Abstract
The prospects for better local rainfall forecasts have been enhanced by technological progress in three areas: digital processing and transmission of rainfall data from ground based radars; frequent cloud imagery from geostationary satellites; development of man-computer interactive displays. These advances are permitting the development of a nowcasting system by means of which it is possible to derive in real time detailed analyses of the distribution of rainfall and also very-short-range forecasts for a few hours ahead by extrapolation. Techniques are also under investigation whereby the information from radar and satellite imagery might be used as input to numerical-dynamical prediction models, especially mesoscale models, suitable for providing detailed rainfall forecasts beyond the range of valid extrapolation. In this article we describe the use of radar and satellite imagery for the measurement and prediction of rainfall with particular reference to the system and procedures being developed in the UK Meteorological Office.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Atlas, D., Ulbrich, C.W., and Meneghini, R., 1984: ‘The multi-parameter remote measurement of rainfall’ Radio Science, 19, 3–22.
Austin, G.L., and Bellon, A., 1982: ‘Forecasting by objective extrapolation’, in Nowcasting, ed K.A. Browning, Academic Press, 177–190.
Browning, K.A., 1979: ‘The Frontiers plan: a strategy for using radar and satellite imagery for very-short-range precipitation forecasting’. Met. Mag, 108, 161–184.
Browning, K.A., 1985: ‘Conceptual models of precipitation systems.’ Met. Mag, 114, 293–319.
Browning, K.A., and Carpenter, K.M., 1984: ‘FRONTIERS five years on’ Met. Mag, 113, 282–288.
Browning, K.A., & Collier, C.G., 1982: ‘An integrated radar-satellite nowcasting system in the UK’, In Nowcasting, Ed. K.A. Browning. Academic Press, 47–61.
Browning, K.A., Collier, C.G., Larke, P.R., Menmuir P., Monk, G.A., and Owens, R.G., 1982: ‘On the forecasting of frontal rain using a weather radar network.’ Mon. Wea. Rev., 110, 534–552.
Browning, K.A., Eccleston, A.J., and Monk, G.A., 1985: ‘The use of satellite and radar imagery to identify persistent shower bands downwind of the North Channel’ Met. Mag, 114, 325–331.
Browning, K.A., and Hill, F.F., 1984: ’structure and evolution of a mesoscale convective system near the British Isles.’ Quart J.Roy.Met. Soc., 110, 897–913.
Carpenter, K.M., 1982: ‘Model forecasts for locally forced mesoscale systems.’ In Nowcasting. Ed. K.A. Browning. Academic Press. 223–234.
Collier, C.G., 1986: ‘Accuracy of rainfall estimates by radar.’ J. of Hydrology, 83, 207–235.
Goddard, J.W.F., and Cherry, S.M., 1984: ‘The ability of dual-polaris-ation radar (copolar linear) to predict rainfall rate and microwave attentuation’, Radio Science, 19, 201–208.
Golding, B.W., 1984: ‘The Meteorological Office mesoscale model: its current status.’ Met. Mag, 113, 302–313.
Leary, C.A., and Houze, R.A. Jr., 1979: ‘The structure and evolution of convection in a tropical cloud cluster.’ J.Atmos.Sci., 36, 437–457.
Lovejoy, S., and Austin, G.L., 1979: ‘The delineation of rain areas from visible and IR satellite data for GATE and mid-latitude’. Atmosphere-Ocean, 17, 77–92.
NWWRP, 1985: ‘North West Weather Radar Project Consortium Report’, September 1985. Consortium includes North West Water, Meteorological Office, Water Research Centre, Dept of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.
Probert-Jones, J.R., 1962: ‘The radar equation in meteorology’ Quart. J.Roy.Meteor.Soc., 88, 485–495.
Riissanen, J., 1984: ‘Project COST 72 (The European Weather Radar Project) today.’ Proc. Nowcasting II Symposium, Norrkoping, European Space Agency, ESA SP-208, pp 485–487.
Purdom, J.F.W., 1982: ’subjective interpretation of geostationary satellite data for nowcasting’, In Nowcasting, Ed. K.A.Browning, Academic Press, pp 149–166.
Zipser E.J., 1982: ‘Use of a conceptual model of the life-cycle of mesoscale convective systems to improve very-short-range forecasts.’ In Nowcasting, Ed, K.A.Browning, Academic Press, pp 191–204.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1987 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Browning, K.A. (1987). Use of Radar and Satellite Imagery for the Measurement and Short-Term Prediction of Rainfall in the United Kingdom. In: Vaughan, R.A. (eds) Remote Sensing Applications in Meteorology and Climatology. NATO ASI Series, vol 201. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3881-6_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3881-6_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8225-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3881-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive