Data Products: Rainfall Rate/Quantitative Precipitation Estimation

The ABI rainfall rate algorithm generates the baseline rainfall rate product from ABI infrared brightness temperatures and is calibrated in real time against microwave-derived rain rates to enhance accuracy. The algorithm generates estimates of the instantaneous rainfall rate at each ABI IR pixel. The information provided by the quantitative precipitation estimation is used by forecasters and hydrologists in flood forecasting. Much of the flooding that occurs is related to some form of convective weather. The higher spatial and temporal resolution available on the GOES-R Series ABI is able to automatically resolve rainfall rates on a much finer scale, enabling weather forecasters to produce more timely and accurate flood advisories and warnings.