High resolution X-Band radar rainfall estimates for a Mediterranean to hyper-arid transition area

Abstract

This study investigates the quantitative accuracy of two X-Band weather radars recently installed in the Northern Negev (Israel). The area raises interest due to its strong climatological gradient that, in less than 100 km, ranges from Mediterranean, where land is extensively used for agriculture, to arid, where flash floods often cause casualties and damage. Rainfall estimates from the X-Band radars are processed in order to correct the effects of i) ground echoes, ii) beam blockage and iii) attenuation of the radar beam. Measures from a relatively sparse raingauge network (∼1/200 km ⁻² ) and a carefully corrected C-Band weather radar are used as a reference to quantify the accuracy of X-Band rainfall estimates on a set of rainfall events occurred during the first years of measurements.