The NEFOCAST project: Quantitative precipitation estimation based on interactive satellite terminals

In this paper we describe an algorithm to retrieve 2D rainfall fields exploiting the attenuation measurements made along satellite links. This algorithm has been developed in the framework of the project NEFOCAST, a research project funded by Tuscany region. Preliminary results show that there is a good matching between the rain rate retrieved from the satellite links’ attenuation and the rain rate measured by rain gauges and weather radar. In the future, the installation of additional devices will enable the implementation of a more sophisticated algorithm for assessing the rain rate, allowing a detailed reconstruction of the rainfall field.