Precipitation Retrieval From Fengyun-3D MWHTS and MWRI Data Using Deep Learning

Abstract

In this paper, two multitask deep learning models, Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) are constructed to detect precipitation flags and retrieve precipitation rates simultaneously over the Northwest Pacific area. The retrieval results are verified by Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG). Compared with using a single payload, the results show the retrieval advantages of incorporating two microwave spaceborne payloads (MWHTS and MWRI). In addition, each separated task in multitasking deep learning models can outperform the single-task models. The MAE values of MLP and CNN are decreased by 0.05 mm/hr and 0.04 mm/hr, respectively. Nevertheless, it is still a challenge to extend the application of these models, which demands extracting the features learned from a certain area to other areas characterized by different precipitation features. A flexible network framework is developed with two Transfer Learning (TL) methods (freeze and fine-tuning) to tackle this problem. The pre-trained models (MLP and CNN) are trained from the Northwest Pacific area, whereas the transferred models are applied to the Northeast Pacific area. The encouraging results show that the performance of the TL model using fine-tune method has exceeded that of the comparison model without TL, which is trained by 4 times more data. The main advantage of using TL is the time reduction and efficiency improvements.