371
15
Global Precipitation
Estimation and
Applications
Yang Hong, Sheng Chen, Xianwu Xue,
and Gina Hodges
15.1 INTRODUCTION
Precipitation is the primary driver of the hydrologic cycle and the main input of hydrometeorological models and climate studies. Therefore, accurate measurement of precipitation at a range of spatial and temporal resolutions is invaluable for a variety of
scientific applications. However, accurately measuring rainfall has been a challenge
to the research community predominantly because of its high variability in space and
time. There are usually two major techniques for precipitation measurement: (1) surfacebased rain gauges and weather radar and (2) space-based meteorological satellites.
A rain gauge, for instance, collects rainfall directly in a small orifice and measures the water depth, weight, or volume. Rain gauges provide the best available
CONTENTS
15.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 371
15.2 Satellite Sensors and Precipitation Retrieval ................................................ 373
15.2.1 Review of Satellite Sensors .............................................................. 373
15.2.2 IR-Based Rainfall Estimation Algorithms ...................................... 374
15.2.2.1 Cloud Pixel–Based Algorithms ......................................... 374
15.2.2.2 Cloud Window–Based Algorithms .................................... 375
15.2.2.3 Cloud Patch–Based Algorithms ......................................... 375
15.2.3 MW-Based Rainfall Estimation ...................................................... 376
15.3 Global Satellite Precipitation Products ......................................................... 377
15.3.1 Multisensor Blended Global Precipitation Products Overview ........ 377
15.3.2 Global Precipitation Climatology Project ......................................... 378
15.3.3 TRMM-Based Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis Algorithm ...... 378
15.3.4 PERSIANN-CCS Algorithm ............................................................ 380
15.4 Hydrological Applications of Global Precipition Products .......................... 381
15.5 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 383
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. 383
References .............................................................................................................. 383
15
Global Precipitation
Estimation and
Applications
Yang Hong, Sheng Chen, Xianwu Xue,
and Gina Hodges
15.1 INTRODUCTION
Precipitation is the primary driver of the hydrologic cycle and the main input of hydrometeorological models and climate studies. Therefore, accurate measurement of precipitation at a range of spatial and temporal resolutions is invaluable for a variety of
scientific applications. However, accurately measuring rainfall has been a challenge
to the research community predominantly because of its high variability in space and
time. There are usually two major techniques for precipitation measurement: (1) surfacebased rain gauges and weather radar and (2) space-based meteorological satellites.
A rain gauge, for instance, collects rainfall directly in a small orifice and measures the water depth, weight, or volume. Rain gauges provide the best available
CONTENTS
15.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 371
15.2 Satellite Sensors and Precipitation Retrieval ................................................ 373
15.2.1 Review of Satellite Sensors .............................................................. 373
15.2.2 IR-Based Rainfall Estimation Algorithms ...................................... 374
15.2.2.1 Cloud Pixel–Based Algorithms ......................................... 374
15.2.2.2 Cloud Window–Based Algorithms .................................... 375
15.2.2.3 Cloud Patch–Based Algorithms ......................................... 375
15.2.3 MW-Based Rainfall Estimation ...................................................... 376
15.3 Global Satellite Precipitation Products ......................................................... 377
15.3.1 Multisensor Blended Global Precipitation Products Overview ........ 377
15.3.2 Global Precipitation Climatology Project ......................................... 378
15.3.3 TRMM-Based Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis Algorithm ...... 378
15.3.4 PERSIANN-CCS Algorithm ............................................................ 380
15.4 Hydrological Applications of Global Precipition Products .......................... 381
15.5 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 383
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. 383
References .............................................................................................................. 383