Recorded presentation5B.4
Comparison of multi-sensor precipitation estimates over the lower Mississippi River alluvial plain
Jamie L. Dyer, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
The Mississippi River floodplain in northwestern Mississippi and eastern Arkansas, often referred to as the Mississippi Delta, is extremely important for regional economic stability and growth due to the widespread agriculture in the area. As a result, knowledge of precipitation variability is key since it is often the limiting factor in crop production due to the high rates of evapotranspiration over the area. The region is unique in that there are currently three sources of precipitation measurements available: (1) radar-derived precipitation estimates from National Weather Service (NWS) NEXRAD network, surface observations from NWS recording stations, and surface observations from US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) recording stations. In terms of meteorological and climatological precipitation research, quantitatively defining the biases associated with available precipitation data sources is critical in choosing which source to use for a given application. Results of the project show that both the SCAN and NEXRAD data sources estimated higher daily total precipitation over the 1996-2006 study period than the NWS data by an average of 26% and 20%, respectively. Additionally, the NEXRAD data estimated 10% more precipitation than the SCAN data over the same period. However, after 2002, advancements in the SCAN network and NEXRAD precipitation processing system show them to be substantially more useful in estimating precipitation over the Mississippi Delta.
Session 5B, Validation of Remotely-Sensed Hydrometeorological Observations—I
Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 8:30 AM-10:00 AM, Room 127C
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