The hallmark of recent advances in radar precipitation estimates is the high resolutiondetection of spatially variable rainfall over large areas. Radar data far exceeds spatialdensities of most rain gage networks and is useful for filling in the gaps between gagemeasurements. While radar provides the spatial and temporal patterns of rainfall, itrequires correction or adjustment to remove systematic over- or underestimation ofrainfall rates. Research in radar measurement of rainfall is needed to address the accurateconversion of reflectivity to rain rate, how radar system characteristics affect resolutionand precision of the rainfall data, and improved methods for bias adjustment to removesystematic errors. First, we examine the origin and characteristics of radar estimation ofrainfall, implementation of radar technology and algorithms, and then provide anoverview of radar research needs in hydrology. Research and resulting advances in radarhardware and computer algorithms are expected to improve the use and reliability ofradar information for civil infrastructure design and flood forecasting operations.
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