Leading efforts to improve global quantitative precipitation estimation

Global quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE) at higher spatial and temporal resolutions are critical for the development of applications that address a variety of scientific and societal needs. These applications range from short-term forecasting of landslides and floods to long-term climate impact studies. GEO satellite systems provide relatively frequent visible (VIS) and infrared (IR) cloud-top information, while LEO satellites include passive microwave (PMW) instruments. PMW observations provide relatively good estimates of precipitation because of the strong relationship of the retrieved signal from hydrometeors (rain and snow) within the cloud. In an effort to improve global QPEs, the International Precipitation Working Group (IPWG) was initiated in 2001 as a permanent Working Group of the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS). IPWG provides a forum for experts in precipitation research to improve the scientific understanding of precipitation observations, leading to the development of improved precipitation estimates.