Comparison of X-band radar rainfall estimates in the Atlanta to Athens region
Author(s)
Williams, Nadiyah
Advisor(s)
Handlos, Zachary
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Abstract
To improve public response, flash flood warnings (FFW) and flash flood statements (FFS) have evolved to impact-based warnings (IBW), which are primarily based on radar rainfall estimates. As the climate system warms, extreme hydrological events are expected to greatly impact urban areas, such as the Atlanta metropolitan area, due to topography and impermeable infrastructure; however, detecting heavy rainfall events can be challenging in the Atlanta-Athens region, as there are blockages and gaps in radar coverage, which can lead to poor rainfall estimates. This project aims to compare rainfall data from a Furuno WR-2100 X-band radar to both S-band rainfall estimates and local rain gauge data from weather events in the Athens to Atlanta region. Information from this study will help the research team better understand the full capability of the new radar, specifically the accuracy of its rainfall estimates, and it could be used to help warning coordinators optimize their flood warning systems when the radar is used in operations. After comparing the data, parameters for the Z-R relationship will be calculated and used to evaluate the relevance of current parameters widely used for estimating and forecasting rainfall rates in the area of interest. Results are expected to show discrepancy between radar rainfall rates and rain gauge data due to the aforementioned reasons above. Comparisons are underway to fully test this hypothesis.
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Undergraduate Research Option Thesis