Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Bias in Differential Reflectivity due to Cross Coupling through the Radiation Patterns of Polarimetric Weather Radars

Dusan Zrnić NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Richard Doviak NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Guifu Zhang School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Alexander Ryzhkov Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, and NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Print Publication:
01 Oct 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JTECHA1350.1
Page(s):
1624–1637
Restricted access

Abstract

Examined is bias in differential reflectivity and its effect on estimates of rain rate due to coupling of the vertically and horizontally polarized fields through the radiation patterns. To that end, a brief review of the effects of the bias on quantitative rainfall measurements is given. Suggestions for tolerable values of this bias are made. Of utmost interest is the bias produced by radars simultaneously transmitting horizontally and vertically polarized fields, as this configuration has been chosen for pending upgrades to the U.S. national network of radars (Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler; WSR-88D). The bias strongly depends on the cross-polar radiation pattern. Two patterns, documented in the literature, are considered.

Corresponding author address: Dusan Zrnić, NOAA/NSSL, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73072. Email: dusan.zrnic@noaa.gov

Abstract

Examined is bias in differential reflectivity and its effect on estimates of rain rate due to coupling of the vertically and horizontally polarized fields through the radiation patterns. To that end, a brief review of the effects of the bias on quantitative rainfall measurements is given. Suggestions for tolerable values of this bias are made. Of utmost interest is the bias produced by radars simultaneously transmitting horizontally and vertically polarized fields, as this configuration has been chosen for pending upgrades to the U.S. national network of radars (Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler; WSR-88D). The bias strongly depends on the cross-polar radiation pattern. Two patterns, documented in the literature, are considered.

Corresponding author address: Dusan Zrnić, NOAA/NSSL, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK 73072. Email: dusan.zrnic@noaa.gov

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