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Application of cokriging techniques for the estimation of hail size

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Abstract

There are primarily two ways of estimating hail size: the first is the direct interpolation of point observations, and the second is the transformation of remote sensing fields into measurements of hail properties. Both techniques have advantages and limitations as regards generating the resultant map of hail damage. This paper presents a new methodology that combines the above mentioned techniques in an attempt to minimise the limitations and take advantage of the benefits of interpolation and the use of remote sensing data. The methodology was tested for several episodes with good results being obtained for the estimation of hail size at practically all the points analysed. The study area presents a large database of hail episodes, and for this reason, it constitutes an optimal test bench.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Associació de Defensa Forestal (ADV Pla de Lleida) for the data provided, the Research, Remote Sensing and Forecast Areas of the Servei Meteorologic de Catalunya (SMC) for their valuable help and comments, and the Project CSO2014-55799-C2-1-R (MINECO, Spain). Thanks also go to Viladrich M. for her contributions to the statistical portion, and to Juliette Lemerle and Leo Carbó.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Meteorological Service of Catalonia, C/Berlin, 38-46, 08013, Barcelona, Spain

    Carme Farnell & Tomeu Rigo

  2. Grup de Climatologia, Universitat de Barcelona, C/Montealegre, 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain

    Javier Martin-Vide

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  1. Carme Farnell
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  2. Tomeu Rigo
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Correspondence to Tomeu Rigo.

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Farnell, C., Rigo, T. & Martin-Vide, J. Application of cokriging techniques for the estimation of hail size. Theor Appl Climatol 131, 133–151 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-016-1937-0

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