Extended Abstract (532K)P2.2
Verification of rainfall estimates over Africa using RFE, NASA MPA-RT and CMORPH
Kevin B. Laws, RSIS Inc. and NOAA/NWS/NCEP/CPC, Camp Springs, MD; and J. E. Janowiak and G. J. Huffman
Daily rainfall estimates over Africa are derived using the CPC Rainfall Estimation version 2.0 (RFE) algorithm. The RFE technique is used operationally by FEWS-Net and the Africa Desk at the NOAA/Climate Prediction Center to provide weekly weather hazard assessments to the U.S. State Department’s Agency for International Development. The RFE algorithm provides daily 0.10° x 0.10° estimates by combining passive microwave and infrared-derived satellite rainfall estimates with daily gridded surface rainfall measurements. This paper and associated presentation will describe the point-to-grid box verification technique and present a preliminary validation of the RFE algorithm by comparing the estimates to rain gauge data from the Global Telecommunication System and other independent surface weather stations in Africa. Two other near-real-time precipitation estimates that have comparable timeliness and time/space grid intervals, the NASA Goddard TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis – Real Time (MPA-RT) and the CPC MORPHing technique (CMORPH), will also be compared to similar stations to help gauge the performance of the RFE approach.
Poster Session 2, Hydrologic Data Assimilation Techniques and Methods Posters (Hall 4AB)
Wednesday, 14 January 2004, 2:30 PM-3:45 PM, Hall 4AB
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