Approaches to radar reflectivity bias correction to improve rainfall estimation in Korea

Abstract

Three methods for determining the reflectivity bias of single polarization radar using dual polarization radar reflectivity and disdrometer data (i.e., the equidistance line, overlapping area, and disdrometer methods) are proposed and evaluated for two low-pressure rainfall events that occurred over the Korean Peninsula on 25 August 2014 and 8 September 2012. Single polarization radar reflectivity was underestimated by more than 12 and 7 dB in the two rain events, respectively. All methods improved the accuracy of rainfall estimation, except for one case where drop size distributions were not observed, as the precipitation system did not pass through the disdrometer location. The use of these bias correction methods reduced the RMSE by as much as 50 %. Overall, the most accurate rainfall estimates were obtained using the overlapping area method to correct radar reflectivity.