance of detecting rainfall areas.With 12 Figures     

Validation of general circulation climate models and projectionsof temperature and rainfall changes in Cameroon and someof its neighbouring areas

Summary  Four coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation models were examined for the ability of their control runs to simulate present climate given present forcings. The area of study is mainly Cameroon and some of its surrounding areas (0–25° E, 5° S-30° N). These models are from the UK Meteorological Office Hadley Centre (HadCM2), the German Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie (ECHAM4), the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis (CGCM1) and the Australian Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO-Mk2). The ability of the models to reproduce the observed spatial and temporal patterns was studied. ECHAM4 and HadCM2 were found to reproduce the spatial pattern well, with a correlation of more than 90%. They also simulated the main annual features of both temperature and rainfall. The CSIRO-Mk2 model was slightly less successful and the CGCM1 had the worst results for the area, especially as concern rainfall. In view of these results, ECHAM4 and HADCM2 were used to evaluate projected changes in rainfall and temperature resulting from increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere for the 30 year period 2040 to 2070. Received February 15, 1999/Revised March 10, 2000     

A new methodology of rainfall retrievals from indirect measurements

Summary  A new methodology for rainfall retrievals from indirect measurements is proposed and illustrated using IR brightness temperature and radar rainfall observations collected during TOGA-COARE. Since (1) rain rate has a mixed distribution with a delta-function for a zero rain and lognormal distribution for nonzero and (2) the least squares method which is used to calculate regression coefficients gives a priori consistent estimates only for normally distributed data, it is proposed to convert the rain rate to a normally distributed set and only after that to develop a retrieval method and estimate the skill of this method. Consideration of the physics of clouds and cloud ensembles, the goal to minimize errors in the radar data, and the desire to remove the influence of cirrus clouds lead us to use: a) minimum of IR brightness temperatures over a 1° × 1° area and a 3 hour interval as a predictor, and b) radar rainfall, averaged over 3 hours over a 1° × 1° area, with the radar in its center, as the truth. Results using the TOGA-COARE data show that the correlation of the rain rate transformed to normal distribution is significantly higher with minimum temperature than with the fraction of area covered by high clouds. The sizes of heavy rainfall areas obtained using the new methodology are reasonable. The regression coefficients should change with latitude, season and location. Taken together, the results indicate that it is possible, in principle, to retrieve rainfall from IR satellite observations and obtain reliable rainfall data. To realize this goal it is necessary to process radar and IR data using the new methodology for different latitudes, seasons, over land and ocean. Received December 27, 1999 Revised May 17, 2000     

天气现象仪自动化观测资料对比分析

介绍2011年12月至2012年6月在北京市观象台、庐山气象局对目前一些天气现象仪所进行的对比观测试验的过程和结果分析。参与此次为期7个月的对比观测试验仪器有3种类型,每种类型配备3套,分别由3家厂商提供。试验采用人工目测辅助摄像作为参考标准,测试了这些天气现象仪对各种不同天气现象观测的准确性。结果表明:各仪器观测降水现象的数据准确性均大于90%,能够满足业务需求。区分降水强度时,各仪器的降水捕获率在70%以上(雨强大于0.01mm/h);微量降水(雨强小于0.01mm/h)和混合型降水,各仪器降水捕获率相对较低。仪器观测视程障碍现象的数据准确性均大于80%,能够满足业务需求。其他现象由于样本数量相对较少,需要更多进一步试验,并改进算法。     

Principal study of the FM radar for improving the accuracy in quantitative rainfall rate measurement

The equations for estimating the rain echo power when FM-pulsed radar or FM-CW radar is used are derived. The results show that, with adequate frequency range selected, rain echo power may have a well-linear correlation with the rainfall rate, irrespective of the pattern of drop-size spectrum. Thus, it provides good remote sensing data for rainfall rate measurement.     

Simulation of Indian summer monsoon circulation and rainfall using RegCM3

Summary The Regional Climate Model RegCM3 has been used to examine its suitability in simulating the Indian summer monsoon circulation features and associated rainfall. The model is integrated at 55 km horizontal resolution over a South Asia domain for the period April–September of the years 1993 to 1996. The characteristics of wind at 850 hPa and 200 hPa, temperature at 500 hPa, surface pressure and rainfall simulated by the model over the Indian region are examined for two convective schemes (a Kuo-type and a mass flux scheme). The monsoon circulation features simulated by RegCM3 are compared with those of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and the simulated rainfall is validated against observations from the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Validation of the wind and temperature fields shows that the use of the Grell convection scheme yields results close to the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. Similarly, the Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) simulated by the model with the Grell convection scheme is close to the corresponding observed values. In order to test the model response to land surface changes such as the Tibetan snow depth, a sensitivity study has also been conducted. For such sensitivity experiment, NIMBUS-7 SMMR snow depth data in spring are used as initial conditions in the RegCM3. Preliminary results indicate that RegCM3 is very much sensitive to Tibetan snow. The model simulated Indian summer monsoon circulation becomes weaker and the associated rainfall is reduced by about 30% with the introduction of 10 cm of snow over the Tibetan region in the month of April.