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@ARTICLE{Schnepper:1014782,
author = {Schnepper, Tobias and Groh, Jannis and Gerke, Horst H. and
Reichert, Barbara and Pütz, Thomas},
title = {{E}valuation of precipitation measurement methods using
data from a precision lysimeter network},
journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {17},
issn = {1027-5606},
address = {Munich},
publisher = {EGU},
reportid = {FZJ-2023-03466},
pages = {3265 - 3292},
year = {2023},
abstract = {Accurate precipitation data are essential for assessing the
water balance of ecosystems. Methods for point precipitation
determination are influenced by wind, precipitation type and
intensity and/or technical issues. High-precision weighable
lysimeters provide precipitation measurements at ground
level that are less affected by wind disturbances and are
assumed to be relatively close to actual precipitation. The
problem in previous studies was that the biases in
precipitation data introduced by different precipitation
measurement methods were not comprehensively compared with
and quantified on the basis of those obtained by lysimeters
in different regions in Germany.The aim was to quantify
measurement errors in standard precipitation gauges as
compared to the lysimeter reference and to analyze the
effect of precipitation correction algorithms on the gauge
data quality. Both correction methods rely on empirical
constants to account for known external influences on the
measurements, following a generic and a site-specific
approach. Reference precipitation data were obtained from
high-precision weighable lysimeters of the TERrestrial
ENvironmental Observatories (TERENO)-SOILCan lysimeter
network. Gauge types included tipping bucket gauges (TBs),
weighable gauges (WGs), acoustic sensors (ASs) and optical
laser disdrometers (LDs). From 2015-2018, data were
collected at three locations in Germany, and 1 h
aggregated values for precipitation above a threshold of
0.1 mm h−1 were compared.The results show that all
investigated measurement methods underestimated the
precipitation amounts relative to the lysimeter references
for long-term precipitation totals with catch ratios (CRs)
of between $33 \%–92 \%.$ Data from ASs had overall
biases of −0.25 to −0.07 mm h−1, while data from
WGs and LDs showed the lowest measurement bias (−0.14 to
−0.06 mm h−1 and −0.01 to −0.02 mm h−1).
Two TBs showed systematic deviations with biases of −0.69
to −0.61 mm h−1, while other TBs were in the
previously reported range with biases of
−0.2 mm h−1. The site-specific and generic
correction schemes reduced the hourly measurement bias by
0.13 and 0.08 mm h−1 for the TBs and by 0.09 and
0.07 mm h−1 for the WGs and increased long-term CRs by
$14 \%$ and $9 \%$ and by $10 \%$ and $11 \%,$
respectively.It could be shown that the lysimeter reference
operated with minor uncertainties in long-term measurements
under different site and weather conditions. The results
indicate that considerable precipitation measurement errors
can occur even at well-maintained and professionally
operated stations equipped with standard precipitation
gauges. This generally leads to an underestimation of the
actual precipitation amounts. The results suggest that the
application of relatively simple correction schemes, manual
or automated data quality checks, instrument calibrations,
and/or an adequate choice of observation period can help
improve the data quality of gauge-based measurements for
water balance calculations, ecosystem modeling, water
management, assessment of agricultural irrigation needs, or
radar-based precipitation analyses.},
cin = {IBG-3},
ddc = {550},
cid = {I:(DE-Juel1)IBG-3-20101118},
pnm = {2173 - Agro-biogeosystems: controls, feedbacks and impact
(POF4-217)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-2173},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
UT = {WOS:001161824700001},
doi = {10.5194/hess-27-3265-2023},
url = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1014782},
}