Working Group 2 - Data Development

Vision

To advance understanding of the four key precipitation processes — ARs, Monsoons, TCs, and MCSs — by transforming the accessibility, quality, and usability of precipitation data, especially in data-sparse regions. These efforts aim to provide the observational bedrock that underpins improved precipitation prediction and climate modelling, contributing to long-term climate understanding and societal resilience.

Objectives/Mission

WG2 aims to improve understanding of the four key precipitation processes by integrating rain gauge, radar, snow weight, satellite, reanalysis, and other precipitation-relevant data into robust, high-quality observational datasets.

Key Activities/Planned activities in the near term:

  1.  Data Integration & Uncertainty Reduction: WG2 aims to identify regions and conditions where gridded precipitation datasets are particularly uncertain or biased — especially in mountains, tropics, and polar areas. (→ GPEX Q1)
    Near-Term Planned Activities: Data integration & validation including intercomparison campaigns, hybrid network pilots, bias atlas & guidelines
  2. Process-Based Precipitation Science: WG2 investigates dynamic, thermodynamic, and microphysical processes by synthesizing diverse observations (e.g., GPS-PWV, disdrometers, water isotopes), to advance understanding across distinct precipitation regimes. (→ GPEX Q2)
    Near-Term Planned Activities: Process attribution & dataset curation including multi-source data synthesis, global “precipitation-environmental matrix”
  3. Model–Observation Synergy: WG2 provides observational constraints to support model evaluation and improvement, particularly for different precipitation types and processes. (→ GPEX Q3)
    Near-Term Planned Activities: Model error quantification including storm-type error atlas (MCS, TC), Targeted OSSEs Strategic Collaboration: ERA5 and/or ECMWF Land Precipitation Product
  4. Equitable Data Access & Capacity Building: WG2 works to overcome data-sharing barriers in developing regions by co-designing hybrid observational networks — including rain gauges, IoT, and citizen science, and contributes to training and open data initiatives in collaboration with WG4. (→ GPEX Q4)
    Near-Term Planned Activities: Capacity building including training workshop and data collection 

WG2 - Members

 Name  Function  Affiliation  Country
Akiyo Yatagai  Co-chair Hirosaki University Japan
Hui Su  Co-chair The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, China
Simon Ageet  Member Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Troposphere Research (IMKTRO) Germany
Simon Alexander  Member Australian Antarctic Division Australia
Margot Bador  Member CECI CNRS/CERFACS France
Ali Behrangi  Member Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona USA
Zhe Feng  Member Pacific Northwest National Laboratory USA
Shoichi Shige  Member Kyoto University, Japan Japan
Harald Sodemann  Member Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen Norway
Markus Ziese  Member Deutscher Wetterdienst Germany