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Comparison of NEXRAD multisensor precipitation estimates to rain gage observations in and near DuPage County, Illinois, 2002–12

Open-File Report 2018-1061
Prepared in cooperation with the DuPage County Stormwater Management Department
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181061

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Abstract

In this report, precipitation data from 2002 to 2012 from the hourly gridded Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD)-based Multisensor Precipitation Estimate (MPE) precipitation product are compared to precipitation data from two rain gage networks—an automated tipping bucket network of 25 rain gages operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and 51 rain gages from the volunteer-operated Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network—in and near DuPage County, Illinois, at a daily time step to test for long-term differences in space, time, and distribution. The NEXRAD–MPE data that are used are from the fifty 2.5-mile grid cells overlying the rain gages from the other networks. Because of the challenges of measuring of frozen precipitation, the analysis period is separated between days with or without the chance of freezing conditions. The NEXRAD–MPE and tipping-bucket rain gage precipitation data are adjusted to account for undercatch by multiplying by a previously determined factor of 1.14. Under nonfreezing conditions, the three precipitation datasets are broadly similar in cumulative depth and distribution of daily values when the data are combined spatially across the networks. However, the NEXRAD–MPE data indicate a significant trend relative to both rain gage networks as a function of distance from the NEXRAD radar just south of the study area. During freezing conditions, of the USGS network rain gages only the heated gages were considered, and these gages indicate substantial mean undercatch of 50 and 61 percent compared to the NEXRAD–MPE and the CoCoRaHS gages, respectively. The heated USGS rain gages also indicate substantially lower quantile values during freezing conditions, except during the most extreme (highest) events. Because NEXRAD precipitation products are continually evolving, the report concludes with a discussion of recent changes in those products and their potential for improved precipitation estimation. An appendix provides an analysis of spatially combined NEXRAD–MPE precipitation data as a function of temperature at an hourly time scale and indicates, among other results, that most precipitation in the study area occurs at moderate temperatures of 30 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit. However, when precipitation does occur, its intensity increases with temperature to about 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Suggested Citation

Spies, R.R., Over, T.M., and Ortel, T.W., 2018, Comparison of NEXRAD multisensor precipitation estimates to rain gage observations in and near DuPage County, Illinois, 2002–12: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1061, 30 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181061.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Data Used in This Study
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Summary and Conclusions
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Daily Precipitation Quantile Comparisons by Year
  • Appendix 2. Dependence of NEXRAD–MPE Precipitation on Temperature
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Comparison of NEXRAD multisensor precipitation estimates to rain gage observations in and near DuPage County, Illinois, 2002–12
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2018-1061
DOI 10.3133/ofr20181061
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Illinois Water Science Center
Description v, 30 p.
Country United States
State Illinois
County DuPage County
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details