| Abstract: | The high density, static memory raingauge network of the EPSAT-NIGER experiment was designed with the aim of: (1) studying the rainfall spatial variability in the Sahel, as may be seen from ground networks of varying density, and (2) providing reference values for the calibration of a C band radar system. A first subset of 37 raingauges was installed in 1988 and the remaining 43 in 1989, thus providing a network of 80 stations, spread over a 100 × 100 km square area. The data analysis is based on the indentification of the structural function for each rainfall event. This permits classification of the events into three main categories with respect to their spatial organization. Furthermore the differences between the shower body and the trail are important and it is shown that the analysis of the spatial organization at the event scale may not be applicable to the calibration of high temporal resolution radar data. Estimation of the areal rainfall over two reference areas is also carried out. |
