Satellite Retrieved Precipitate Rates Lag Ground Precipitation Measurements, Find ESSIC/CISESS Scientists

Earlier this month, Geophysical Research Letters published an article co-authored by ESSIC/CISESS Assistant Research Scientist Yalei You and Faculty Specialist Jun Dong as well as Visiting Research Scientist Huan Meng and Visiting Assistant Research Scientist Scott Rudlosky.

Titled “Time‐Lag Correlation Between Passive Microwave Measurements and Surface Precipitation and Its Impact on Precipitation Retrieval Evaluation”, the study showed a time lag between satellite radiometer-retrieved precipitation rate and the ground radar-estimated precipitation rate.  This lag is because the radiometer sees the hydrometeors in the air, which take time to reach the ground.  This lag time is much more evident under snowfall conditions, and ranges from 30 to 60 minutes.

The authors suggest that the level‐2 swath‐retrieved snowfall rate needs to shift forward (e.g., 30 minutes) when incorporated into the level‐3 gridded products.

To read the article, click here: “Time‐Lag Correlation Between Passive Microwave Measurements and Surface Precipitation and Its Impact on Precipitation Retrieval Evaluation”.