Pre-Launch Assessment of the GOES-R Rainfall Rate Algorithm using Current GOES

The Rainfall Rate Algorithm for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-Series R (GOES-R) Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) was developed and tested using data from the METEOSAT Spinning Enhanced Visible InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI) because the current GOES Imager does not have all of the channels that will be utilized by the next-generation Rainfall Rate algorithm. However, evaluation of a limited version of the algorithm on current GOES still has significant utility for training operational users and for evaluating against a much higher quality data set than available over Europe and Africa. Consequently, a modification of the GOES-R Rainfall Rate algorithm has been running in real time on the current GOES Imager over the entire GOES coverage area since August 2011, and is being distributed to various users via ftp and on the Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS) at selected National Weather Service field offices in collaboration with the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT).

Comparisons of this algorithm with the current-generation operational algorithm (the Hydro-Estimator) will be presented, validating against hourly Stage IV radar / gauge fields and daily gauge data. Evaluation will be performed mainly over the Conterminous United States (CONUS) but with some validation over other regions as well. Potential areas for additional post-launch improvement in the algorithm will also be discussed.