Performance of post-processing algorithms for rainfall intensity using measurements from tipping-bucket rain gauges
Eight rainfall events recorded from May to September 2013 at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) have been selected to investigate the performance of post-processing algorithms used to calculate the rainfall intensity (RI) from tipping-bucket rain gauges (TBRGs). We assumed a drop-counter catchin...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2016-11-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/9/5699/2016/amt-9-5699-2016.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818291769575473152 |
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| author | M. Stagnaro M. Colli L. G. Lanza P. W. Chan |
| author_facet | M. Stagnaro M. Colli L. G. Lanza P. W. Chan |
| author_sort | M. Stagnaro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Eight rainfall events recorded from May to September 2013 at Hong
Kong International Airport (HKIA) have been selected to investigate the
performance of post-processing algorithms used to calculate the rainfall
intensity (RI) from tipping-bucket rain gauges (TBRGs). We assumed a
drop-counter catching-type gauge as a working reference and compared rainfall
intensity measurements with two calibrated TBRGs operated at a time
resolution of 1 min. The two TBRGs differ in their internal mechanics, one
being a traditional single-layer dual-bucket assembly, while the other has
two layers of buckets. The drop-counter gauge operates at a time resolution
of 10 s, while the time of tipping is recorded for the two TBRGs. The
post-processing algorithms employed for the two TBRGs are based on the
assumption that the tip volume is uniformly distributed over the inter-tip
period. A series of data of an ideal TBRG is reconstructed using the virtual
time of tipping derived from the drop-counter data. From the comparison
between the ideal gauge and the measurements from the two real TBRGs, the
performances of different post-processing and correction algorithms are
statistically evaluated over the set of recorded rain events. The improvement
obtained by adopting the inter-tip time algorithm in the calculation of the
RI is confirmed. However, by comparing the performance of the real and ideal
TBRGs, the beneficial effect of the inter-tip algorithm is shown to be
relevant for the mid–low range (6–50 mm<mspace width="0.125em" linebreak="nobreak"/>h<sup>−1</sup>) of rainfall
intensity values (where the sampling errors prevail), while its role vanishes
with increasing RI in the range where the mechanical errors prevail. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T02:49:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9997b32e6cb84ed5af342c1a15159824 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T02:49:20Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| spelling | doaj.art-9997b32e6cb84ed5af342c1a151598242022-12-22T00:02:06ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482016-11-019125699570610.5194/amt-9-5699-2016Performance of post-processing algorithms for rainfall intensity using measurements from tipping-bucket rain gaugesM. Stagnaro0M. Colli1L. G. Lanza2P. W. Chan3University of Genoa, Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, ItalyUniversity of Genoa, Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, ItalyUniversity of Genoa, Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, ItalyHong Kong Observatory, 134A Nathan Road, Hong Kong, ChinaEight rainfall events recorded from May to September 2013 at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) have been selected to investigate the performance of post-processing algorithms used to calculate the rainfall intensity (RI) from tipping-bucket rain gauges (TBRGs). We assumed a drop-counter catching-type gauge as a working reference and compared rainfall intensity measurements with two calibrated TBRGs operated at a time resolution of 1 min. The two TBRGs differ in their internal mechanics, one being a traditional single-layer dual-bucket assembly, while the other has two layers of buckets. The drop-counter gauge operates at a time resolution of 10 s, while the time of tipping is recorded for the two TBRGs. The post-processing algorithms employed for the two TBRGs are based on the assumption that the tip volume is uniformly distributed over the inter-tip period. A series of data of an ideal TBRG is reconstructed using the virtual time of tipping derived from the drop-counter data. From the comparison between the ideal gauge and the measurements from the two real TBRGs, the performances of different post-processing and correction algorithms are statistically evaluated over the set of recorded rain events. The improvement obtained by adopting the inter-tip time algorithm in the calculation of the RI is confirmed. However, by comparing the performance of the real and ideal TBRGs, the beneficial effect of the inter-tip algorithm is shown to be relevant for the mid–low range (6–50 mm<mspace width="0.125em" linebreak="nobreak"/>h<sup>−1</sup>) of rainfall intensity values (where the sampling errors prevail), while its role vanishes with increasing RI in the range where the mechanical errors prevail.http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/9/5699/2016/amt-9-5699-2016.pdf |
| spellingShingle | M. Stagnaro M. Colli L. G. Lanza P. W. Chan Performance of post-processing algorithms for rainfall intensity using measurements from tipping-bucket rain gauges Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| title | Performance of post-processing algorithms for rainfall intensity using measurements from tipping-bucket rain gauges |
| title_full | Performance of post-processing algorithms for rainfall intensity using measurements from tipping-bucket rain gauges |
| title_fullStr | Performance of post-processing algorithms for rainfall intensity using measurements from tipping-bucket rain gauges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance of post-processing algorithms for rainfall intensity using measurements from tipping-bucket rain gauges |
| title_short | Performance of post-processing algorithms for rainfall intensity using measurements from tipping-bucket rain gauges |
| title_sort | performance of post processing algorithms for rainfall intensity using measurements from tipping bucket rain gauges |
| url | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/9/5699/2016/amt-9-5699-2016.pdf |
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