Evaluation of X-band Weather Radar Data in Urban Hydrology

Sammanfattning: Throughout history it has always been crucial to accurately measure, track, and predict precipitation. This has been done using various methods with varying degrees of precision. As the world evolves and as urban areas expand, it has become more apparent that there is a need for a more efficient way to observe and record precipitation. During the summer of 2018, an X-band weather radar located in Dalby, measured precipitation for a large part of Scania County in southern Sweden, including Lund and Malmö. This high-resolution radar allows for a more detailed measurement of precipitation and a real time monitoring of storm movement. However, the accuracy of the measured rainfall and the need for data adjustment before it can be used in any hydrometeorological applications are the questions that are highly relevant. By comparing the radar data with data from conventional rain gauges, it was evident that the radar overestimates the gauge measurement, which led to the need for a bias correction. Using the bias-corrected radar data as an input to a neural network model to simulate urban flow shows that the use of X-band weather radar data moderately improves the model’s ability for prediction of urban flooding.