Weather radar rainfall data in urban hydrology

Abstract

Application of weather radar data in urban hydrological applications has evolved significantly during the past decade as an alternative to traditional rainfall observations with rain gauges. Advances in radar hardware, data processing, numerical models, and emerging fields within urban hydrology, necessitate an updated review of the state of the art in radar rainfall for urban hydrological applications. <br><br> Three key areas of research have been identified as especially important in application of radar data in urban hydrology, given their significant advances over the past decade: 1) Temporal and spatial resolution of rainfall data required for different hydrological applications, 2) Rainfall estimation, radar data adjustment and data quality, and 3) Nowcasting of radar rainfall and real-time applications. Based on these three fields of research, the paper provides recommendations based on an updated overview of shortcomings, gains, and novel developments in relation to urban hydrological applications. <br><br> The paper reviews how the focus in urban hydrology as a field of research has shifted over the last decade to fields such as urban resilience to hydrological extremes, climate change impacts, and on-line warning/prediction systems. It is discussed how radar rainfall data can contribute to existing hydrological fields and add value to the aforementioned emerging fields in current and future applications.