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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Boise, Idaho » Northwest Watershed Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120580
Title: COMPATIBILITY EVALUATION OF NATIONAL PRECIPITATION GAGE MEASUREMENTS

Author
item YANG, DAQING - UNIV OF ALASKA
item GOODISON, BARRY - CAN METEOR SERVICE
item METCALFE, JOHN - CAN METEOR SERVICE
item LOUIE, PAUL - CAN METEOR SERVICE
item ELOMAA, ESKO - FINNISH METEOR INST
item Hanson, Clayton

Submitted to: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: There have been concerns of the incompatibility of precipitation records across national boundaries due to use of different observational methods and instruments. This combination of national precipitation records from different sources results in inhomogeneous precipitation time series that leads to incorrect spatial interpretations. Compatibility of precipitation measurements by various national gages commonly used in neighboring countries or in large international regions have been quantified, based on the intercomparison data collected at 10 stations during the World Meteorological Organization Solid Precipitation Measurement Intercomparison Project. Little difference was found between national rainfall data, but significant discrepancy exists between national snowfall records. Strong linear relations among the daily national gage measurements were defined for several gages commonly used in the Northern Hemisphere. These linear relations provide a useful technique to adjust gage records when wind speed and temperature data are not available.

Technical Abstract: Compatibility of precipitation measurements of various national gages commonly used in the Northern Hemisphere countries has been evaluated, based on the gage intercomparison data collected at 10 stations during the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Solid Precipitation Measurement Intercomparison Project. Little difference (less than 5 percent) is found between national rainfall data, but a significant discrepancy (up to 110 percent) exists between national snowfall records. This difference is not constant and it varies with wind speed and temperature. It is certain that use of difference precipitation gages in neighboring countries has introduced a significant discontinuity into precipitation records, particularly in cold and windy regions. Strong linear relation among daily national gage measurements provide a useful technique to adjust gage records when wind speed and temperature data are not available. Use of the proposed adjustment procedure will reduce inconsistency between precipitation measurements of national gages.