What would you recommend is the variable most directly comparable to ground-based radar?

[GES DISC - ingridgs]

I can obtain from the file specifications document the differences between how the “e_SurfRain” and “nearSurfRain” variables. However, what would you recommend is the variable most directly comparable to ground-based radar?

Answer:
The two estimates of rainfall rate differ in that the nearSurfaceRain is constructed from a measured reflectivity just above the clutter region. The clutter region is ray angle dependent. The estimated e_SurfRain uses assumptions on the reflectivity profile down to the surface to estimate the rainfall rate below the clutter region. Which to use depends on the application. The estimated surface rain was an attempt to better match the rainfall seen by sensors like the radiometers (TMI) since they sense path integrated quantities and have no clutter region 'dead space'.

Since ground radar measurement location is a function of distance from the radar it depends on your application. Some users choose to select data from a specific height (say 2km or 4km above the Ellipsoid) to avoid clutter issues.