Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Comparison of Advanced Radar Polarimetric Techniques for Operational Attenuation Correction at C Band

Gianfranco Vulpiani Direction des Systèmes d’Observation, Météo-France, Trappes, France

Search for other papers by Gianfranco Vulpiani in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Pierre Tabary Direction des Systèmes d’Observation, Météo-France, Trappes, France

Search for other papers by Pierre Tabary in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Jacques Parent du Chatelet Direction des Systèmes d’Observation, Météo-France, Trappes, France

Search for other papers by Jacques Parent du Chatelet in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Frank S. Marzano Department of Electronic Engineering, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

Search for other papers by Frank S. Marzano in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Jul 2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2007JTECHA936.1
Page(s):
1118–1135
Restricted access

Abstract

Rain path attenuation correction is a challenging task for quantitative use of weather radar measurements at frequencies higher than S band. The proportionality relationship between specific attenuation αhh (specific differential attenuation αdp) and specific differential phase Kdp is the basis for simple path-integrated attenuation correction using differential phase Φdp. However, the coefficients of proportionality are known to be dependent upon temperature, on the one hand, and shape and raindrop size distribution, on the other hand. To solve this problem, a Bayesian classification scheme is proposed to empirically find the prevailing rain regime and adapt the Φdp-based method. The proposed approach herein is compared with other polarimetric techniques currently available in the literature. Several episodes observed in the Paris, France, area by the C-band dual-polarized weather radar operating in Trappes (France) are analyzed and results are discussed.

Corresponding author address: Gianfranco Vulpiani, Italian Department of Civil Protection, Via Vitorchiano 4, 00189 Rome, Italy. Email: gianfranco.vulpiani@protezionecivile.it

Abstract

Rain path attenuation correction is a challenging task for quantitative use of weather radar measurements at frequencies higher than S band. The proportionality relationship between specific attenuation αhh (specific differential attenuation αdp) and specific differential phase Kdp is the basis for simple path-integrated attenuation correction using differential phase Φdp. However, the coefficients of proportionality are known to be dependent upon temperature, on the one hand, and shape and raindrop size distribution, on the other hand. To solve this problem, a Bayesian classification scheme is proposed to empirically find the prevailing rain regime and adapt the Φdp-based method. The proposed approach herein is compared with other polarimetric techniques currently available in the literature. Several episodes observed in the Paris, France, area by the C-band dual-polarized weather radar operating in Trappes (France) are analyzed and results are discussed.

Corresponding author address: Gianfranco Vulpiani, Italian Department of Civil Protection, Via Vitorchiano 4, 00189 Rome, Italy. Email: gianfranco.vulpiani@protezionecivile.it

Save
Cover Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

  • Abramowitz, M., and Stegun I. A. , 1972: Handbook of Mathematical Functions with Formulas, Graphs, and Mathematical Tables. 9th ed. Dover, 1026 pp.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Aydin, K., Zhao Y. , and Seliga T. A. , 1989: Rain-induced attenuation effects on C-band dual-polarization meteorological radar. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 27 , 57–66.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Brandes, E. A., Zhang G. , and Vivekanandan J. , 2002: Experiments in rainfall estimation with a polarimetric radar in a subtropical environment. J. Appl. Meteor., 41 , 674–685.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bringi, V. N., and Chandrasekar V. , 2001: Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radar: Principles and Applications. Cambridge University Press, 636 pp.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bringi, V. N., Seliga T. A. , and Aydin K. , 1984: Hail detection with a differential reflectivity radar. Science, 225 , 1145–1157.

  • Bringi, V. N., Chandrasekar V. , Balakrishnan N. , and Zrnić D. S. , 1990: An examination of propagation effects in rainfall on radar measurements at microwave frequencies. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 7 , 829–840.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bringi, V. N., Keenan T. D. , and Chandrasekar V. , 2001: Correcting C-band radar reflectivity and differential reflectivity data for rain attenuation: A self-consistent method with constraints. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 39 , 1906–1915.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Carey, L. D., Rutledge S. A. , Ahijevych D. A. , and Keenan T. D. , 2000: Correcting propagation effects in C-band polarimetric radar observations of tropical convection using differential propagation phase. J. Appl. Meteor., 39 , 1405–1433.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chandrasekar, V., and Bringi V. N. , 1987: Simulation of radar reflectivity and surface measurements of rainfall. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 4 , 464–478.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gorgucci, E., and Chandrasekar V. , 2005: Evaluation of attenuation correction methodology for dual-polarization radars: Application to X-band systems. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 22 , 1195–1206.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gorgucci, E., Scarchilli G. , and Chandrasekar V. , 1999: A procedure to calibrate multiparameter weather radar using properties of the rain medium. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 37 , 269–276.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gourley, J. J., Tabary P. , and Parent du Chatelet J. , 2006a: Data quality of the Meteo-France C-band polarimetric radar. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 23 , 1340–1356.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gourley, J. J., Illingworth A. J. , and Tabary P. , 2006b: Radar calibration using consistency of polarization parameters and constraints for drop shapes. Proc. Fourth European Conf. on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology, Barcelona, Spain, ERAD, 1.3, 5–8.

  • Gourley, J. J., Tabary P. , and Parent du Chatelet J. , 2007: Empirical estimation of attenuation from differential propagation phase measurements at C band. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 46 , 306–317.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hildebrand, P. H., 1978: Iterative correction for attenuation of 5 cm radar in rain. J. Appl. Meteor., 17 , 508–514.

