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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Polarimetric X-band weather radar measurements in the tropics: radome and rain attenuation correction

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Author(s):
Schneebeli, M. [1, 2] ; Sakuragi, J. [1] ; Biscaro, T. [1] ; Angelis, C. F. [1] ; Carvalho da Costa, I. [1] ; Morales, C. [3] ; Baldini, L. [4] ; Machado, L. A. T. [1]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] CPTEC, INPE, Cachoeira Paulista - Brazil
[2] Ecole Polytech Fed Lausanne, Sch Architecture Civil & Environm Engn ENAC, CH-1015 Lausanne - Switzerland
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Astron Geofis & Ciencias Atmosfer, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Inst Sci Atmosfera & Clima CNR, Rome - Italy
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques; v. 5, n. 9, p. 2183-2199, 2012.
Web of Science Citations: 18
Abstract

A polarimetric X-band radar has been deployed during one month (April 2011) for a field campaign in Fortaleza, Brazil, together with three additional laser disdrometers. The disdrometers are capable of measuring the raindrop size distributions (DSDs), hence making it possible to forward-model theoretical polarimetric X-band radar observables at the point where the instruments are located. This setup allows to thoroughly test the accuracy of the X-band radar measurements as well as the algorithms that are used to correct the radar data for radome and rain attenuation. For the campaign in Fortaleza it was found that radome attenuation dominantly affects the measurements. With an algorithm that is based on the self-consistency of the polarimetric observables, the radome induced reflectivity offset was estimated. Offset corrected measurements were then further corrected for rain attenuation with two different schemes. The performance of the post-processing steps was analyzed by comparing the data with disdrometer-inferred polarimetric variables that were measured at a distance of 20 km from the radar. Radome attenuation reached values up to 14 dB which was found to be consistent with an empirical radome attenuation vs. rain intensity relation that was previously developed for the same radar type. In contrast to previous work, our results suggest that radome attenuation should be estimated individually for every view direction of the radar in order to obtain homogenous reflectivity fields. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 09/15235-8 - Cloud processes of the main precipitation systems in Brazil: a contribution to cloud resolving modeling and to the GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement)
Grantee:Luiz Augusto Toledo Machado
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants