Quantification of Precipitation Using Polarimetric Radar Measurements during Several Typhoon Events in Southern China

Accurate quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) during typhoon events is critical for flood warning and emergency management. Dual-polarization radar has proven to have better performance for QPE, compared to traditional single-polarization radar. However, polarimetric radar applications have n...

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Main Authors: Qiulei Xia, Wenjuan Zhang, Haonan Chen, Wen-Chau Lee, Lei Han, Yu Ma, Xiantong Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/12/2058
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author Qiulei Xia
Wenjuan Zhang
Haonan Chen
Wen-Chau Lee
Lei Han
Yu Ma
Xiantong Liu
author_facet Qiulei Xia
Wenjuan Zhang
Haonan Chen
Wen-Chau Lee
Lei Han
Yu Ma
Xiantong Liu
author_sort Qiulei Xia
collection DOAJ
description Accurate quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) during typhoon events is critical for flood warning and emergency management. Dual-polarization radar has proven to have better performance for QPE, compared to traditional single-polarization radar. However, polarimetric radar applications have not been extensively investigated in China, especially during extreme events such as typhoons, since the operational dual-polarization system upgrade only happened recently. This paper extends a polarimetric radar rainfall system for local applications during typhoons in southern China and conducts comprehensive studies about QPE and precipitation microphysics. Observations from S-band dual-polarization radar in Guangdong Province during three typhoon events in 2017 are examined to demonstrate the enhanced radar rainfall performance. The microphysical properties of hydrometeors during typhoon events are analyzed through raindrop size distribution (DSD) data and polarimetric radar measurements. The stratiform precipitation in typhoons presents lower mean raindrop diameter and lower raindrop concentration than that of the convection precipitation. The rainfall estimates from the adapted radar rainfall algorithm agree well with rainfall measurements from rain gauges. Using the rain gauge data as references, the maximum normalized mean bias (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>N</mi> <mi>M</mi> <mi>B</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) of the adapted radar rainfall algorithm is 20.27%; the normalized standard error (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>N</mi> <mi>S</mi> <mi>E</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) is less than 40%; and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>C</mi> <mi>C</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) is higher than 0.92. For the three typhoon events combined, the <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>N</mi> <mi>S</mi> <mi>E</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>N</mi> <mi>M</mi> <mi>B</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> are 36.66% and -15.78%, respectively. Compared with several conventional radar rainfall algorithms, the adapted algorithm based on local rainfall microphysics has the best performance in southern China.
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spelling doaj.art-9873c1b68a63445ca104e3670e3968a52023-11-20T05:01:58ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922020-06-011212205810.3390/rs12122058Quantification of Precipitation Using Polarimetric Radar Measurements during Several Typhoon Events in Southern ChinaQiulei Xia0Wenjuan Zhang1Haonan Chen2Wen-Chau Lee3Lei Han4Yu Ma5Xiantong Liu6College of Electronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaNOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO 80305, USANational Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80301, USACollege of Information Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, ChinaDepartment of Hydraulic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaInstitute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Guangzhou 510080, ChinaAccurate quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) during typhoon events is critical for flood warning and emergency management. Dual-polarization radar has proven to have better performance for QPE, compared to traditional single-polarization radar. However, polarimetric radar applications have not been extensively investigated in China, especially during extreme events such as typhoons, since the operational dual-polarization system upgrade only happened recently. This paper extends a polarimetric radar rainfall system for local applications during typhoons in southern China and conducts comprehensive studies about QPE and precipitation microphysics. Observations from S-band dual-polarization radar in Guangdong Province during three typhoon events in 2017 are examined to demonstrate the enhanced radar rainfall performance. The microphysical properties of hydrometeors during typhoon events are analyzed through raindrop size distribution (DSD) data and polarimetric radar measurements. The stratiform precipitation in typhoons presents lower mean raindrop diameter and lower raindrop concentration than that of the convection precipitation. The rainfall estimates from the adapted radar rainfall algorithm agree well with rainfall measurements from rain gauges. Using the rain gauge data as references, the maximum normalized mean bias (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>N</mi> <mi>M</mi> <mi>B</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) of the adapted radar rainfall algorithm is 20.27%; the normalized standard error (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>N</mi> <mi>S</mi> <mi>E</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) is less than 40%; and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient (<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>C</mi> <mi>C</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula>) is higher than 0.92. For the three typhoon events combined, the <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>N</mi> <mi>S</mi> <mi>E</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>N</mi> <mi>M</mi> <mi>B</mi> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> are 36.66% and -15.78%, respectively. Compared with several conventional radar rainfall algorithms, the adapted algorithm based on local rainfall microphysics has the best performance in southern China.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/12/2058dual-polarization radarquantitative precipitation estimationtyphoonSouthern China
spellingShingle Qiulei Xia
Wenjuan Zhang
Haonan Chen
Wen-Chau Lee
Lei Han
Yu Ma
Xiantong Liu
Quantification of Precipitation Using Polarimetric Radar Measurements during Several Typhoon Events in Southern China
Remote Sensing
dual-polarization radar
quantitative precipitation estimation
typhoon
Southern China
title Quantification of Precipitation Using Polarimetric Radar Measurements during Several Typhoon Events in Southern China
title_full Quantification of Precipitation Using Polarimetric Radar Measurements during Several Typhoon Events in Southern China
title_fullStr Quantification of Precipitation Using Polarimetric Radar Measurements during Several Typhoon Events in Southern China
title_full_unstemmed Quantification of Precipitation Using Polarimetric Radar Measurements during Several Typhoon Events in Southern China
title_short Quantification of Precipitation Using Polarimetric Radar Measurements during Several Typhoon Events in Southern China
title_sort quantification of precipitation using polarimetric radar measurements during several typhoon events in southern china
topic dual-polarization radar
quantitative precipitation estimation
typhoon
Southern China
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/12/2058
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AT haonanchen quantificationofprecipitationusingpolarimetricradarmeasurementsduringseveraltyphooneventsinsouthernchina
AT wenchaulee quantificationofprecipitationusingpolarimetricradarmeasurementsduringseveraltyphooneventsinsouthernchina
AT leihan quantificationofprecipitationusingpolarimetricradarmeasurementsduringseveraltyphooneventsinsouthernchina
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