Precipitation analysis using GPS meteorology over Antarctic Peninsula

This paper mainly discusses the atmospheric precipitable water vapor (PWV) variation using a ground-based GPS receiver at Antarctic Peninsula to analyze extreme precipitation. Base Bernardo O'Higgins (OHI3), Palmer (PALM) and Rothera (ROTH) stations located around Antarctic Peninsula were selected for study. We looked into extreme participation of more than 0.5 mm/hr for three selected days in the months of March and April in the year 2013 where they were categorized as Case 1 (Day 63), Case 2 (Day 90), and Case 3 (Day 104). The GPS PWV showed a delay about 13 to 17 hours as compared to the precipitation peak taken from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM). GPS PWV was also compared with the surface meteorological data in order to study the precipitation changes. It is found that Case 1 and Case 3 gave similar change while a small difference was detected in Case 2. The changes were supported by precipitation map from NCEP/NCAR where extreme precipitation occurred at PALM for Case 1 and Case 3, and at ROTH for Case 2.