A high resolution climatology of precipitation and deep convection over the Mediterranean region from operational satellite microwave data: Development and application to the evaluation of model uncertainties

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science

Volumn 12, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 785-798

  Claud, C ^a   Alhammoud, B ^a   Funatsu, B M ^a   Lebeaupin Brossier, C ^a,c   Chaboureau, J P ^b   Beranger K ^c   Drobinski, P ^a  

^a ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE   (France)

^b UNIVERSITÉ DE TOULOUSE   (France)

^c ENSTA PARISTECH   (France)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ATMOSPHERIC CONVECTION; BRIGHTNESS TEMPERATURE; MICROWAVE IMAGERY; NOAA SATELLITE; PRECIPITATION (CLIMATOLOGY); RADIOMETER; SATELLITE DATA; UNCERTAINTY ANALYSIS; WATER VAPOR;

MEDITERRANEAN REGION;

EID: 84859142022     PISSN: 15618633     EISSN: 16849981     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.5194/nhess-12-785-2012     Document Type: Article

References (54)

1. Adler, R. F., Huffman, G. J., Chang, A., Ferraro, R., Xie, P.-P., Janowiak, J., Rudolf, B., Schneider, U., Curtis, S., Bolvin, D., Gruber, A., Susskind, J., Arkin, P., and Nelkin, E.: The version-2 Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) monthly precipitation analysis (1979-present), J. Hydrometeor., 4, 1147-1167, 2003. (Pubitemid 38162561)
2. Aznar, R., Sotillo, M. G., Martin, M. L., Somot, S., and Valero, F.: Comparison of model and satellite-derived longterm precipitation databases over the Mediterranean Basin: a general overview, Atmos. Res., 97, 170-184, 2010.
3. Bartholy, J., Pongracz, R., and Pattanyus-Abraham M.: Analyzing the genesis, intensity and tracks of western Mediterranean cyclones, Theor. Appl. Climatol., 96, 133-144, 2009.
4. Bennartz, R. and Petty, G. W.: The sensitivity of microwave remote sensing observations of precipitation to ice particle size distributions, J. Appl. Met. Clim., 40, 345-364, 2001. (Pubitemid 32489584)
5. Buehler, S. A. and John, V. O.: A simple method to relate microwave radiances to upper tropospheric humidity. J. Geophys. Res., 110, D02110, doi:10.1029/2004JD005111, 2005.
6. Buehler, S. A., Kuvatov, M., and John, V. O.: Scan asymmetries in AMSU-B data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L248110, doi:10.1029/2005GL024747, 2005. (Pubitemid 43239997)
7. Campins, J., Genoves, A., Jansa, A., Guijarro, J. A., and Ramis, C.: A catalogue and a classification of surface cyclones for the Western Mediterranean, Int. J. Climatol., 20, 969-984, 2000. (Pubitemid 30617340)
8. Chaboureau, J.-P. and Claud, C.: Satellite-based climatology of Mediterranean cloud systems and their association with large-scale circulation, J. Geophys. Res., 111, D01102, doi:10.1029/2005JD006460, 2006. (Pubitemid 43263775)
9. Chaboureau, J. P., Cammas, J. P., Mascart, P., Pinty, J. P., Claud, C., Roca, R., and Morcrette, J. J.: Evaluation of a cloud system life-cycle simulated by Meso-NH during FASTEX using METEOSAT radiances and TOVS-3I cloud retrievals, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 126, 1735-1750, 2000. (Pubitemid 30620899)
10. Chaboureau, J.-P., Pantillon, F., Lambert, D., Richard, E., and Claud, C.: Tropical transition of a Mediterranean storm by jet crossing, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., doi:10.1002/qj.960, in press, 2012.
