Rainfall statistics evaluation of ECMWF model and TRMM data over Bangladesh for flood related studies

Abstract

Quantitative precipitation estimates from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) modelling system and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) may be used for areas where rainfall data are not available or where the number of rainfall stations is inadequate. In this study, ECMWF 40 years re‐analysis (ERA40) and TRMM satellite estimated daily rainfall data have been analysed at three station locations, Dinajpur, Rangpur, and Sylhet, in the Bangladesh territories of Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna basins, respectively. Statistical verifications (visual verification, yes/no dichotomous verification and continuous variables verification methods) have been applied to these data. Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) rainfall data are used as the reference data. The continuous variables verification methods show the better accuracy of the TRMM data. The probability of occurrence of TRMM rainfall is close to the BMD‐observed data. It implies that the TRMM data can be used for modelling of design flood in areas where observed rainfall data are not available. However, in the case of the TRMM rainfall data, the chances of missing a flood event are higher compared to the ECMWF data. Yes/no dichotomous verification methods show that ECMWF rainfall data are safe to use for flood‐forecasting‐related planning purposes because rain events are estimated better in ECMWF. The probability of occurrence of ECMWF rainfall shows that these data can also be used to estimate the design flood flow. Both ECMWF and TRMM rainfall data may be used where locally observed rainfall data are not available. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society

Assessment of TRMM data for precipitation measurement in Bangladesh

“…Previous studies in Rangpur, the northern part of the country, by Rahman et al (2012) and in Sylhet, the northeastern part of the country, by Choudhury et al (2012), show a good relationship between TRMM data and rainfall data measured on a small temporal and spatial scale. In order to find the extent to which the TRMM can accurately determine surface rainfall, a comparison between TRMM rainfall products and the available rain gauge data over Bangladesh was made for 13 years starting from 1998 to 2010.…”

“…Previous studies in Rangpur, the northern part of the country, by Rahman et al . () and in Sylhet, the northeastern part of the country, by Choudhury et al . (), show a good relationship between TRMM data and rainfall data measured on a small temporal and spatial scale.…”

A simple logistic model to understand the occurrence of flood events into the Biobío River Basin in central Chile

“…Thereafter we could relate peak rainfall intensity or volume of rainfall at any point in time and space with the next proceeding flood event. Additionally, after this step, we could proceed eventually by using the hourly and daily forecast products available from worldwide meteorological centres (similar as European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts [ECMWF] or National Centers for Environmental Prediction [NCEP]) such as to provide with a forecast of flood events, days in advance (see Rahman et al, 2012).…”

Evaluation of TRMM Precipitation Dataset over Himalayan Catchment: The Upper Ganga Basin, India

“…The accuracy and error characteristics of TRMM products in comparison with gauge measurements were evaluated in many regions, such as in Xinjiang [47], Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau [48,49] and Poyang Lake regions in China [50]; Mainland China [51,52]; South Korea [53]; Japan [53]; India [54] and in four regions with distinct climate and topography in Iran [55]. Numerous case studies have been conducted on Indian sub-continent including Himalayas to compare the TRMM products with rain gauge-based precipitation data [11,12,54,[56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64]. The results of these studies showed that the quality of satellite rainfall products varies with region, season and elevation.…”