Estimation Of High-Resolution Rainfall Using Microwave Links Data Of Cellular System

One cannot manage what one does not measure is an old adage that is valid for the rainfall in the irrigated irrigation system. Water resources management required the efficient measurement of all water resources management component. Water resources management components measurement is the responsibility of respective organization. Rainfall measurement is the responsibility of the Pakistan Meteorological Department using standard gauge system. Deficiency in the system is the low spatial and temporal resolution. This directed the water manager towards the high resolution of satellite system. Satellite resolution is still course than the available cellular towers system and it is unable to capture the high resolution spatio-temporal variation in the Rainfall. This challenge of high resolution was conquered using microwave signals of Telenor cellular communication system in the surrounded area of Water Management Research Centre, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Rainfall was estimated based on the attenuation in the microwave signal between receiver and transmitter of the link. Receiver and transmitter are two different antenna on the cellular tower. One receiver and one transmitter make the single link. High resolution data at 15-minute temporal and 1.5Km spatial of total 24 links was processed using the R language written code. Results presented that the average daily rainfall using cellular system was 14.5 mm, while the satellite derived rainfall from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) was found zero and UAF meteorological showed 21.3 mm. Further the temporal resolution was found finer from cellular system that rainfall was occurred at 22:15 to 22:45. The spatial variation in the rainfall between links was found with the minimum of less than 1mm and maximum of 42.9 mm. This state-of-the-art techniques helps the hydrologist for comprehensive analysis and management of the water resources.