Abstract
The performance of Day-1 Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission (IMERG) and its predecessor, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis 3B42 Version 7 (3B42V7), was cross-evaluated using data from the best-available hourly gauge network over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Analyses of three-hourly rainfall estimates in the warm season of 2014 reveal that IMERG shows appreciably better correlations and lower errors than 3B42V7, though with very similar spatial patterns for all assessment indicators. IMERG also appears to detect light rainfall better than 3B42V7. However, IMERG shows slightly lower POD than 3B42V7 for elevations above 4200 m. Both IMERG and 3B42V7 successfully capture the northward dynamic life cycle of the Indian monsoon reasonably well over the TP. In particular, the relatively light rain from early and end Indian monsoon moisture surge events often fails to be captured by the sparsely-distributed gauges. In spite of limited snowfall field observations, IMERG shows the potential of detecting solid precipitation, which cannot be retrieved from the 3B42V7 products.
Highlights
Reliable precipitation data and information are essential for understanding the water and energy cycles at both regional and global scales
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is an important new program designed for global satellite precipitation estimation based on an international satellite constellation, which provides precipitation measurements from space at a spatial resolution of 0.1° × 0.1 ° and a Remote Sens. 2016, 8, 569; doi:10.3390/rs8070569
Level 1 data consist of geolocated, calibrated Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) power, GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) brightness temperatures and intercalibrated brightness temperatures from partner radiometers at the Instantaneous Field Of View (IFOV); Level 2 products include geolocated, geophysical data and DPR reflectivity at the IFOV; Level 3 products consist of gridded time-space sampled geophysical data from the GPM Core sensors and partner radiometers; and Level 4 products include merged remotely-sensed and model information [6]
Summary
Reliable precipitation data and information are essential for understanding the water and energy cycles at both regional and global scales. Satellite remote sensing has provided unprecedented precipitation information at a broader range of time and space scales, representing a significant contribution toward mapping global rainfall [3,4,5]. The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is an important new program designed for global satellite precipitation estimation based on an international satellite constellation, which provides precipitation measurements from space at a spatial resolution of 0.1° × 0.1 ° and a Remote Sens. Level 1 data consist of geolocated, calibrated Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) power, GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) brightness temperatures and intercalibrated brightness temperatures from partner radiometers at the Instantaneous Field Of View (IFOV); Level 2 products include geolocated, geophysical data and DPR reflectivity at the IFOV; Level 3 products consist of gridded time-space sampled geophysical data (e.g., precipitation rates) from the GPM Core sensors and partner radiometers; and Level 4 products include merged remotely-sensed and model information [6].
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