MLIT XRAIN dataset

MLIT_XRAIN is a general name of the databases of physical quantities, including areal precipitation, observed by the X-band multi-parametric (X-MP) radar raingauges and C-band multi-parametric (C-MP) radar raingauges, owned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). ”MLIT_XRAIN” is composed of the following 4 types of data on DIAS: 1) ”MLIT_XRAIN_raw” data are physical quantities directly measured by each X-MP radar, and are composed of eight parameters, including received power, differential phase (inter-polarization phase difference), etc. 2) ”MLIT_XRAIN_intermediated” data are the primarily processed data from the raw data and includes five parameters for each radar, such as radar reflectivity factors, specific differential phase, etc. 3) ”MLIT_XRAIN_composite” data are the radar-derived precipitation data estimated from synthesized radar data with all X-band multi-parametric (X-MP) radars of MLIT, mainly covering major city areas. The number of X-MP radars was 11 at first, and finally increased to 39, and the period of the archived composite database is until February 2020. Any C-band MP (C-MP) radars’ data has not been utilized in this database. 4) ”MLIT_XRAIN_CXMP_composite“ data are the radar-derived precipitation data estimated from the synthesized radar data with all the C-MP & X-MP radars of MLIT, the covering area of which has been being gradually extended to almost the entire of Japan. This composite database has been archived since June 2017. If you need not directly measured radar signals but usual precipitation data, please use the MLIT_XRAIN_CXMP_composite or MLIT_XMP_XRAIN_composite. In the application for permission form, select "composite". For more information on XRAIN and synthetic radar rainfall, please refer to the "Radar Rain Gauge for Practical Engineers" (in Japanese) on the website of the River Information Center of Japan, the URL of which is listed under "Online Information" below.