11. Claud, C., Alhammoud, B., Funatsu, B. M., and Chaboureau, J.-P.: Mediterranean hurricanes: large-scale environment and convective and precipitating areas from satellite microwave observations, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 10, 2199-2213, doi:10.5194/nhess-10-2199-2010, 2010.
12. Dee, D. P., Uppala, S. M., Simmons, A. J., Berrisford, P., Poli, P., Kobayashi, S., Andrae, U., Balmaseda, M. A., Balsamo, G., Bauer, P., Bechtold, P., Beljaars, A. C. M., van de Berg, L., Bidlot, J., Bormann, N., Delsol, C., Dragani, R., Fuentes, M., Geer, A. J., Haimberger, L., Healy, S. B., Hersbach, H., Hólm, E. V., Isaksen, L., Kållberg, P., Köhler, M., Matricardi, M., McNally, A. P., Monge-Sanz, B. M., Morcrette, J.-J., Park, B.-K., Peubey, C., de Rosnay, P., Tavolato, C., Thépaut, J.-N., and Vitart, F.: The ERA-Interim reanalysis: configuration and performance of the data assimilation system, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 137, 553-597, doi:10.1002/qj.828, 2011.
13. Deeter, M. N. and Vivekanandan, J.: AMSU-B observations of mixed-phase clouds over land, J. Appl. Meteor., 44, 72-85, 2005. (Pubitemid 40323056)
14. Di Tomaso, E., Romano, F., and Cuomo, V.: Rainfall estimation from satellite passive microwave observations in the range 89 GHz to 190 GHz, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D18203, doi:10.1029/2009JD011746, 2009.
15. Drobinski, P., Ducrocq, V., and Lionello P.: Studying the hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean, EOS Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 91, p. 373, doi:10.1029/2010EO410006, 2010.
16. Drobinski, P., Ducrocq, V., Lionello, P., and Homar, V. : HyMeX, the newest GEWEX regional hydroclimate project, GEWEX Newsletter, 21, 10-11, 2011.
17. Drobinski, P., Anav, A., Lebeaupin Brossier, C., Samson, G., Stéfanon, M., Bastin, S., Baklouti, M., Béranger, K., Beuvier, J., Bourdallé-Badie, R., Coquart, L., D'Andrea, F., De Noblet- Ducoudré, N., Diaz, F., Dutay, J.C., Ethe, C., Foujols, M.A., Khvorostyanov, D., Madec, G., Mancip, M., Masson, S., Menut, L., Palmieri, J., Polcher, J., Turquety, S., Valcke, S., and Viovy, N.: Modelling the Regional Coupled Earth system (MORCE): application to process and climate studies in vulnerable regions, Environ. Model. Softw., in press, doi:10.1016/j.envsoft. 2012.01.017, 2012.
18. Fischer, E. M., Seneviratne, S. I., Luthi, D., and Schar, C.: Contribution of land-atmosphere coupling to recent European summer heat waves, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L06707, doi:10.1029/2006GL029068, 2007. (Pubitemid 46865329)
19. Flocas, H. A., Simmonds, I., Kouroutzoglou, J., Keay, K., Hatsaki, M., Bricolas V., and Asimakopoulos, D.: On cyclonic tracks over the Eastern Mediterranean, J. Climate, 23, 5243-5257, doi:10.1175/2010JCLI3426.1, 2010.
20. Frei, C. and Schär, C.: A precipitation climatology of the Alps from high-resolution rain-gauge observations, Int. J. Climatol., 18, 873-900, 1998. (Pubitemid 28519735)
21. Funatsu, B. M., Claud, C., and Chaboureau, J. P.: Potential of Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit to identify precipitating systems and associated upper-level features in the Mediterranean region: Case studies, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D17113, doi:10.1029/2006JD008297, 2007. (Pubitemid 350042309)
22. Funatsu, B. M., Claud, C., and Chaboureau, J. P.: A 6-year AMSUbased climatology of upper-level troughs and associated precipitation distribution in the Mediterranean region, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D15120, doi:10.1029/ 2008JD009918, 2008.
