Characterization and estimation of light rainfall using NASA D3R observations during GPM IFloodS and IPHEx field campaigns

The light rain and snow are critical to the Earth´s ecosystem due to the high occurrence rate, especially in middle and high latitude. However, it is challenging to use rainfall gauge to measure light rain due to the limitations of sampling time and bucket volume resolution. This paper presents the characterization and estimation of light rainfall using National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Dual-frequency Dual-polarization Doppler Radar (D3R) observations collected during the NASA Iowa Flood Studies (IFoodS) and Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment (IPHEx) field campaigns. Sample rainfall products are shown. Comparisons are performed between radar rainfall products and ground rainfall measurements from rain gauge and disdrometers. It is shown that the radar rainfall measurements agree with the disdrometer observations very well. The excellent performance for light rainfall estimation demonstrates one aspect of the capability of D3R as a ground validation tool for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite precipitation product evaluations.