Characteristic Raindrop Size Retrievals from Measurements of Differences in Vertical Doppler Velocities at Ka- and W-Band Radar Frequencies

Matrosov, Sergey Y.

doi:10.1175/jtech-d-16-0181.1

Title: Characteristic Raindrop Size Retrievals from Measurements of Differences in Vertical Doppler Velocities at Ka- and W-Band Radar Frequencies

Journal Article · Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/jtech-d-16-0181.1· OSTI ID:1537030

Matrosov, Sergey Y. ^[1]

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO (United States)

A Ka-band (~35 GHz) and W-band (~94 GHz) radar method to catch profiles of characteristic raindrop sizes, such as mean mass-weighted drop diameters D_m, from measurements of the difference in the mean vertical Doppler velocities (DDV) is analyzed. This retrieval approach is insensitive to radar calibration errors, vertical air motions, and attenuation effects. The D_m–DDV relations are derived using long-term measurements of drop size distributions (DSDs) from different observational sites and do not assume a functional DSD shape. Unambiguous retrievals using this approach are shown to be available in the D_m range of approximately 0.5–2 mm, with average uncertainties of around 21%. Potential retrieval ambiguities occurring when larger drop populations exist can be avoided by using a Ka-band vertical Doppler velocity threshold. The performance of the retrievals is illustrated using a long predominantly stratiform rain event observed at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains site. An intercomparison of DDV-based estimates of characteristic raindrop sizes with independent estimates available from ground-based disdrometer measurements reveal good agreement, with a correlation coefficient of 0.88, and mean differences between radar and disdrometer-based D_m of approximately 14% for the entire range of unambiguous retrievals. The Ka–W-band DDV method to retrieve mean mass-weighted drop sizes is applicable to measurements from new dual-wavelength ARM cloud radars that are being deployed at a variety of observational facilities. An illustration for the retrievals at the Oliktok Point ARM facility is also given in this work.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Earth and Environmental Systems Science Division

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0013306

OSTI ID:: 1537030

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1673394

Journal Information:: Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Vol. 34, Issue 1; ISSN 0739-0572

Publisher:: American Meteorological SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 9 works

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