Use of Satellite Precipitation Products to Improve Hydrologic Prediction and Modeling (Invited Presentation)

Precipitation is a crucial link in the hydrologic cycle, and its large spatial and temporal variations are drivers for regional hydrology and global freshwater balance. Accurate knowledge of the timing and spatial distributions and amount of regional rainfall is essential to make accurate, short-term forecasts to provide safety to the general public. Rainfall also drives the hydrological cycle, and to improve weather and climate predictions, an accurate global coverage of rainfall records is necessary. Also important are other aspects of the hydrological cycle - soil moisture, precipitable water (total, critical layers), and runoff/inundation.

A suite of products related to precipitation - precipitation rate (rain and snow), atmospheric moisture, and surface conditions (emissivity, soil moisture, flood inundation) are generated from NOAA and NOAA partner (e.g., JAXA, EUMETSAT, NASA and DMSP) satellites. This suite of products are used to support NOAA mission goals related to weather forecasting and warnings. Additionally, the individual satellite variables are integrated to develop seamless merged products, several of which are under development or enhancement through the Hydrology and River ice and flooding Initiatives of the JPSS Proving Ground and Risk Reduction Program (PGRR). It is the purpose of this paper to summarize this set of products and provide examples of their use.