Article Type:
Research Article

A New Technique to Categorize and Retrieve the Microphysical Properties of Ice Particles above the Melting Layer Using Radar Dual-Polarization Spectral Analysis

A. L. J. Spek Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

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C. M. H. Unal Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

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D. N. Moisseev Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

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H. W. J. Russchenberg Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

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V. Chandrasekar Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

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Y. Dufournet Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

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Print Publication:
01 Mar 2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2007JTECHA944.1
Page(s):
482–497
Restricted access

Abstract

In this study, a dual-polarization spectral analysis for retrieval of microphysical properties of ice hydrometeors is developed. It is shown that, by using simultaneous Doppler polarimetric observations taken at a 45° elevation angle, it is possible to discriminate between different types of ice particles. Particle size distribution parameters for maximally two dominating types of ice particles (aggregates and plates) observed above the melting layer are retrieved. Prior to the retrieval algorithm, a selection of possible types of ice particles based on environmental conditions is carried out. The retrieval procedure is based on a least squares optimization that simultaneously minimizes fit residuals in a Doppler power spectrum and spectral differential reflectivity. The proposed method is illustrated on transportable atmospheric radar (TARA) observations of stratiform rain collected on 19 September 2001 at Cabauw, Netherlands.

Corresponding author address: Christine Unal, IRCTR, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 4, 2628 CD Delft, Netherlands. Email: c.m.h.unal@irctr.tudelft.nl

Abstract

In this study, a dual-polarization spectral analysis for retrieval of microphysical properties of ice hydrometeors is developed. It is shown that, by using simultaneous Doppler polarimetric observations taken at a 45° elevation angle, it is possible to discriminate between different types of ice particles. Particle size distribution parameters for maximally two dominating types of ice particles (aggregates and plates) observed above the melting layer are retrieved. Prior to the retrieval algorithm, a selection of possible types of ice particles based on environmental conditions is carried out. The retrieval procedure is based on a least squares optimization that simultaneously minimizes fit residuals in a Doppler power spectrum and spectral differential reflectivity. The proposed method is illustrated on transportable atmospheric radar (TARA) observations of stratiform rain collected on 19 September 2001 at Cabauw, Netherlands.

Corresponding author address: Christine Unal, IRCTR, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 4, 2628 CD Delft, Netherlands. Email: c.m.h.unal@irctr.tudelft.nl

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