Chapter 6
Global Precipitation Monitoring
Ralph Ferraro and Thomas Smith
Abstract Satellite observations play a vital role in the global monitoring of
precipitation because they fill in large data voids where conventional measurements
such as surface rain gauges and weather radars are primarily restricted to populated
land regions. Geostationary satellites, containing visible and infrared sensors,
provide the most continuous observations from space; they can infer surface
precipitation through relationships between cloud properties and precipitation
rate. Passive microwave sensors, which operate primarily on low Earth-orbiting
satellites, provide a more direct measurement of rainfall and global coverage;
however, they observe the Earth less frequently than the geostationary satellites.
This chapter summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of the various satellite
retrieval algorithms, then describes emerging blended precipitation products that
merge different satellite measurements to achieve the best possible rainfall product.
Examples of the utility of such data are also provided.
Keywords Satellite • Precipitation • Passive Microwave • Infrared
6.1 Introduction
The remote sensing of precipitation is a vital component to the integrated observing
of precipitation on the Earth. While weather radars and rain gauges are the primary
source of precipitation information, they are typically restricted to populated areas
R. Ferraro (*) • T. Smith
Cooperative Research Programs, NOAA/NESDIS/Center for Satellite Applications
and Research (STAR), 5830 University Research Court, College Park, MD 20740, USA
e-mail: Ralph.R.Ferraro@noaa.gov; Tom.Smith@noaa.gov
J.J. Qu et al. (eds.), Satellite-based Applications on Climate Change,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5872-8_6, # Springer (outside the USA) 2013
81
Global Precipitation Monitoring
Ralph Ferraro and Thomas Smith
Abstract Satellite observations play a vital role in the global monitoring of
precipitation because they fill in large data voids where conventional measurements
such as surface rain gauges and weather radars are primarily restricted to populated
land regions. Geostationary satellites, containing visible and infrared sensors,
provide the most continuous observations from space; they can infer surface
precipitation through relationships between cloud properties and precipitation
rate. Passive microwave sensors, which operate primarily on low Earth-orbiting
satellites, provide a more direct measurement of rainfall and global coverage;
however, they observe the Earth less frequently than the geostationary satellites.
This chapter summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of the various satellite
retrieval algorithms, then describes emerging blended precipitation products that
merge different satellite measurements to achieve the best possible rainfall product.
Examples of the utility of such data are also provided.
Keywords Satellite • Precipitation • Passive Microwave • Infrared
6.1 Introduction
The remote sensing of precipitation is a vital component to the integrated observing
of precipitation on the Earth. While weather radars and rain gauges are the primary
source of precipitation information, they are typically restricted to populated areas
R. Ferraro (*) • T. Smith
Cooperative Research Programs, NOAA/NESDIS/Center for Satellite Applications
and Research (STAR), 5830 University Research Court, College Park, MD 20740, USA
e-mail: Ralph.R.Ferraro@noaa.gov; Tom.Smith@noaa.gov
J.J. Qu et al. (eds.), Satellite-based Applications on Climate Change,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5872-8_6, # Springer (outside the USA) 2013
81