Undercatch of tipping-bucket gauges in high rain rate events

Duchon, Claude E.; Biddle, C. J.

doi:10.5194/adgeo-25-11-2010

Cited by 48 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Studies on tipping bucket rain gauges have observed extensive underestimation of rainfall amounts (of up to 50%), primarily due to acceleration of airflow over the top of the gauge, with other error sources including splashing, and the finite time required for the buckets to reset in between tips during heavy rain (e.g., Devine and Mekis, 2008;Duchon and Biddle, 2010). An empirical correction was applied to the Nordic data to account for wind effects, following the work on a similar gauge by Mekonnen et al (2015).…”

Section: Rainfall Undercatchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface Energy Balance Closure and Turbulent Flux Parameterization on a Mid-Latitude Mountain Glacier, Purcell Mountains, Canada

2017

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In the majority of glacier surface energy balance studies, parameterization rather than direct measurement is used to estimate one or more of the individual heat fluxes, with others, such as the rain and ground heat fluxes, often deemed negligible. Turbulent fluxes of sensible and latent heat are commonly parameterized using the bulk aerodynamic technique. This method was developed for horizontal, uniform surfaces rather than sloped, inhomogeneous glacier terrain, and significant uncertainty remains regarding the selection of appropriate roughness length values, and the validity of the atmospheric stability functions employed. A customized weather station, designed to measure all relevant heat fluxes, was installed on an alpine glacier over the 2014 melt season. Eddy covariance techniques were used to observe the turbulent heat fluxes, and to calculate site-specific roughness values. The obtained dataset was used to drive a point ablation model, and to evaluate the most commonly used bulk methods and roughness length schemes in the literature. Modeled ablation showed good agreement with observed rates at seasonal, daily, and sub-daily timescales, effectively closing the surface energy balance, and giving a high level of confidence in the flux observation method. Net radiation was the dominant contributor to melt energy over the season (65.2%), followed by the sensible heat flux (29.7%), while the rain heat flux was observed to be a significant contributor on daily timescales during periods of persistent heavy rain (up to 20% day −1 ). Momentum roughness lengths observed for the study surface (snow: 10 −3.8 m; ice: 10 −2.2 m) showed general agreement with previous findings, while the scalar values (temperature: 10 −4.6 m; water vapor: 10 −6 m) differed significantly from those for momentum, disagreeing with the assumption of equal roughness lengths. Of the three bulk method stability schemes tested, the functions based on the Monin-Obukhov length returned mean daily flux values closest to those observed, but displayed poor performance on sub-daily timescales, and periods of substantial flux overestimation.

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Section: Rainfall Undercatchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface Energy Balance Closure and Turbulent Flux Parameterization on a Mid-Latitude Mountain Glacier, Purcell Mountains, Canada

2017

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“…the loss of water during the tipping of the buckets (Duchon and Biddle, 2010). Wind can also greatly reduce the size of the effective catching area, as rain does not fall vertically, resulting in a rain rate underestimation assessed quantitatively at about 15 % for an average event (Duchon and Essenberg, 2001).…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Rain Gauge National Networkmentioning

confidence: 99%

The validation service of the hydrological SAF geostationary and polar satellite precipitation products

Puca

Porcú

Rinollo

et al. 2014

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The development phase (DP) of the EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility for Support to Operational Hydrology and Water Management (H-SAF) led to the design and implementation of several precipitation products, after 5 yr (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010) of activity. Presently, five precipitation estimation algorithms based on data from passive microwave and infrared sensors, on board geostationary and sun-synchronous platforms, function in operational mode at the H-SAF hosting institute to provide near real-time precipitation products at different spatial and temporal resolutions.In order to evaluate the precipitation product accuracy, a validation activity has been established since the beginning of the project. A Precipitation Product Validation Group (PPVG) works in parallel with the development of the estimation algorithms with two aims: to provide the algorithm developers with indications to refine algorithms and products, and to evaluate the error structure to be associated with the operational products.In this paper, the framework of the PPVG is presented: (a) the characteristics of the ground reference data available to H-SAF (i.e. radar and rain gauge networks), (b) the agreed upon validation strategy settled among the eight European countries participating in the PPVG, and (c) the steps of the validation procedures. The quality of the reference data is discussed, and the efforts for its improvement are outlined, with special emphasis on the definition of a ground radar Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. S. Puca et al.:The validation service of the hydrological SAF geostationary products quality map and on the implementation of a suitable rain gauge interpolation algorithm. The work done during the H-SAF development phase has led the PPVG to converge into a common validation procedure among the members, taking advantage of the experience acquired by each one of them in the validation of H-SAF products. The methodology is presented here, indicating the main steps of the validation procedure (ground data quality control, spatial interpolation, upscaling of radar data vs. satellite grid, statistical score evaluation, case study analysis).Finally, an overview of the results is presented, focusing on the monthly statistical indicators, referred to the satellite product performances over different seasons and areas.

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“…Furthermore, the adhesion and evaporation of precipitation from the funnel, adhesion of precipitation to the filter, absorption of dirt and debris around the filter, splashing from the precipitation base or ground, and calibration of the bucket mechanism also cause errors. Additionally, the tipping bucket gauges noticeably underestimate intense storm event rainfall totals relative to weighing-bucket gauges (Duchon & Biddle, 2010).…”

Section: Radarsmentioning

confidence: 88%

An Overview of Surface-Based Precipitation Observations at Environment and Climate Change Canada

Mekis¹,

Donaldson

Reid

et al. 2018

Atmosphere-Ocean

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The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the present status and procedures related to surface precipitation observations at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). This work was done to support the ongoing renewal of observation systems and networks at the Meteorological Service of Canada. The paper focusses on selected parameters, namely, accumulated precipitation, precipitation intensity, precipitation type, rainfall, snowfall, and radar reflectivity. Application-specific user needs and requirements are defined and captured by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Expert Teams at the international level by Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review (OSCAR) and WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS), and by ECCC user engagement initiatives within the Canadian context. The precipitation-related networks of ECCC are separated into those containing automatic instruments, those with human (manual) observers, and the radar network. The unique characteristics and data flow for each of these networks, the instrument and installation characteristics, processing steps, and limitations from observation to data distribution and storage are provided. A summary of precipitation instrument-dependent algorithms that are used in ECCC's Data Management System is provided. One outcome of the analysis is the identification of gaps in spatial coverage and data quality that are required to meet user needs. Increased availability of data, including from long-serving manual sites, and an increase in the availability of precipitation type and snowfall amount are identified as improvements that would benefit many users. Other recognized improvements for in situ networks include standardized network procedures, instrument performance adjustments, and improved and sustained access to data and metadata from internal and external networks. Specific to radar, a number of items are recognized that can improve quantitative precipitation estimates. Increased coverage for the radar network and improved methods for assessing and portraying radar data quality would benefit precipitation users.

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Undercatch of tipping-bucket gauges in high rain rate events

Cited by 48 publications

References 7 publications

Surface Energy Balance Closure and Turbulent Flux Parameterization on a Mid-Latitude Mountain Glacier, Purcell Mountains, Canada

Surface Energy Balance Closure and Turbulent Flux Parameterization on a Mid-Latitude Mountain Glacier, Purcell Mountains, Canada

The validation service of the hydrological SAF geostationary and polar satellite precipitation products

An Overview of Surface-Based Precipitation Observations at Environment and Climate Change Canada

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