Skip to main content
Log in

Calibration of weather radar using region probability matching method (RPMM)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Theoretical and Applied Climatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This research aims to develop a novel method named region probability matching method (RPMM) for calibrating the Amir-Abad weather radar located in the north of Iran. This approach also can overcome the limitations of probability matching method (PMM), window probability matching method (WPMM), and window correlation matching method (WCMM). The employing of these methods for calibrating the radars in light precipitation is associated with many errors. Additionally, in developing countries like Iran where ground stations have low temporal resolution, these methods cannot be benefited from. In these circumstances, RPMM by utilizing 18 synoptic stations with a temporal resolution of 6 h and radar data with a temporal resolution of 15 min has indicated an accurate estimation of cumulative precipitation over the entire study area in a specific period. Through a comparison of the two methods (RPMM and traditional matching method (TMM)) on March 22, 2014, the obtained correlation coefficients for TMM and RPMM were 0.13 and 0.95, respectively. It is noted that the cumulative precipitation of the whole rain gauges and the calibrated radar precipitation at the same pixels were 38.5 and 36.9 mm, respectively. Therefore, the obtained results prove the inefficiency of TMM and the capability of RPMM in the calibration process of the Amir-Abad weather radar. Besides, in determining the uncertainty associated with the calculated values of A and B in the Z e R relation, a sensitivity analysis method was employed during the estimation of cumulative light precipitation for the period from 2014 to 2015. The results expressed that in the worst conditions, 69% of radar data are converted to R values by a maximum error less than 30%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anagnostou EN, Morales CA, Dinku T (2000) The use of TRMM precipitation radar observations in determining ground radar calibration biases. J Atmos Ocean Technol:616–628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews CL (1992) Special functions of mathematics for engineers. SPIE Press, Bellingham

    Google Scholar 

  • Atencia A, Mediero L, Llasat M, Garrote L (2002) Effect of radar rainfall time resolution on the predictive capability of distributed hydrologic model. J Hydrol:3809–3827

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borga M (2002) Accuracy of radar rainfall estimates for streamflow simulation. J Hydrol:26–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calheiros RV, Zawadzki I (1987) Reflectivity-rain rate relationships for radar hydrology in Brazil. J Clim Appl Meteorlogy 26:118–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaemi E, Kavianpour M, Moazami S, Hong Y, Ayat H (2017) Uncertainty analysis of radar rainfall estimates over two different climates in Iran. Int J Remote Sens:5106–5126

  • Golian, S., Moazami, S., Kirstetter, P. E., Hong, Y. (2015) Evaluating the performance of merged multi-satellite precipitation products over a complex terrain. Water Resour Manag 29(13):4885–4901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heistermann M, Jacobi S, Pfaff T (2013) An open source library for processing weather radar data (wradlib). Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 17:863–871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong Y, & Gourley JJ (2017) Radar QPE for hydrologic modelling. In Y. Hong, & J. J. Gourley, Radar hydrology: principles, models, and applications (p. 129). CRC press

  • Javanmard S, Yatagai A, Nodzu MI, BodaghJamali J, Kawamoto H (2010) Comparing high-resolution gridded precipitation data with satellite rainfall estimates of TRMM 3B42 over Iran. Adv Geosci 25:119–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kassim A, Kottegoda N (1991) Rainfall network design through comparative kriging method. Hydrol J Sci 36:223–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kedem B, Chiu L, North G (1990) Estimation of mean rain rate: application to satellite observations. J Geophys Res: Atmos 95(D2):1965–1972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krajewski WF, Smith JA (1991) On the estimation of climatological Z-R relationships. Appl Met 30:1436–1461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuczera G, Williams B (1992) Effect of rainfall erros on accuracy of design flood. Water Resour Res:1145–1153

  • Linsley RK, Kohler MA, Paulhus JL (1988) Hydrology for engineers. McGraw-Hill, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Moazami S, Golian S, Hong Y, Sheng C, Kavianpour M (2016) Comprehensive evaluation of four high-resolution satellite precipitation products under diverse climate conditions in Iran. Hydrol Sci J:1–21

  • Moazami S, Golian S, Kavianpour MR, Hong Y (2013a) Comparison of PERSIANN and V7 TRMM multi-satellite precipitation analysis (TMPA) products with rain gauge data over Iran. Int J Remote Sens 34:8156–8171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moazami S, Golian S, Kavianpour MR, Hong Y (2013b) Uncertainty analysis of bias from satellite rainfall estimates using copula method. Atmos Res 137:145–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Modarres R, Sarhadi A (2010) Statistically-based regionalization of rainfall climates of Iran. Glob Planet Chang 75:67–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morin J, Resenfeld D, Amitai E (1995) Radar rain field evaluation and possible use of its hugh temporal and spatial resolution for hydrological purposes. J Hydrol:275–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfaff T (2013) Processing and analysis of weather radar data for use in hydrology. Universitat Stuttgart, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Piman T, Babel MS, Gupta AD, Weesakul S (2007) Development of a window correlation matching method for improved radar rainfall estimation. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 11:1361–1372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhart R (1997) Radar for Meteorologists, (Third edn. Reinhart Publications, Grand Forks

  • Rosenfeld D, Atlas D, Short D, (1990) The estimation of convective rainfall by area integrals, 2: The height area rainfall threshold (HART) method. J Geophys Res 35:2161–2176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld D, Wolf DB, Amitai E (1993) The window probability matching method for rainfall measurements with radar. J Appl Meteorlogy 33:682–693

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun X, Mein R, Keenan T, Elliot J (2000) Flood estimation using radar and rain gauge data. J Hydrol:4–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tantanee S, Prakarnrat S (2008) Using GIS buffer technique to improve rainfall-radar reflectivity relationship estimation. Wseas Trans Fluid Mech 3(4):304–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesfagiorgis K, Mahani S, Krakauer N, Khanbilvardi R (2011) Bias correction of satellite rainfall estimates using a radar-gauge product—a case study in Oklahoma (USA). Hydrol Earth Syst Sci:2631–2647

  • Wlison J, Brandes E (1979) Radar measurement of rainfall—a summary. Belletien Am Meteorlogical Soc 60:1048–1058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie P, Arkin P (1995) Analyses of global monthly precipitation using gauge observations, satellite estimates, and numerical model predictions. J Clim 9:840–858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xin L, Reuter G, Larochelle B (1997) Reflectivity-rain rate relationships for convective rainshowers in Edmonton. Atmosphere-Ocean 35(4):513–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xudong S, Keenan TD, Mein RG (1999) Formulation and optimisation of the probability matching method for radar reflectivity and rain rate in the Darwin region. Aust Meteorol Mag 48:233–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang D, Koike T, Tanizawa H (2004) Application of a distributed hydrological model and weather observations for flood management in the upper Tone River of Japan. Hydrol Process:3119–3132

  • Yang X, Yu B (2015) Modelling and mapping rainfall erosivity in New South Wales, Australia. Soil Res:178–189

  • Yilmaz KK, Hogue TS, Sorooshian S, Gupta HV, Wagener T (2005) Intercomparison of rain gauge, radar, and satellite-based precipitation estimates with emphasis on hydrologic forecasting. Am Meteorol Soc 6:497–516

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saber Moazami.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ayat, H., Reza Kavianpour, M., Moazami, S. et al. Calibration of weather radar using region probability matching method (RPMM). Theor Appl Climatol 134, 165–176 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-017-2266-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-017-2266-7

Navigation