Drop-size distribution retrieval of precipitation using a high-resolution polarimetric x-band weather radar

Conference paper (2009)

Authors

T. Otto Microwave Technology and Systems for Radar

J Figueras i Ventura International Research Centre for Telecommunication and Radar

H.W.J. Russchenberg Microwave Technology and Systems for Radar

Research Group

Microwave Technology and Systems for Radar

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Published Date

2009

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Research Group

Microwave Technology and Systems for Radar

Abstract

In 2007, IRCTR (Delft University of Technology) installed a new polarimetric X-band drizzle radar (IDRA) at the meteorological observation site of Cabauw, Netherlands. It provides plan position indicators (PPI) with a high range resolution of either 3 m or 30 m.
IDRA aims to monitor any precipitation events for the long-term analysis of the hydrological cycle. Due to the specifications of IDRA the spatial variability of a large range of rainfall intensities (from drizzle to heavy convective rain) can be studied. This also permits the assessment of mesoscale changes in the precipitation pattern due to aerosols (second aerosol indirect effect).
As a first step in order to achieve these aims, we present the results of an exponential drop-size distribution retrieval using the conventional algorithm that is based on the radar reflectivity Z and the differential reflectivity Zdr. We will exploit the boundaries of applicability of this drop-size distribution retrieval algorithm for light precipitation. Thereby, we will focus on the limits for the extraction of the median drop diameter using the differential reflectivity. We will discuss potential sensor synergies to extract the median drop diameter even in light precipitation.