Open AccessA New Technique to Categorize and Retrieve the Microphysical Properties of Ice Particles above the Melting Layer Using Radar Dual-Polarization Spectral Analysis
Author(s) -
A. Lennert J. Spek,
C.M.H. Unal,
Dmitri Moisseev,
H.W.J. Russchenberg,
V. Chandrasekar,
Y. Dufournet
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.774
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1520-0426
pISSN - 0739-0572
DOI - 10.1175/2007jtecha944.1
Subject(s) - remote sensing , polarimetry , radar , environmental science , ice crystals , meteorology , geology , optics , physics , scattering , computer science , telecommunications
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.