GPM Catalunya as Validation Supersite for GPM Mission Catalunya’s Ground Network for Precipitation Monitoring The climate of Catalunya is representative of the climate of the Mediterranean coastal zone (as well as other mid-latitude coastal zone regions throughout the world), particularly in regards to flooding by severe storms -- most frequent in the later part of the year. The heavy rains and extreme time-space variability associated with these storms are controlled by the Mediterranean coastal zone’s marked orography and its proximity to the warm Mediterranean sea. The Meteorological Service of Catalunya (METEOCAT) and the Group of Applied Research on Hydrometeorology (GRAHI-UPC) are leading a proposal effort in coordination with the GPM Mission’s Project Science Office at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center to establish the Catalunya radar-rainguage network as one of a small set of validation supersites needed for the international GPM mission. The unique operations-research synergy created by METOCAT and GRAHI and the high quality of hardware and software components developed for Catalunya’s precipitation network provide the compelling argument to incorporate this facility into the GPM Mission’s Ground Validation Supersite Network. Catalunya has already deployed a high quality, multi-site C-band radar network supported by a dense network of telemetered raingauges. As of November’03, three radars are in operation. Two additional radars will be brought on line in 2004, providing a unique capability within Europe to monitor and predict severe storm behavior with an integrated radar-raingauge network. Introduction

GPM Catalan Precipitation Laboratory Beginning in 2004, the central area of Catalunya (some 15,000 km 2 ) will be seen by three different radars. This will enable integration of radar measurements with raingauge measurements obtaining a direct measure of the rainfall field with homogeneous quality. Coverage of Catalunya Radars High-coverage area is of strategic interest because:  It contains over 3 million habitants including a major Mediterranean city.  It is one of the greatest tourist attractions in the world.  It has high vulnerability to flooding.  There is a broad social interest in meteorological and precipitation events and the associated measurements. In Barcelona area, density of raingauges is increased due to raingauge network provided by CLABSA. Catalunya as Validation Supersite for GPM Mission

GPM GRAHI-UPC, METEOCAT, and ACA are now developing the operational tool needed to process and integrate all data produced by the Catalunya radar-raingauge network. This tool provides, in real time, a 3D volume presentation of corrected reflectivity and optimized surface rainfall measurement. In parallel to development of the rainfall measuring network, a rainfall-runoff hydrometeorological model is under development to use the rainfall data in real time for flood warnings over a variety of basins within Catalunya. This will lead to the development, and perhaps the first implementation, of the hydrometeorological validation concept -- in addition to the direct measurement-based ground validation approach. Catalunya as Validation Supersite for GPM Mission Operational Tools

GPM Catalunya (through GRAHI-UPC) is involved in a European-wide precipitation research project called VOLTAIRE. A foremost objective of this project is to design the validation supersite of Catalunya for the GPM Mission and to develop the hydrometeorological validation concept through experience gained from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). VOLTAIRE Partners The supersite design is being based on studies carried out within a simulation framework. These studies enable an improved understanding of the physical and statistical relationships between precipitation data acquired from spaceborne sensors and precipitation data measured by ground-based instruments. Catalunya as Validation Supersite for GPM Mission VOLTAIRE Project

GPM Catalunya Institutions leading proposal: METEOCAT: The Meteorological Service of Catalunya ( is in charge of the precipitation network equipment and provides the guarantee for real time data acquisition. GRAHI-UPC: The Group of Applied Research on Hydrometeorology ( is in charge of software development and conducts the technical studies needed to improve the processing tools and data quality. ACA: Water Agency of Catalunya ( FCR: Catalan Science Foundation ( IEEC: Institute for Space Studies of Catalunya ( CLABSA: Sewer network management company ( INM: National Meteorological Institute of Spain ( Other collaborating Catalunya Institutions: Catalunya as Validation Supersite for GPM Mission Partnership