Application of a Comprehensive Bias-Correction Model to Precipitation Measured at Russian North Pole Drifting Stations

• Published in: Journal of hydrometeorology Vol. 3; no. 6; pp. 700 - 713
• Main Authors: Bogdanova, Esfir G., Ilyin, Boris M., Dragomilova, Irina V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Meteorological Society 01-12-2002
• ISSN: 1525-755X; 1525-7541
• DOI: 10.1175/1525-7541(2002)003<0700:AOACBC>2.0.CO;2

An improved bias correction is applied to daily precipitation measured at Russian North Pole drifting stations during the period from the early 1950s through 1990. The bias-correction method is based on a model accounting for all main systematic errors of precipitation measurement by means of the standard Tretyakov gauge, namely: aerodynamic error; joint effect of wetting, evaporation, and condensation at the gauge collector interior; trace precipitation; and the effect of “false” precipitation due to blowing snow flux into the gauge. The bias-corrected annual precipitation averaged over the entire period and all drifting stations amounts to 165 mm, which is 28% higher than the measured value. Large errors induced by strong winds are to a certain extent compensated by the false precipitation, the amount of which increases with the wind speed and blizzard duration. Annual mean false precipitation comprises 30% of the total measured precipitation. The validity of the obtained bias-corrected estimates, both for the cold season (solid precipitation only) and for the entire year, is supported by a comparison against estimates of the snow water equivalent (SWE) at the drifting stations.