Random Errors of Oceanic Monthly Rainfall Derived from SSM/I Using Probability Distribution Functions
Open Access
- 1 August 1993
- journal article
- Published by American Meteorological Society in Monthly Weather Review
- Vol. 121 (8) , 2351-2354
- https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1993)121<2351:reoomr>2.0.co;2
Abstract
Global averages and random errors associated with the monthly oceanic rain rates derived from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data using the technique developed by Wilheit et al. are computed. Accounting for the beam-filling bias, a global annual average rain rate of 1.26 m is computed. The error estimation scheme is based on the existence of independent (morning and afternoon) estimates of the monthly mean. Calculations show overall random errors of about 50%–60% for each 5° × 5° box. The results are insensitive to different sampling strategy (odd and even days of the month). Comparison of the SSM/I estimates with raingage data collected at the Pacific atoll stations showed a low bias of about 8%, a correlation of 0.7, and an rms difference of 55%.Keywords
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