  • Hitschfeld, W., and Bordan J. , 1954: Errors inherent in the radar measurement of rainfall at attenuating wavelengths. J. Meteor., 11 , 58–67.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hubbert, J., and Bringi V. N. , 1995: An iterative filtering technique for the analysis of copolar differential phase and dual-frequency radar measurements. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 12 , 643–648.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Iguchi, T., and Meneghini R. , 1994: Intercomparisons of single-frequency methods for retrieving a vertical profile from airborne or spaceborne radar data. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 11 , 1507–1516.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jameson, A. R., 1992: The effect of temperature on attenuation-correction schemes in rain using polarization propagation differential phase shift. J. Appl. Meteor., 31 , 1106–1118.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Klett, J. D., 1981: Stable analytical inversion solution for processing lidar returns. Appl. Opt., 20 , 211–220.

  • Knight, C. A., and Knight N. C. , 1970: The falling behavior of hailstones. J. Atmos. Sci., 27 , 672–681.

  • Le Bouar, E., Testud J. , and Keenan T. D. , 2001: Validation of the rain profiling algorithm ZPHI from the C-band polarimetric weather radar in Darwin. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 18 , 1819–1837.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Liu, Y. X., Huang G. J. , Bringi V. N. , and van den Heever S. , 2006: Estimation of X-band attenuation due to wet hail: A simulation study using RAMS supercell case and dual-wavelength (S/X-band) radar. Proc. Fourth European Conf. on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology, Barcelona, Spain, ERAD, P1.10, 49–52.

  • Marzano, F. S., Mugnai A. , Panegrossi G. , Pierdicca N. , Smith E. A. , and Turk J. , 1999: Bayesian estimation of precipitating cloud parameters from combined measurements of spaceborne microwave radiometer and radar. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 37 , 596–613.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Marzano, F. S., Scaranari D. , Montopoli M. , Anagnostou M. , Anagnostou E. N. , and Vulpiani G. , 2007: Bayesian classification of hydrometeors from polarimetric radars at S and X band: Algorithm design and experimental comparisons. Proc. IEEE Int. Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symp., Barcelona, Spain, IEEE, 4156–4159.

    • Crossref
    • Export Citation

  • Marzano, F. S., Scaranari D. , Montopoli M. , and Vulpiani G. , 2008: Supervised classification and estimation of hydrometeors from C-band dual-polarized radars: A Bayesian approach. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 46 , 85–98.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Marzoug, M., and Amayenc P. , 1994: A class of single- and dual-frequency algorithms for rain-rate profiling from spaceborne radar. Part I: Principle and tests from numerical simulations. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 11 , 1480–1506.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Meneghini, R., and Nakamura K. , 1990: Range profiling of the rain rate by an airborne weather radar. Remote Sens. Environ., 31 , 193–209.

  • Meneghini, R., Eckerman J. , and Atlas D. , 1983: Determination of rain rate from spaceborne radar using measurements of total attenuation. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 21 , 34–43.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mishchenko, M. I., 2000: Calculation of the amplitude matrix for a nonspherical particle in a fixed orientation. Appl. Opt., 39 , 1026–1031.

  • Ray, P. S., 1972: Broadband complex refractive indices of ice and water. Appl. Opt., 11 , 1836–1844.

  • Ryzhkov, A., Hudak D. , and Scott J. , 2006: A new polarimetric scheme for attenuation correction at C band. Proc. Fourth European Conf. on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology, Barcelona, Spain, ERAD, P1.2, 29–32.

  • Smyth, T. J., and Illingworth A. J. , 1998: Correction for attenuation of radar reflectivity using polarization data. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 124 , 2393–2415.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Smyth, T. J., Blackman T. M. , and Illingworth A. J. , 1999: Observations of oblate hail using dual polarization radar and implications for hail-detection schemes. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 125 , 993–1016.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Straka, J. M., Zrnić D. S. , and Ryzhkov A. V. , 2000: Bulk hydrometeor classification and quantification using polarimetric radar data: Synthesis of relations. J. Appl. Meteor., 39 , 1341–1372.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tabary, P., Guibert F. , Perier L. , and Parent du Chatelet J. , 2006a: An operational triple-PRT Doppler scheme for the French radar network. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 23 , 1645–1656.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tabary, P., Le Henaff A. , Vulpiani G. , Parent-du-Chatelet J. , and Gourley J. , 2006b: Melting layer characterization and identification with a C-band dual-polarization radar: A long-term analysis. Proc. Fourth European Conf. on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology, Barcelona, Spain, ERAD, 1.8, 17–20.

  • Testud, J., Le Bouar E. , Obligis E. , and Ali-Mehenni M. , 2000: The rain profiling algorithm applied to polarimetric weather radar. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 17 , 332–356.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Testud, J., Oury S. , Black R. A. , Amayenc P. , and Dou X. , 2001: The concept of “normalized” distribution to describe raindrop spectra: A tool for cloud physics and cloud remote sensing. J. Appl. Meteor., 40 , 1118–1140.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vulpiani, G., Marzano F. S. , Chandrasekar V. , and Lim S. , 2005: Constrained iterative technique with embedded neural network for dual-polarization radar correction of rain path attenuation. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 43 , 2305–2314.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vulpiani, G., Marzano F. S. , Chandrasekar V. , Berne A. , and Uijlenhoet R. , 2006: Rainfall rate retrieval in presence of path attenuation using C-band polarimetric weather radars. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 6 , 439–450.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Willis, P. T., 1984: Functional fit to some observed drop size distributions and parameterization of rain. J. Atmos. Sci., 41 , 1648–1661.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zrnić, D. S., Bringi V. N. , Balakrishnan N. , Aydin K. , Chandrasekar V. , and Hubbert J. , 1993: Polarimetric measurements in a severe hailstorm. Mon. Wea. Rev., 121 , 2223–2238.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 435 93 14
PDF Downloads 262 64 8