arXiv Machine Learning

Evaluating Cross-region Generalization for Wavelet-Diffusion Precipitation Downscaling

The study evaluates how well wavelet-diffusion models (WDM) for precipitation downscaling generalize across different U.S. regions and precipitation regimes. A WDM trained only on Oklahoma data performs competitively in other regions, while a model trained on all six regions achieves the best overall image-domain and detection performance, though improvements vary with precipitation intensity. The analysis shows a strong correlation between spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I) and detection success, indicating that model performance is linked to the spatial organization of precipitation fields.

arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 27

Precipitation Downscaling Using Foundation Model-Conditioned Diffusion

The study evaluates three conditioning strategies for a denoising diffusion probabilistic model to downscale daily precipitation for the Colorado River Basin. Channel concatenation of upsampled coarse predictors yields the lowest point‑wise CRPS and MSE but tends to over‑smooth high‑intensity events. Cross‑attention conditioning—both with a learned encoder and with the frozen encoder of the pretrained Prithvi‑WxC weather foundation model—provides better distributional realism, improved spectral fidelity, and stronger performance on extreme events, especially when data are limited.

By Victor Nascimento Ribeiro, Jorge Guevara, Jorge Sebastian Moraga, Chris Lucas, Natalie Lord, Andrew Taylor, Edward Lockhart, Will Trojak, Johannes Schmude, Anne Jones
arXiv AI
Sep 16

Composable multi-satellite precipitation estimation for evolving observing systems

The paper introduces PRISMA, a generative framework that separates precipitation prior training from sensor-specific constraints, allowing flexible composition of heterogeneous satellite observations without retraining the core model. By integrating FY‑4B/AGRI, GPM/GMI, F16‑F18 SSMIS, and GPM/DPR‑Ka data, PRISMA consistently improves precipitation‑estimation accuracy and outperforms IMERG Final in CRPS and RMSE while maintaining positive Brier skill across thresholds. The framework supports rapid, accurate ensemble precipitation estimates, enhancing satellite‑based monitoring for hydrometeorological hazards.

By Yunfan Yang, Haofei Sun, Xiuyu Sun, Wei Han, Xiaoze Xu, Xingtao Song, Jun Li, Zhiqiu Gao, Wei Huang
arXiv Machine Learning
Aug 19

MAGPIE-Net: Predicting short-duration heavy-rainfall events in station neighborhoods from multitemporal FY-4A AGRI observations

MAGPIE‑Net is a deep‑learning framework that directly maps multitemporal FY‑4A AGRI infrared and water‑vapor observations to short‑duration heavy‑rainfall warnings for irregular station neighborhoods. By embedding a geographically adaptive, differentiable grid‑to‑station mapping and training with station‑neighborhood event losses, the model outperforms traditional gridded‑precipitation baselines, achieving higher detection rates and longer lead times in 2023 warm‑season tests over China.

By Xiang Lin, Yunying Li, Chengzhi Ye, Zitong Chen, Jing Sun
arXiv AI
Sep 10

PCSDiff: Diffusion-Based Bias Correction and Super Resolution Toward Practical Operational Medium-Term Precipitation Forecast

PCSDiff is a diffusion-based framework designed to correct systematic biases and enhance spatial resolution in medium-term (10‑day) precipitation forecasts. It uses a Precipitation Intensity‑aware Multi‑branch Decoder to mitigate dynamic multi‑day errors and a two‑phase conditional diffusion super‑resolution module to restore fine‑scale rainfall patterns. Evaluated over China, PCSDiff reduces RMSE by 16.1% and increases ACC by 13.9% compared to raw ECMWF forecasts, outperforming mainstream deep‑learning baselines and enabling low‑latency rolling forecasts for operational use.

By Yuze Sun, Shiyi Wang, Jiancheng Pan, Die Wang, Andreas F. Prein, Wentao Luo, Linhan Jiang, Jie Wu, Quan Zhang, Xiaomeng Huang
arXiv Computer Vision
Sep 1

Multi-Sensor Mapping of Vulnerable Urban Settlements Using SAR, Multispectral, and Hyperspectral Imagery: A Case Study in C\'ordoba, Argentina

The paper introduces a multi‑sensor deep learning framework for mapping informal settlements in Córdoba, Argentina, using high‑resolution PlanetScope multispectral imagery, COSMO‑SkyMed SAR data, and medium‑resolution PRISMA hyperspectral observations. It compares SAR‑only, MS‑only, and various fusion strategies (early, middle, late) and finds that late fusion with hyperspectral data (LF+HS) delivers the best balance of classification accuracy and spatial precision. The study also demonstrates that detections outside official polygons align with broader municipal vulnerability layers and that identified settlements show higher surface temperatures during a heatwave, highlighting localized heat amplification.

By Luigi Russo, Anabella Ferral, Silvia Liberata Ullo, Paolo Gamba
arXiv Statistics ML
Sep 11

Stress-Testing Dynamical and Generative Downscaling Using Subseasonal Extreme Precipitation Forecasts

The study compares the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) dynamical model with an unpaired diffusion-based generative model for downscaling extreme precipitation events up to three weeks ahead. Both models outperform raw European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts forecasts when evaluated against Swiss rain gauge-radar observations, but their strengths differ by atmospheric regime: WRF excels in a multicell, non‑stationary event, while the diffusion model performs more consistently and better in a stationary supercell event.

By Mauricio Lima, Marika Koukoula, Romain Pilon, Monika Feldmann, Erwan Koch, Daniela I. V. Domeisen, Tom Beucler
arXiv Machine Learning
Jun 9

SwAIther-Precip: Lead-Time-Aware Bias Correction Enables Kilometer-Scale Downscaling of Global AI Precipitation Forecasts over Switzerland

arXiv:2605. 16163v2 Announce Type: replace-cross Abstract: Skillful medium-range precipitation forecasting at kilometer scale remains challenging over complex terrain because precipitation arises from multiscale nonlinear processes that global models cannot explicitly resolve at affordable cost.

By Dan Assouline, Erwan Koch, Federico Amato, Filippo Quarenghi, Daniele Nerini, Thibaut Loiseau, Kyle van de Langemheen, Tom Beucler