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

Abstract

In this paper, we illustrate a new, simple and complementary ground-based methodologyto retrieve the vertically resolved atmospheric precipitation intensity through a synergy betweenmeasurements from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Micropulse Lidarnetwork (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 Politècnicade Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. The methodology is suitable to be applied to existing and/or futurelidar/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 lightprecipitation (<3 mm h−1).