Advances in Geosciences
www.adv-geosci.net
1680-7340
1680-7359
16
Observation, Prediction and Verification of Precipitation (EGU Session 2007)
2008
10.5194/adgeo-16-63-2008
http://www.adv-geosci.net/16/63/2008/
http://www.adv-geosci.net/16/63/2008/adgeo-16-63-2008.html
http://www.adv-geosci.net/16/63/2008/adgeo-16-63-2008.pdf
63
72
2008-04-09
First results on a process-oriented rain area classification technique using Meteosat Second Generation SEVIRI nighttime data
B. Thies
thies@lcrs.de
T. Nauss
J. Bendix
Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
A new technique for process-oriented rain area classification using Meteosat Second
Generation SEVIRI nighttime data is introduced. It is based on a combination of the
Advective Convective Technique (ACT) which focuses on precipitation areas connected to
convective processes and the Rain Area Delineation Scheme during Nighttime (RADS-N) a new
technique for the improved detection of stratiform precipitation areas (e.g. in connection with mid-latitude frontal systems).
The ACT which uses positive brightness temperature differences between the water vapour
(WV) and the infrared (IR) channels (ΔT<sub>WV-IR</sub>) for the detection of
convective clouds and connected precipitating clouds has been transferred from Meteosat First
Generation (MFG) Metesoat Visible and Infra-Red Imager radiometer (MVIRI) to Meteosat
Second Generation (MSG) Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI).
RADS-N is based on the new conceptual model that precipitating cloud areas are characterised by a
large cloud water path (<i>cwp</i>) and the presence of ice particles in the upper part of the cloud. The
technique considers information about both parameters inherent in the channel differences
ΔT<sub>3.9-10.8</sub>, ΔT<sub>3.9-7.3</sub>, ΔT<sub>8.7-10.8</sub>, and
ΔT<sub>10.8-12.1</sub>, to detect potentially precipitating cloud areas. All four
channel differences are used to gain implicit knowledge about the <i>cwp</i>. ΔT<sub>8.7-10.8</sub>
and ΔT<sub>10.8-12.1</sub> are additionally considered to gain information about the cloud phase.
First results of a comparison study between the classified rain areas and corresponding ground based
radar data for precipitation events in connection with a cold front occlusion show encouraging
performance of the new proposed process-oriented rain area classification scheme.
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