Vertically resolved precipitation intensity retrieved through a synergy between the ground-based NASA MPLNET lidar network measurements, surface disdrometer datasets and an analytical model solution
In this paper, we illustrate a new, simple and complementary ground-based methodology to retrieve the vertically resolved atmospheric precipitation intensity through a synergy between measurements from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Micropulse Lidar network (MPLNET), an analytical model solution and ground-based disdrometer measurements. The presented results are obtained at two mid-latitude MPLNET permanent observational sites, located respectively at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA, and at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. The methodology is suitable to be applied to existing and/or future lidar/ceilometer networks with the main objective of either providing near real-time (3 h latency) rainfall intensity measurements and/or to validate satellite missions, especially for critical light precipitation (<3 mm h-1). ; The MPL measurements and processing in Barcelona are supported by the European Union (H2020, grant 654109, ACTRIS-2), the European Fund for Regional Development, the Spanish Government (grants TEC2015-63832-P, CGL2015-65627-C3-2-R, CGL2016-81828-REDT and CGL2017-90884-REDT) and the Catalan Government (grant 2014 SGR 583). CommSensLab is a Unidad de Excelencia María de Maeztu (grant MDM-2016-0600) funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación.