Description
Distinguish missing, trace and measured precipitation records.
Weather accumulation records need explicit reset, carry, observation-time and area-weight conventions. Trace or missing precipitation differs from measured zero, and radar dBZ must be converted to a linear basis before a linear reflectivity mean. Supplied density, timing and weighting terms do not create a forecast or verify actual weather conditions.
Distinguish missing, trace and measured precipitation records.
When to use this tool
Use Precipitation Trace Detection Token when you already have observed, traceReported, measuredDepth and need to distinguish missing, trace and measured precipitation records.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter observed, traceReported, measuredDepth. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read status, recordedDepth. Use the output convention below.
Require measuredDepth>=0 and reject traceReported unless observed=true. Return status missing/trace/measured and the supplied depth only for measured, otherwise numeric zero.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| observed | Observed | Required. Boolean. |
| traceReported | Trace Reported | Required. Boolean. |
| measuredDepth | Measured Depth | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| status | Status | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
| recordedDepth | Zero placeholder for missing or trace observations; consult status rather than treating every zero as measured zero. | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"observed": true,
"traceReported": true,
"measuredDepth": 0
},
"output": {
"status": "trace",
"recordedDepth": 0
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- The zero is a placeholder for missing or trace status, not verified zero rainfall. Trace detection and numerical values are not independently assessed.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Review the original gauge/radar series, clock and accumulation metadata, including resets and missing intervals. Use the complete spatial or process model for basin precipitation, snow or forecasting; local depth contributions and reference gaps do not infer unobserved weather.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Rainfall Timebin Partial Exposure Term
Allocate supplied bin rainfall depth to a partial observed duration.
- Precipitation Accumulator Reset Difference
Calculate a precipitation-accumulator increment with a known-zero-reset switch.