Evaluation of catch efficiency transfer functions for unshielded and single-Alter-shielded solid precipitation measurements

AbstractSolid precipitation undercatch can reach 20% to 70% depending on meteorological conditions, the precipitation gauge, and the wind shield used. Five catch efficiency transfer functions were selected from the literature to adjust undercatch from unshielded and single-Alter shielded precipitation gauges for different accumulation periods. The parameters from these equations were calibrated using data from 11 sites with a WMO-approved reference measurement. This paper presents an evaluation of these transfer functions using data from the Neige site, which is located in the eastern Canadian boreal climate zone, and was not used to derive any of the transfer functions available for evaluation. Solid precipitation measured at the Neige site were underestimated by 34% and 21% when compared to a manual reference precipitation measurement, for unshielded and single-Alter shielded gauges respectively. Catch efficiency transfer functions were used to adjust these solid precipitation measurements, but all equa...