Session 14 Advances In Monitoring and Analyzing Precipitation Extremes Using Remote Sensing

Thursday, 10 January 2019: 3:30 PM-5:00 PM
North 127ABC (Phoenix Convention Center - West and North Buildings)
Host: 33rd Conference on Hydrology
Cochairs:
Helen Greatrex, International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Palisades, NY; Chris C. Funk, USGS/Earth Resources Observation Systems, Geography Department, Climate Hazard Group, Santa Barbara, CA and Ross Maidment, Univ. of Reading, Department of Meteorology, Reading

While there is a general consensus that hydrologic extremes in the developing world are of great scientific and societal interest, the very limited density of in situ observations makes analysis and monitoring of these extremes very challenging.  Luckily, the last five years have seen a new era in the field of satellite rainfall observations - both from the launch of new sensors and in algorithm design. A large family of products is now available with an increasingly diverse range of properties, including longer time-series, novel new algorithms for nowcasting, probabilistic assessments, customisable products for end-users, new geographical areas and new merging techniques. Equally, recent years have seen advances in how we can use satellite rainfall to inform and validate other parameters such as soil moisture or vegetative health (or conversely, how those other products might inform rainfall estimation).  

At the same time, there's been transformational change in how remotely sensed weather data is used.  Satellite rainfall observations are now directly influencing millions of lives through products such as climate insurance and weather triggered action, particularly across developing countries where weather data can be scarce.  Addressing end-user needs is not a trivial challenge.  Satellite rainfall scientists must work closely with businesses, national meteorological agencies, NGOs and governments to co-develop products and access the large body of previously inaccessible private ground-based weather data.  They are also working closely with social scientists to understand how this information is visualised and used for different needs.  In parallel, the private sector are also generating their own innovative products and algorithms.  Many challenges remain and the growing use of satellite weather information for decisions mean that it is increasingly important to address them.  
 
This session will address the state of the art across this field including:
  • What is the current status of existing operational satellite rainfall products and what are the new products that are about to be launched?
  • What is the state of the art for applied satellite rainfall research?
  • How can we move from validation to "fitness for purpose"? How does one overcome the challenges of validating merged products for custom uses, especially as different products incorporate different validation data? Is there a need for a standard validation framework?
  • How is satellite weather data being used by businesses, NGOs, insurers and governments around the world?  How do we optimise these international, interdisciplinary partnerships?  What are the logistical challenges in creating them?
  • How are non-expert end-users selecting and using satellite products to meet their individual needs? What lessons have been learnt and what challenges remain?  
  • Greatrex, Helen (greatrex@iri.columbia.edu)
    • International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Palisades, NY USA
  • Funk, Chris C. (cfunk@usgs.gov)
    • USGS/Earth Resources Observation Systems, Santa Barbara, CA USA
  • Maidment, Ross (r.i.maidment@reading.ac.uk)
    • Univ. of Reading, Reading,   United Kingdom

Abstracts

  • 352646 The IMERG Experience in Building Precipitation Products That Users Want (Invited Presentation)
    • Huffman, George J. (george.j.huffman@nasa.gov)
      • NASA GSFC, Greenbelt, MD USA
  • 352895 Exploring Global Precipitation Extremes with CHIRPS v2.0 (Invited Presentation)
    • Peterson, Pete (geogpete@gmail.com)
      • Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA USA
    • Funk, Chris C. (cfunk@usgs.gov)
      • USGS/Earth Resources Observation Systems, Santa Barbara, CA USA
    • Roca, Rémy (roca@lmd.jussieu.fr)
      • CNRS, Palaiseau,   France
    • Harrison, Laura S. (harrison@geog.ucsb.edu)
      • Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA USA
    • Husak, Greg (husak@geog.ucsb.edu)
      • Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA USA
    • Alexander, Lisa V. (l.alexander@unsw.edu.au)
      • Univ. of New South Wales, Sydney,   Australia
    • Hillbruner, Chris (chillbruner@fews.net)
      • FEWS NET, Washington, DC USA
    • Rowland, James (rowland@usgs.gov)
      • USGS, Sioux Falls, SD USA
    • Budde, Michael E. (mbudde@usgs.gov)
      • SAIC-USGS/EROS, Sioux Falls, SD USA
  • 353750 Developments within the TAMSAT Group for Long-Term Rainfall Monitoring and Agricultural Early Warning across Africa
    • Maidment, Ross (r.i.maidment@reading.ac.uk)
      • Univ. of Reading, Reading,   United Kingdom
    • Black, Emily (e.c.l.black@reading.ac.uk)
      • National Centre for Atmospheric Science, Climate Division, Reading,   United Kingdom
    • Young, Matthew (matthew.young@reading.ac.uk)
      • Univ. of Reading, Reading,   United Kingdom
    • Greatrex, Helen (greatrex@iri.columbia.edu)
      • International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Palisades, NY USA
    • Asfaw, Dagmawi (d.t.asfaw@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
      • Univ. of Reading, Reading,   United Kingdom
  • 350436 A Seasonal Rainfall Performance Probability Tool for Famine Early Warning Systems
    • Novella, Nick (nicholas.novella@noaa.gov)
      • CPC, College Park, MD USA
    • Thiaw, Wassila (Wassila.Thiaw@noaa.gov)
      • CPC, Camp Springs, MD USA
  • 349966 Using Satellite Rainfall Estimates to Enhance Climate Services in Africa
    • Dinku, Tufa (tufa@iri.columbia.edu)
      • Columbia Univ., Palisades, NY USA
  • 350922 Can We Create Global Precipitation Products on Demand?
    • Kummerow, Christian (kummerow@atmos.colostate.edu)
      • Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO USA
    • Brown, Paula J. (pbrown@atmos.colostate.edu)
      • Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO USA

Papers:
3:30 PM
14.1A
Evaluation of satellite rainfall products over the Congo Basin
Sharon E. Nicholson, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL

3:45 PM
14.2
Exploring Global Precipitation Extremes with CHIRPS v2.0 (Invited Presentation)
Pete Peterson, Univ. of California, Climate Hazards Group, Santa Barbara, CA; and C. C. Funk, R. Roca, L. S. Harrison, G. Husak, L. V. Alexander, C. Hillbruner, J. Rowland, and M. E. Budde
4:00 PM
14.3
Developments within the TAMSAT Group for long-term rainfall monitoring and agricultural early warning across Africa
Ross Maidment, Univ. of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom; and E. Black, M. Young, H. Greatrex, and D. Asfaw
4:15 PM
14.4
4:30 PM
14.5A
Validation of satellite- and gauge-based gridded rainfall products over Ghana (West Africa)
Winifred Atiah, Kwame Nkrumah Univ. of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana; and L. Amekudzi, A. H. Fink, M. Maranan, and J. Aryee
4:45 PM
14.6
Can we Create Global Precipitation Products on Demand?
Christian Kummerow, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO; and P. J. Brown
- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner