Raingauge and C-band radar monthly rainfall comparison in the po plain area

Hourly quantitative rainfall estimation from a C-band radar, are routinely carried out for agrometeorological purposes. The rainfall field is computed over a circular area of 110 km radius from the radar site with a grid mesh of 5 km. For this specific application the area selected is restricted to the Po plain. The Marshall-Palmer estimate and the gauge-calibrated radar rainfall are compared against two networks of gauges, one used in the calibration procedure and an independent one. The,analysis of two year (1997-1998) data set put in evidence a general underestimation of the raw radar data against raingauges and a good correspondence of calibrated data radar against raingauges, with no significant dependence of rain regimes. The adjustment do not depends with the distance form the radar. Radar data allowed a quality control of the raingauge measurements, with a rejection of about 10 % of the station data. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.