Fingerprinting Precipitation Processes in Remote-Sensing Observations

<p>The distinctive fingerprints of precipitation processes in multifrequency measurements from GOES-East and GPM sensors are characterized using ground-based observations (rain gauges, disdrometers, spectrometers, radars, etc.) and microphysical-dynamical models.&#160; The focus is on low-level warm rain processes, including the life-cycle of hydrometeors from CN activation until they reach the land surface, not resolved by numerical weather prediction models and missed by remote observing systems on the ground or satellites.&#160; That is, the Terra Obscura of orographic precipitation. We propose and demonstrate a framework to infer local physical-statistical constraints from satellite measurements to improve quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE) in complex terrain regions globally.</p>