Mean Areal Precipitation Estimation Using Radar

by Ulysses D. Sherman, Univ of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, United States,
Lynn E. Johnson, Univ of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering Hydrology

Abstract:

The accuracy of mean areal total storm precipitation (MAP) over small urban basins (30-100 km²) in the Denver, CO metro region was examined using gages only spatial interpolation and alternate radar-gage calibration schemes. Results indicated the degree of accuracy improvement is a function of the number of gages available for calibration, the distance of these gages from the basin of interest, the size of the basin and the size of the storm. MAP errors ranged from 20 to 50% (absolute) which is similar to results of other researchers. Use of radar decreased the MAP errors when the gages were located some distance from the basin. Use of radar for the MAP calculation provided no detectable additional accuracy when a gage is located within or in close proximity to the basin.

Subject Headings: Radar | Precipitation | Retention basins | Mapping | Storms | Calibration | Meteorology | Denver | Colorado | United States

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