Nonsystematic Errors of Monthly Oceanic Rainfall Derived from SSM/I

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Abstract
About 10 yr (July 1987–December 1997 with December 1987 missing) of oceanic monthly rainfall based on data taken by the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) on board the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites have been computed. The technique, based on the work of Wilheit et al., includes improved parameterization of the beam-filling correction, a refined land mask and sea ice filter. Monthly means are calculated for both 5° and 2.5° latitude–longitude boxes. Monthly means over the latitude band of 50°N–50°S and error statistics are presented. The time-averaged rain rate is 3.09 mm day−1 (std dev of 0.15 mm day−1) with an error of 38.0% (std dev of 3.0%) for the 5° monthly means over the 10-yr period. These statistics compare favorably with 3.00 mm day−1 (std dev of 0.19 mm day−1) and 46.7% (std dev of 3.4%) computed from the 2.5° monthly means for the period January 1992–December 1994. Examination of the different rain rate categories shows no distinct discontinuity, except for m... Abstract About 10 yr (July 1987–December 1997 with December 1987 missing) of oceanic monthly rainfall based on data taken by the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) on board the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites have been computed. The technique, based on the work of Wilheit et al., includes improved parameterization of the beam-filling correction, a refined land mask and sea ice filter. Monthly means are calculated for both 5° and 2.5° latitude–longitude boxes. Monthly means over the latitude band of 50°N–50°S and error statistics are presented. The time-averaged rain rate is 3.09 mm day−1 (std dev of 0.15 mm day−1) with an error of 38.0% (std dev of 3.0%) for the 5° monthly means over the 10-yr period. These statistics compare favorably with 3.00 mm day−1 (std dev of 0.19 mm day−1) and 46.7% (std dev of 3.4%) computed from the 2.5° monthly means for the period January 1992–December 1994. Examination of the different rain rate categories shows no distinct discontinuity, except for m...

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