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Abstract
The ground based radar calibration of a space borne radar is an important means of testing the reliability of Tropical Rain Measuring Mission- Precipitation Radar (TRMM- PR) derived radar reflectivity factor (Z) and rain rate (R) values over a location. For this purpose, a well-calibrated ground based Micro Rain Radar (MRR) located at Department of Physics, The Federal University of Technology, Akure (Lat 5.30E, Long 7.30N) in south-western Nigeria was used to validate data from TRMM satellite data. The measurements of the vertical profile of reflectivity factor and rain rate were carried out using TRMM-PR satellite radar and a MRR simultaneously in 2008 and 2010 during the raining season. The data collected from 49 different range gates covering heights from 250 m -1225 m in 250 m steps from TRMM-PR and 30 different range gates covering height from 0 – 4800 m in 160 m steps for MRR were compared. From the two years data used, 28 days (overpasses) of significant rainfall at two different heights 1.5 km and 4.0 km for the two days of most significant rainfall were selected for analysis. The data analysis at the 1.5 km and 4.0 km height and for 28 days of overpasses show good correlation ranging from the maximum 0.99 to the least 0.53 at 4 km and 0.99 to the least 0.59 at 1.5 km. The ‘b’ parameter value of the power law Z = aRb empirically derived from MRR over Akure were used to calibrate TRMM-PR values for rain rate estimate, the mean difference of radar reflectivity factor at heights 4.0 km and 1.5 km were 2.4 dB and 2.5dB respectively. The results also show that the radar reflectivity (dBZ) derived from the PR data after attenuation correction agrees to within 2.0 dB when compared with that of the MRR with a relative variation of ±0.9 dB at different heights.
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How to Cite
O., A., & Ajewole M.O., O. J. (2014). Determination of the Calibration Factor for the Rain Rate Derived From TRMM Satellite Using MRR Data over Akure, Nigeria. International Journal of Emerging Trends in Science and Technology, 1(07). Retrieved from https://igmpublication.org/ijetst.in/index.php/ijetst/article/view/342
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12. Smith, J.A., and W.F. Krajewski, 1994: Final Report- Estimation of Parameters for the NEXRAD Rainfall Algorithms NOAA National Weather Service Office of Hydrologic Research Laboratory, Silver Spring, MD.
13. Steven, M. Hunter 2000: WSR-88R Radar Rainfall capabilities, limitation and potential improvements. National weather service Weather forecast office, Morristown, TN.
2. Anagnostou, M. S., C. A. Morales, and T. Dinku, 2001: The use of TRMM precipitation radar observations in determining ground radar calibration biases. J.Atmos. Oceanic Technol, 18, 616-628.
3. Crum, T. D., and R. L. Alberty, 1993: The WSR-88D and WSR-88D Operational support Facility. Bull.Amer.Meteor.Soc. 74, 1669-1687.
4. Doviak, R.J., and D.S. Zrnic, 1984: Doppler Radar and weather Observations, Academic Press, San Diego, 458pp. http//:disc2.nascom.nasa.gov
5. Kozu, T., and T. Iguchi, 2001: Development of precipitation radar on- board the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote sens., 39, 102-116.
6. Kummerow, C., W. Barnes, T. Kozu, J. Shiue, and J. Simpson, 1998: The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Sensor package. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol, 15, 809-817.
7. Liang, L., R. Meneghini, and T. Iguchi 2001: Comparisons of rain rate and reflectivity factor derived from the TRMM precipitation radar and WSR-88R over Melbourne, Florida,Site. Journal of Atmos, and Oceanic, Technol., Vol 18, 1959-1974.
8. Remko Uijlenhoet, 2001: Raindrop size distributions and radar reflectivity–rain rate relationships for radar hydrology. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 5(4), 615-627.
9. Ricks, R., J. Graschel, and E. Jones, 1995: A comparison of adjacent WSR-88D precipitation estimates along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.NWS Southern Technical Attachment SR/SSD 95-26, 6 pp. Ft. Worth, Tx.
10. Schumacher, C., and R. A. Houze, 2000: Comparison of radar data from the TRMM satellite and Kwajalen ocean Validation site. J.Appl.Metero., 39, 2151-2164.
11. Simpson, J., C. Kummerow, W. K. Tao, and R. F. Adler, 1996: On the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). Metor. Atmos. Phys., 60, 19-36.
12. Smith, J.A., and W.F. Krajewski, 1994: Final Report- Estimation of Parameters for the NEXRAD Rainfall Algorithms NOAA National Weather Service Office of Hydrologic Research Laboratory, Silver Spring, MD.
13. Steven, M. Hunter 2000: WSR-88R Radar Rainfall capabilities, limitation and potential improvements. National weather service Weather forecast office, Morristown, TN.