High-Resolution QPE System for Taiwan

Abstract

Over the last five years the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan and the United States NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory have been involved in a research and development initiative to improve the monitoring and prediction of flash floods, debris flows, and severe storms for the Taiwan environment. The initiative has produced a system that integrates observations from weather radars, rain gauges, satellites, and numerical weather prediction model fields to produce high resolution (1 km to 500 m) and rapid update (10-min) rainfall and severe storm monitoring products. These prototype products are assessed for potential use by government agencies and emergency managers for flood, flash flood, and mudslide warnings and water resource managements. The system also facilitates collaborations with academic communities for research and development of radar applications including QPE and nowcasting. This paper overviews the system structure and products, the research activities supporting the system, and the challenges faced in producing high resolution, accurate QPE for Taiwan.