Title:
Event-based Verification of IMERG VI Precipitation Estimates Over Complex Terrain in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
Author(s):
Dylan Major, Doug Miller , opprat@ncsu.edu , brian.nelson@noaa.gov , veljko@umd.edu , marulraj@umd.edu , rferraro@umd.edu
Author Email:
dmajor@unca.edu
Department:
ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
Faculty Mentor(s):
Doug Miller
Christopher Godfrey
Abstract / Summary:
In addition to helping climatological studies, accurate precipitation maps can help determine the degree of drought and flooding. The Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for the Global (IMERG) Precipitation Mission utilizes quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) to create worldwide precipitation maps. IMERG grid cells are bounded by 0.1° latitude by 0.1° longitude sides, which in the mid latitudes is close to 100 km2. Ground-based rainfall observations can help to verify the calibration of the satellites. However, even with proper calibration, precipitation can vary greatly over a 100 km2 area, especially if there is a substantial variation of terrain elevation and/or the atmospheric features generating the precipitation are convective in nature. This project compares the precipitation measurements of the Duke Great Smoky Mountains Rain Gauge Network (GSMRGN) between individual rain gauges of the network and with IMERG QPEs. An analysis is done on the daily scale from July 2009 through October 2021 looking at correlation, bias, and several other statistical measures. With these, less agreement is found between IMERG grid cells and collocated GSMRGN gauges with events of finer spatial and temporal scale and in the warm season, defined as the months of June, July, and August. Additionally, direction of propagation of rainfall events is identified through the GSMRGN records and correlation between rainfall measurements of gauges is shown to vary based on direction.
Publication Date:
May-14-2024
Documents: