Kwajalein Monthly Rainmaps

The University of Washington Mesoscale Group creates monthly rainmaps from the Kwajalein GV site using all available radar data (6-15 minute resolution). If a month has less than 75% of possible data it is labeled partial and no monthly rainmap is created. The radar reflectivity data is converted to rainrate using a single climatological Z-R (see Raingauge Data and Z-R Relationships). A gap filling algorithm is employed to account for missing data and climatological convective and stratiform reflectivity profiles are applied to correct for the height of the lowest beam above the ground. Radar data for the Kwajalein GV site begin August 1998. Thus far only the last six months of 1999 have been processed using our best calibration estimate and new and improved rainmap algorithm. Once calibration estimates are ascertained for the other months, the rainmaps (along with estimated uncertainties) will become available.