Bias Correction of Polarimetric Variables and Uncertainty Quantification of Dual-Polarization Radar Rainfall Estimation

Abstract:

Radar rainfall is generally less than gauge rainfall and it deteriorates in the case of high rainfall. Introduction of dual-polarization radar, however, has shed some light on the problem to underestimate radar rainfall in single-polarization radar. Dual-polarization radar provides various variables such like the differential reflectivity, differential phase, specific differential phase, and correlation coefficient, etc. as well as the reflectivity. Due to the advantage of dual-polarization radar providing various information available on the precipitation, the quality of the radar rainfall becomes much higher. Total five dual-polarization radars (Baengnyeongdo, Yongin-Testbed, Bislsan, Sobaeksan and Mohusan Radar) were introduced in Korea until now and the project, "Development and application of Cross governmental dual-pol radar harmonization", is on the way. Weather Radar Center (WRC), Korea Meteorological Adminstration (KMA) has played a leading role in the dual-polarization radar technology in Korea. WRC has been researching the quality control (QC) for the polarimetric variables, the classification of the precipitation, the radar rainfall estimation algorithm, and the composite dual-polarimetric varaiables field, etc. WRC (2014) suggested Korean polarimetric radar variables relation (Z-ZDR relation and Z-KDP relation) and Korean radar rainfall estimation algorithm (R(Z, ZDR) WRC algorithm). This study examined on the six radar rainfall estimation algorithms including R(Z, ZDR) WRC algorithm and corrected the bias of polarimetric variables using Korean polarimetric variables relation. Plus, this study quantified the uncertainty of the radar rainfall estimated from six algorithms before and after the correction. As a result, the quality of the radar rainfall after the correction improved and Korean radar rainfall estimation algorithm had the best quality among the algorithms using the Z and ZDR,