The quantification and correction of wind-induced precipitation measurement errors
Hydrologic measurements are important for both the short- and long-term management of water resources. Of the terms in the hydrologic budget, precipitation is typically the most important input; however, measurements of precipitation are subject to large errors and biases. For example, an all-weathe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017-04-01
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| Series: | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/21/1973/2017/hess-21-1973-2017.pdf |
| Summary: | Hydrologic measurements are important for both the short- and long-term
management of water resources. Of the terms in the hydrologic budget,
precipitation is typically the most important input; however, measurements
of precipitation are subject to large errors and biases. For example, an
all-weather unshielded weighing precipitation gauge can collect less than
50 % of the actual amount of solid precipitation when wind speeds exceed
5 m s<sup>−1</sup>. Using results from two different precipitation test beds, such
errors have been assessed for unshielded weighing gauges and for weighing
gauges employing four of the most common windshields currently in use.
Functions to correct wind-induced undercatch were developed and tested. In
addition, corrections for the single-Alter weighing gauge were developed
using the combined results of two separate sites in Norway and the USA. In
general, the results indicate that the functions effectively correct the
undercatch bias that affects such precipitation measurements. In addition, a
single function developed for the single-Alter gauges effectively decreased
the bias at both sites, with the bias at the US site improving from −12 to
0 %, and the bias at the Norwegian site improving from −27 to
−4 %. These correction functions require only wind speed and air
temperature as inputs, and were developed for use in national and local
precipitation networks, hydrological monitoring, roadway and airport safety
work, and climate change research. The techniques used to develop and test
these transfer functions at more than one site can also be used for other
more comprehensive studies, such as the World Meteorological Organization
Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment (WMO-SPICE). |
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| ISSN: | 1027-5606 1607-7938 |