Open AccessInvestigations of Backscatter Differential Phase in the Melting Layer
Author(s) -
Silke Trömel,
Alexander V. Ryzhkov,
Pengfei Zhang,
Clemens Simmer
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied meteorology and climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.079
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1558-8432
pISSN - 1558-8424
DOI - 10.1175/jamc-d-14-0050.1
Subject(s) - differential phase , snowflake , polarimetry , backscatter (email) , radar , physics , computational physics , accretion (finance) , phase (matter) , remote sensing , meteorology , astrophysics , geology , optics , scattering , computer science , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , snow , wireless
Backscatter differential phase δ within the melting layer has been identified as a reliably measurable but still underutilized polarimetric variable. Polarimetric radar observations at X band in Germany and S band in the United States are presented that show maximal observed δ of 8.5° at X band but up to 70° at S band. Dual-frequency observations at X and C band in Germany and dual-frequency observations at C and S band in the United States are compared to explore the regional frequency dependencies of the δ signature. Theoretical simulations based on usual assumptions about the microphysical composition of the melting layer cannot reproduce the observed large values of δ at the lower-frequency bands and also underestimate the enhancements in differential reflectivity Z DR and reductions in the cross-correlation coefficient ρ hυ . Simulations using a two-layer T-matrix code and a simple model for the representation of accretion can, however, explain the pronounced δ signatures at S and C bands in conjunction with small δ at X band. The authors conclude that the δ signature bears information about microphysical accretion and aggregation processes in the melting layer and the degree of riming of the snowflakes aloft.