23. Funatsu, B. M., Claud, C., and Chaboureau, J. P.: Comparison between the large-scale environments of moderate and intense precipitating systems in the Mediterranean region, Mon. Weather Rev., 137, 3933-3959, doi:10.1175/ 2009MWR2922.1, 2009.
24. Gaertner, M. A., Jacob, D., Gil, V., Dominguez, M., Padorno, E., Sanchez, E., and Castro, M.: Tropical cyclones over the Mediterranean Sea in climate change simulations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L14711, doi:10.1029/2007GL029977, 2007. (Pubitemid 47394003)
25. Giorgi, F.: Climate change hot-spots, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L08707, doi:10.1029/2006GL025735, 2006. (Pubitemid 43772892)
26. Goodrum, G., Kidwell, K., and Winston, W.: NOAA KLM User's Guide, US Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service, 2000.
27. Greenwald, T. J. and Christopher, S. A.: Effect of cold clouds on satellite measurements near 183 GHz, J. Geophys. Res., 107, 4170, doi:10.1029/2000JD000258, 2002.
28. Hong, G., Heygster, G., Miao, J., and Kunzi, K.: Detection of tropical deep convective clouds from AMSU-B water vapor channels measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 110, D05205, doi:10.1029/2004JD004949, 2005. (Pubitemid 40815058)
29. Hulme, M., Barrow, E. M., Arnell, N. W., Harrison, P. A., Johns, T. C., and Downing, T. E.: Relative impacts of human-induced climate change and natural variability, Nature, 397, 688-691, 1999.
30. Jansa, A., Genoves, A., Picornell, M. A., Campins, J., Riosalido, R., and Carretero, O.: Western Mediterranean cyclones and heavy rain, Part 2: Statistical approach, Meteor. Appl., 8, 43-56, 2001. (Pubitemid 33620732)
31. John, V. O., Holl, G., Buehler, S. A., Candy, B., Saunders, R. W., and Parker, D. E.: Understanding inter-satellite biases of microwave humidity sounders using global simultaneous nadir overpasses, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D02305, doi:10.1029/2011JD016349, 2012.
32. Kain, J. S.: The Kain-Fritsch convective parameterization: An update, J. Appl. Meteorol., 43, 170-181, 2004.
33. Kleespies, T. J. and Watts, P.: Comparison of simulated radiances, Jacobians and linear error analysis for the Microwave Humidity Sounder and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B, Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc., 132, 3001-3010, 2007.
34. Kongoli, C., Pellegrino, P., Ferraro, R., Meng, H., and Dean, C.: The utilization of the AMSU high frequency measurements for improved coastal rain retrievals, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L17809, doi:10.1029/2007GL029940, 2007. (Pubitemid 350065290)
35. Lafore, J. P., Stein, J., Asencio, N., Bougeault, P., Ducrocq, V., Duron, J., Fischer, C., Héreil, P., Mascart, P., Masson, V., Pinty, J. P., Redelsperger, J. L., Richard, E., and Vilà-Guerau de Arellano, J.: The Meso-NH Atmospheric Simulation System. Part I: adiabatic formulation and control simulations, Ann. Geophys., 16, 90-109, doi:10.1007/s00585-997-0090-6, 1998.
36. Laviola, S. and Levizzani, V.: Observing precipitation by means of water vapor absorption lines: a first check of the retrieval capabilities of the 183-WSL rain retrieval method, Italian J. Remote Sens., 41, 39-49, 2009.
37. Laviola, S. and Levizzani, V.: The 183-WSL fast rain rate retrieval algorithm, Part I: Retrieval design, Atmos. Res., 99, 443-461, 2011.
