Diurnal cycle of oceanic precipitation from SSM/I data

Four and a half years of the global monthly oceanic rain rates derived from the DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) F-8 SSM/I (Special Sensor Microwave/Imager) data are used to study the diurnal cycles. Annual mean rainfall maps based on the SSM/I morning and evening observations are presented, and their differences are examined using a paired t test. The morning estimates are larger than the afternoon estimates by about 20% over the oceanic region between 50 degree S and 50 degree N, with significant differences located mainly along the intertropical convergence zone region. Using the measurements from the satellites, either DMSP F-8 and F-10 or DMSP F-10 and F-11, amplitudes and phases of the 24-h harmonic are estimated. The diurnal cycle shows a nocturnal or early morning maximum in 35%-40% of the oceanic regions. Monte Carlo simulations show that the rms errors associated with the estimated amplitude and phase are about 100% and 2 h, respectively, mainly due to the large random errors (50%) associated with the present rainfall estimates and the nonoptimal separation times of the DMSP satellite sampling.