Fusion of multi-source precipitation records via coordinate-based generative model

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sun, Sencan, Nai, Congyi, Pan, Baoxiang, Li, Wentao, Li, Lu, Li, Xin, Foufoula-Georgiou, Efi, Lin, Yanluan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Sun, Sencan
Nai, Congyi
Pan, Baoxiang
Li, Wentao
Li, Lu
Li, Xin
Foufoula-Georgiou, Efi
Lin, Yanluan
author_facet Sun, Sencan
Nai, Congyi
Pan, Baoxiang
Li, Wentao
Li, Lu
Li, Xin
Foufoula-Georgiou, Efi
Lin, Yanluan
contents Precipitation remains one of the most challenging climate variables to observe and predict accurately. Existing datasets face intricate trade-offs: gauge observations are relatively trustworthy but sparse, satellites provide global coverage with retrieval uncertainties, and numerical models offer physical consistency but are biased and computationally intensive. Here we introduce PRIMER (Precipitation Record Infinite MERging), a deep generative framework that fuses these complementary sources to produce accurate, high-resolution, full-coverage precipitation estimates. PRIMER employs a coordinate-based diffusion model that learns from arbitrary spatial locations and associated precipitation values, enabling seamless integration of gridded data and irregular gauge observations. Through two-stage training--first learning large-scale patterns, then refining with accurate gauge measurements--PRIMER captures both large-scale climatology and local precision. Once trained, it can downscale forecasts, interpolate sparse observations, and correct systematic biases within a principled Bayesian framework. Using gauge observations as ground truth, PRIMER effectively corrects biases in existing datasets, yielding statistically significant error reductions at most stations and furthermore enhancing the spatial coherence of precipitation fields. Crucially, it generalizes without retraining, correcting biases in operational forecasts it has never seen. This demonstrates how generative AI can transform Earth system science by combining imperfect data, providing a scalable solution for global precipitation monitoring and prediction.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_11698
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Fusion of multi-source precipitation records via coordinate-based generative model
Sun, Sencan
Nai, Congyi
Pan, Baoxiang
Li, Wentao
Li, Lu
Li, Xin
Foufoula-Georgiou, Efi
Lin, Yanluan
Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics
Precipitation remains one of the most challenging climate variables to observe and predict accurately. Existing datasets face intricate trade-offs: gauge observations are relatively trustworthy but sparse, satellites provide global coverage with retrieval uncertainties, and numerical models offer physical consistency but are biased and computationally intensive. Here we introduce PRIMER (Precipitation Record Infinite MERging), a deep generative framework that fuses these complementary sources to produce accurate, high-resolution, full-coverage precipitation estimates. PRIMER employs a coordinate-based diffusion model that learns from arbitrary spatial locations and associated precipitation values, enabling seamless integration of gridded data and irregular gauge observations. Through two-stage training--first learning large-scale patterns, then refining with accurate gauge measurements--PRIMER captures both large-scale climatology and local precision. Once trained, it can downscale forecasts, interpolate sparse observations, and correct systematic biases within a principled Bayesian framework. Using gauge observations as ground truth, PRIMER effectively corrects biases in existing datasets, yielding statistically significant error reductions at most stations and furthermore enhancing the spatial coherence of precipitation fields. Crucially, it generalizes without retraining, correcting biases in operational forecasts it has never seen. This demonstrates how generative AI can transform Earth system science by combining imperfect data, providing a scalable solution for global precipitation monitoring and prediction.
title Fusion of multi-source precipitation records via coordinate-based generative model
topic Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.11698