P7.3 an Enhanced Global Precipitation Measurement (gpm) Validation Network Prototype

A Validation Network (VN) prototype is currently underway that compares data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite Precipitation Radar (PR) to similar measurements from U.S. and international operational weather radars. This prototype is a major component of the Ground Validation System (GVS) activities supporting the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The purpose of the VN is to provide a means for the precipitation community to identify and resolve significant discrepancies between the ground radar (GR) observations and satellite observations. The ultimate goal of such comparisons is to understand and resolve the first order variability and bias of precipitation retrievals in different synoptic regimes at large scales. The VN prototype is based on research results and computer code described by Anagnostou et al. (2001), Bolen and Chandrasekar (2000), and Liao et al. (2001), and has previously been described by Morris, et al. (2007). This paper describes a major algorithmic improvement to the PR-to-GR volume matching procedures, new tools for analysis of the volume matched data, and updated statistical results for PR-GR reflectivity comparisons.