Comparison Between ERA5 Cloud Parameters and Rainfall Rate in Madrid

Abstract

This ongoing study, conducted at UPM, investigates the relationship between rainfall rate and cloud parameters, using data sourced from ERA5 and experimental rainfall rate measurements collected with a disdrometer. The findings presented in this paper have been obtained using a comprehensive dataset spanning 6 years, including total cloud liquid water, cloud base height, total cloud cover, and rainfall rate. The statistical analysis presented comprises cumulative distributions, histograms, as well as scatter plots of the ERA5 cloud parameters against both the hourly average and maximum hourly rainfall rates. It has been found that low values of total cloud liquid water and cloud base height are more probable with simultaneous rain occurrence, whereas total cloud cover yields values equal or close to one, which is its highest value.