A rain height model to predict fading due to wet snow on terrestrial links

Paulson, Kevin; Al-Mreri, Abdueraouf

doi:10.1029/2010rs004555

Cited by 16 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…Other (sources of) errors are related to rainfall variability along the link path and power resolution [ Berne and Uijlenhoet , ; Leijnse et al ., ], fog [ David et al ., ], and melting precipitation [ Paulson and Al‐Mreri , ]. Overviews of typical (sources of) errors in link rainfall estimation are given by, e.g., Leijnse et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two and a half years of country-wide rainfall maps using radio links from commercial cellular telecommunication networks

2016

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Although rainfall estimation employing microwave links from cellular telecommunication networks is recognized as a new promising measurement technique, its potential for long‐term large‐scale operational rainfall monitoring remains to be demonstrated. This study contributes to this endeavor by deriving a continuous series of rainfall maps from a large 2.5 year microwave link data set of, on average, 3383 links (2044 link paths) covering Netherlands (∼3.5 × 104 km2), a midlatitude country (∼5°E, ∼52°N) with a temperate climate. Maps are extensively verified against an independent gauge‐adjusted radar rainfall data set for different temporal (15 min, 1 h, 1 day, 1 month) and spatial (0.9, 74 km2) scales. The usefulness of different steps in the rainfall retrieval algorithm, i.e., a wet‐dry classification method and a filter to remove outliers, is systematically assessed. A novel dew filter is developed to correct for dew‐induced wet antenna attenuation, which, although a relative underestimation of 6% to 9% is found, generally yields good results. The microwave link rainfall estimation technique performs well for the summer months (June, July, August), even outperforming interpolation of automatic rain gauge data (with a density of ∼1 gauge per 1000 km2), but large deviations are found for the winter months (December, January, February). These deviations are generally expected to be related to frozen or melting precipitation. Hence, our results show the potential of commercial microwave links for long‐term large‐scale operational rainfall monitoring.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two and a half years of country-wide rainfall maps using radio links from commercial cellular telecommunication networks

2016

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“…This attenuation along microwave links, although a nuisance from the perspective of cellular communication engineers, is of special interest to us, environmental engineers, and scientists. Other forms of precipitation, such as hail or snow, affect microwave signal propagation much less than rain, unless hail stones or snow flakes are melting (Paulson & Al‐Mreri, ). However, the quantitative interpretation of microwave attenuation caused by melting hydrometeors is an outstanding challenge and beyond the scope of this paper (see Overeem et al, ; Van Leth, Overeem, Uijlenhoet, & Leijnse, , for a discussion of the effects of snow and hail on microwave links).…”

Section: Cellular Communication Network Microwave Links and Rainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunistic remote sensing of rainfall using microwave links from cellular communication networks

2018

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Microwave backhaul links from cellular communication networks provide a valuable “opportunistic” source of high‐resolution space–time rainfall information, complementing traditional in situ measurement devices (rain gauges, disdrometers) and remote sensors (weather radars, satellites). Over the past decade, a growing community of researchers has, in close collaboration with cellular communication companies, developed retrieval algorithms to convert the raw microwave link signals, stored operationally by their network management systems, to hydrometeorologically useful rainfall estimates. Operational meteorological and hydrological services as well as private consulting firms are showing an increased interest in using this complementary source of rainfall information to improve the products and services they provide to end users from different sectors, from water management and weather prediction to agriculture and traffic control. The greatest potential of these opportunistic environmental sensors lies in those geographical areas over the land surface of the Earth where the densities of traditional rainfall measurement devices are low: mountainous and urban areas and the developing world. This article provides a nonexpert summary of the history, theory, challenges, and opportunities toward continental‐scale rainfall monitoring using microwave links from cellular communication networks. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Methods Science of Water > Hydrological Processes

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“…Since we are dealing with more complex shapes and multiple phases of water and air and therefore an inhomogeneous index of refraction, accurate estimates of wet snow attenuation and inversely, the estimation of snowfall magnitude through microwave attenuation, poses a real challenge (e.g. Paulson et al, 2011). Nevertheless, we can still detect the presence of wet snow and melting ice pellets.…”

Section: Solid/mixed Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

An urban microwave link rainfall measurement campaign

Leth

Overeem

Uijlenhoet

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract. Microwave links from cellular communication networks have been shown to be able to provide valuable information concerning the space-time variability of rainfall. In particular over urban areas, where network densities are generally high, they have the potential to complement existing dedicated infrastructure to measure rainfall (gauges, radars). In addition, 10 microwave links provide a great opportunity for ground-based rainfall measurement for those land surface areas of the world where gauges and radars are generally lacking. Such information is not only crucial for water management and agriculture, but also for instance for ground validation of space-borne rainfall estimates such as those provided by the GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) mission. Data from an existing automated weather station situated just outside Wageningen was further used to compare and to interpret the findings. We find that a basic rainfall retrieval algorithm with no corrections already provides a reasonable correlation to 25 rainfall as measured by the disdrometers. The microwave links do give a significant overestimation. We further investigate several events covering different attenuating phenomena: Rainfall, solid precipitation, temperature, dew, antenna wetting and clutter. We also briefly explore cases where several phenomena play a role. We conclude that the response of different makes of microwave antennas to many of these phenomena is significantly different even under the exact same operating conditions and configuration. 30

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A rain height model to predict fading due to wet snow on terrestrial links

Cited by 16 publications

References 13 publications

Two and a half years of country-wide rainfall maps using radio links from commercial cellular telecommunication networks

Two and a half years of country-wide rainfall maps using radio links from commercial cellular telecommunication networks

Opportunistic remote sensing of rainfall using microwave links from cellular communication networks

An urban microwave link rainfall measurement campaign

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