Comparative Analysis of FY‐3G and GPM Observations on Precipitation Structure and Microphysical Characteristics: A Case of Super Typhoon Krathon

Abstract China's first precipitation measurement satellite, FY‐3G, became operational in April 2024. This study presents the first comparison of Level‐2 Ku‐band precipitation products from FY‐3G and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), focusing on the three‐dimensional precipitation structur...

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Main Authors: Shengnan Zhou, Yang Gao, Meng Fang, Song Yuan, Yunfei Fu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2025-07-01
Series:Earth and Space Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EA004353
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author Shengnan Zhou
Yang Gao
Meng Fang
Song Yuan
Yunfei Fu
author_facet Shengnan Zhou
Yang Gao
Meng Fang
Song Yuan
Yunfei Fu
author_sort Shengnan Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract China's first precipitation measurement satellite, FY‐3G, became operational in April 2024. This study presents the first comparison of Level‐2 Ku‐band precipitation products from FY‐3G and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), focusing on the three‐dimensional precipitation structure and microphysical characteristics of Super Typhoon Krathon (2418). Both FY‐3G and GPM observed that convective precipitation dominated the eyewall and stratiform precipitation prevailed in the inner and outer rainbands. However, FY‐3G reported higher overall precipitation intensities than GPM. In the eyewall, both satellites observed that high concentrations (dBNw > 40) of large raindrops (Dm > 2 mm) led to intense precipitation, where droplet concentration was the primary determining factor. FY‐3G exhibited a broader drop size distribution (DSD) for convective precipitation than GPM, while for 10–20 mm/hr stratiform precipitation, both Dm and lgNw had a narrower distribution. The inner rainbands exhibited the most distinct DSD differences, with FY‐3G observing Dm from 0.6 to 2.6 mm, while GPM detected 1.3–2.3 mm with lower lgNw. In the outer rainbands, both satellites observed large raindrops (Dm > 2.1 mm), driven by the super typhoon's radial circulation dynamics. For most stratiform precipitation, FY‐3G showed 1.5–2.0 mm raindrops as the main contributors, while GPM also had a high proportion of 1.0–1.5 mm drops. Both satellites consistently observed 1.5–2.0 mm drops as the main contributors in convective precipitation. Additionally, FY‐3G detected relatively higher number of raindrops smaller than 1.0 mm across various precipitation intensities, which may be primarily attributed to the higher sensitivity of the FY‐3G Precipitation Measurement Radar compared to the GPM Dual‐frequency Precipitation Radar.
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issn 2333-5084
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher American Geophysical Union (AGU)
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spelling doaj-art-48f9bf0dd2794876a36dc283bb486d9c2025-08-20T02:45:27ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Earth and Space Science2333-50842025-07-01127n/an/a10.1029/2025EA004353Comparative Analysis of FY‐3G and GPM Observations on Precipitation Structure and Microphysical Characteristics: A Case of Super Typhoon KrathonShengnan Zhou0Yang Gao1Meng Fang2Song Yuan3Yunfei Fu4School of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaNational Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) Innovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) Key Laboratory of Radiometric Calibration and Validation for Environmental Satellites China Meteorological Administration Beijing ChinaNational Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) Innovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) Key Laboratory of Radiometric Calibration and Validation for Environmental Satellites China Meteorological Administration Beijing ChinaAnhui Meteorological Observatory Hefei ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences University of Science and Technology of China Hefei ChinaAbstract China's first precipitation measurement satellite, FY‐3G, became operational in April 2024. This study presents the first comparison of Level‐2 Ku‐band precipitation products from FY‐3G and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), focusing on the three‐dimensional precipitation structure and microphysical characteristics of Super Typhoon Krathon (2418). Both FY‐3G and GPM observed that convective precipitation dominated the eyewall and stratiform precipitation prevailed in the inner and outer rainbands. However, FY‐3G reported higher overall precipitation intensities than GPM. In the eyewall, both satellites observed that high concentrations (dBNw > 40) of large raindrops (Dm > 2 mm) led to intense precipitation, where droplet concentration was the primary determining factor. FY‐3G exhibited a broader drop size distribution (DSD) for convective precipitation than GPM, while for 10–20 mm/hr stratiform precipitation, both Dm and lgNw had a narrower distribution. The inner rainbands exhibited the most distinct DSD differences, with FY‐3G observing Dm from 0.6 to 2.6 mm, while GPM detected 1.3–2.3 mm with lower lgNw. In the outer rainbands, both satellites observed large raindrops (Dm > 2.1 mm), driven by the super typhoon's radial circulation dynamics. For most stratiform precipitation, FY‐3G showed 1.5–2.0 mm raindrops as the main contributors, while GPM also had a high proportion of 1.0–1.5 mm drops. Both satellites consistently observed 1.5–2.0 mm drops as the main contributors in convective precipitation. Additionally, FY‐3G detected relatively higher number of raindrops smaller than 1.0 mm across various precipitation intensities, which may be primarily attributed to the higher sensitivity of the FY‐3G Precipitation Measurement Radar compared to the GPM Dual‐frequency Precipitation Radar.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EA004353precipitation measurement satelliteFY‐3GGPMfirst comparisonmicrophysical characteristics of super‐typhoonthree‐dimensional precipitation structure
spellingShingle Shengnan Zhou
Yang Gao
Meng Fang
Song Yuan
Yunfei Fu
Comparative Analysis of FY‐3G and GPM Observations on Precipitation Structure and Microphysical Characteristics: A Case of Super Typhoon Krathon
Earth and Space Science
precipitation measurement satellite
FY‐3G
GPM
first comparison
microphysical characteristics of super‐typhoon
three‐dimensional precipitation structure
title Comparative Analysis of FY‐3G and GPM Observations on Precipitation Structure and Microphysical Characteristics: A Case of Super Typhoon Krathon
title_full Comparative Analysis of FY‐3G and GPM Observations on Precipitation Structure and Microphysical Characteristics: A Case of Super Typhoon Krathon
title_fullStr Comparative Analysis of FY‐3G and GPM Observations on Precipitation Structure and Microphysical Characteristics: A Case of Super Typhoon Krathon
title_full_unstemmed Comparative Analysis of FY‐3G and GPM Observations on Precipitation Structure and Microphysical Characteristics: A Case of Super Typhoon Krathon
title_short Comparative Analysis of FY‐3G and GPM Observations on Precipitation Structure and Microphysical Characteristics: A Case of Super Typhoon Krathon
title_sort comparative analysis of fy 3g and gpm observations on precipitation structure and microphysical characteristics a case of super typhoon krathon
topic precipitation measurement satellite
FY‐3G
GPM
first comparison
microphysical characteristics of super‐typhoon
three‐dimensional precipitation structure
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EA004353
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