A Simulation Technique to Analyse a Radar Based System for Hydrological Forecasting through a Distributed Model

In the present paper, an integrated simulation model is presented in order to evaluate the performance of a monitoring system based on a weather radar for the estimate of rainfall intensity. The employment of simulation techniques could help in the analysis of the effects of the different types of error affecting radar rainfall estimates and in the choice of valuable correction procedures, so that radar estimates can be successfully used in hydrological applications. The different parts of the model are first described, with specific reference to the simulation of radar acquisition process and to the hydrological distributed model for the computation of the discharge. Three simulations on the Bisenzio river basin in Tuscany, are presented and the obtained results are finally discussed.