38. Lebeaupin Brossier, C., Béranger, K., Deltel, C., and Drobinski, P.: The Mediterranean response to different space-time resolution atmospheric forcings using perpetual mode sensitivity simulations, Ocean Model., 36, 1-25, 2011.
39. Lima, W. F. A., Machado, L. A. T., Morales, C. A., and Viltard, N.: Rainfall sensitivity analyses for the HSB sounder: an Amazon case study, Int. J. Remote Sens., 28, 3520-3545, doi:10.1080/01431160601013526, 2007. (Pubitemid 47215315)
40. Madec, G.: NEMO ocean engine, Note du Pole de modélisation, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (IPSL), France, No 27, ISSN No 1288-1619, 2008.
41. Mariotti, A., Struglia, M., Zeng, N., and Lau, K.: The hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean region and implications for the water budget of the Mediterranean Sea, J. Climate, 15, 1674-1690, 2001.
42. Meirold-Mautner, I., Prigent, C., Defer, E., Pardo, J.-R., Chaboureau, J.-P., Pinty, J.-P., Mech, M., and Crewell, S.: Radiative transfer simulations using mesoscale cloud model outputs: comparisons with passive microwave and infrared satellite observations for mid-latitudes, J. Atmos. Sci., 64, 1550-1568, 2007. (Pubitemid 46882308)
43. Mo, T.: AMSU-A antenna pattern corrections, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 37, 103-112, 1999.
44. Mo, T.: Calibration and validation of the NOAA-18 Microwave radiometers, IEEE MicroRad, 24-28, 2006. (Pubitemid 46949086)
45. Saunders, R. W., Matricardi, M., Brunel, P., English, S., Bauer, P., O'Keeffe, U., Francis, P., and Rayer, P.: RTTOV-8 Science and Validation Report, Technical Report, Numer. Weather Predic. Satell. Appl. Facil., Exeter, UK, 41 pp., 2005.
46. Skamarock, W. C., Klemp, J. B., Dudhia, J., Gill, D. O., Barker, D. M., Duda, M. G., Huang, X-Y., Wang, W., and Powers, J. G.: A description of the Advanced Research WRF Version 3, NCAR Tech. Note NCAR/TN-475+STR, 125 pp., 2008.
47. Surussawadee, C. and Staelin, D. H.: Satellite retrievals of Arctic and Equatorial rain and snowfall rates using Millimeter Wavelengths, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 47, 3697-3707, doi:10.1109/TGRS.2009.2029093, 2009.
48. Surussawadee, C. and Staelin, D.H.: Global precipitation retrievals using the NOAA AMSU Millimeter-Wave Channels: Comparisons with rain gauges, J. Appl. Met. Clim., 49, 124-135, doi:10.1175/2009JAMC2262.1, 2010.
49. Trigo, I. F., Bigg, G. R., and Davies, T. D.: Climatology of cyclogenesis mechanisms in the Mediterranean, Mon. Weather Rev., 130, 549-569, 2002. (Pubitemid 34842409)
50. Valcke, S.: OASIS3 User Guide (prism\ 2-5), CERFACS Technical Report TR/CMGC/06/73, PRISM Report No 3, Toulouse, France, 60 pp., 2006.
51. Vila, D., Ferraro, R., and Joyce, R. : Evaluation and improvement of AMSU precipitation retrievals, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D20119, doi:10.1029/ 2007JD008617, 2007. (Pubitemid 350285705)
52. Wiedner, M., Prigent, C., Pardo, J. R., Nuissier, O., Chaboureau, J.-P., Pinty, J.-P., and Mascart, P.: Modeling of passive microwave responses in convective situations using output from mesoscale models: Comparison with TRMM/TMI satellite observations, J. Geophys. Res., 109, D06214, doi:10.1029/2003JD004280, 2004.
53. Xie, P. and Arkin, P. A.: Analyses of global monthly precipitation using gauge observations, satellite estimates, and numerical model predictions, J. Climate, 9, 840-858, 1996.
54. Ziv, B., Saaroni, H., and Alpert, P.: The factors governing the summer regime of the eastern Mediterranean, Int. J. Climatol., 24, 1859-1871, 2004. (Pubitemid 39587917)