Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Sensitivity Analysis of Polarimetric Variables at a 5-cm Wavelength in Rain

D. S. Zrnić NOAA Ocean and Atmospheric Research, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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T. D. Keenan Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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L. D. Carey Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

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P. May Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Print Publication:
01 Sep 2000
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(2000)039<1514:SAOPVA>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
1514–1526
Restricted access

Abstract

Sensitivity of 5-cm-wavelength polarimetric radar measurements to raindrop size and distribution is investigated. At this wavelength, resonance occurs for sizes larger than about 5 mm, and therefore several polarimetric variables exhibit nonmonotone dependence on the drop diameter. The resonance effect is examined for temperatures of 0°, 10°, 20°, and 30°C. Through use of truncated gamma distributions (parameterized as a function of rain rate from the Maritime Continent Thunderstorm Experiment), and truncated Marshall–Palmer distributions, the influence of the upper tail of the drop size distribution is brought out. This poorly documented region of sizes can have a significant effect on some polarimetric variables. These simulations are extended further to include estimates of rain rate from the reflectivity factor Z, the specific differential phase KDP, the combined use of KDP and differential reflectivity ZDR, and the combined use of Z and ZDR.

Corresponding author address: Dr. D. S. Zrnić, National Severe Storms Laboratory, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069.

Abstract

Sensitivity of 5-cm-wavelength polarimetric radar measurements to raindrop size and distribution is investigated. At this wavelength, resonance occurs for sizes larger than about 5 mm, and therefore several polarimetric variables exhibit nonmonotone dependence on the drop diameter. The resonance effect is examined for temperatures of 0°, 10°, 20°, and 30°C. Through use of truncated gamma distributions (parameterized as a function of rain rate from the Maritime Continent Thunderstorm Experiment), and truncated Marshall–Palmer distributions, the influence of the upper tail of the drop size distribution is brought out. This poorly documented region of sizes can have a significant effect on some polarimetric variables. These simulations are extended further to include estimates of rain rate from the reflectivity factor Z, the specific differential phase KDP, the combined use of KDP and differential reflectivity ZDR, and the combined use of Z and ZDR.

Corresponding author address: Dr. D. S. Zrnić, National Severe Storms Laboratory, 1313 Halley Circle, Norman, OK 73069.

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Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

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