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Simulation of sampling error of average rainfall rates in space and time by five satellites using radar‐AMeDAS composites
Author(s) -
Iida Yasuhisa,
Okamoto Ken'ichi,
Ushio Tomoo,
Oki Riko
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl024910
Subject(s) - satellite , sampling (signal processing) , environmental science , radar , meteorology , remote sensing , precipitation , radiometer , microwave radiometer , scale (ratio) , geology , computer science , geography , physics , telecommunications , astronomy , cartography , detector
Sampling error has long been an important issue in satellite‐based rainfall measuring mission planning such as for TRMM and GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement), and in evaluating global maps of space‐time average rain rate from multi‐satellite rainfall data. Sampling errors due to sparse space‐time rainfall observations from five currently operated low‐earth‐orbiting satellites (Aqua, DMSP‐F13, F14, F15, TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission)) were evaluated using 3‐year radar‐AMeDAS composite data around Japan. We simulate realistic observational patterns for the satellite‐borne microwave radiometers. Root‐mean‐square sampling error is expressed as a fraction of true average rain rate. We formulate sampling error as a function of space scale ranging from 0.1° to 5.0°, time scale from 1 to 30 (day), and true average rain rate from 0.001 to 15 (mm/h) for five different combinations of these five satellites.