Space-time calibration of radar rainfall data

Motivated by a specific problem concerning the relationship between radar r eflectance and rainfall intensity, the paper develops a space-time model fo r use in environmental monitoring applications. The model is cast as a high dimensional multivariate state space time series model, in which the cross -covariance structure is derived from the spatial context of the component series, in such a way that its interpretation is essentially independent of the particular set of spatial locations at which the data are recorded. We develop algorithms for estimating the parameters of the model by maximum l ikelihood, and for making spatial predictions of the radar calibration para meters by using realtime computations. We apply the model to data from a we ather radar station in Lancashire, England, and demonstrate through empiric al validation the predictive performance of the model.