Open AccessUsing Microwave Backhaul Links to Optimize the Performance of Algorithms for Rainfall Estimation and Attenuation Correction
Author(s) -
Silke Trömel,
Michael Ziegert,
Alexander V. Ryzhkov,
Christian Chwala,
Clemens Simmer
Publication year - 2014
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/jtech-d-14-00016.1
Subject(s) - microwave , attenuation , remote sensing , polarimetry , weather radar , ku band , computer science , radar , quantitative precipitation estimation , correction for attenuation , environmental science , algorithm , meteorology , telecommunications , geology , physics , optics , scattering
The variability in raindrop size distributions and attenuation effects are the two major sources of uncertainty in radar-based quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) even when dual-polarization radars are used. New methods are introduced to exploit the measurements by commercial microwave radio links to reduce the uncertainties in both attenuation correction and rainfall estimation. The ratio α of specific attenuation A and specific differential phase KDP is the key parameter used in attenuation correction schemes and the recently introduced R(A) algorithm. It is demonstrated that the factor α can be optimized using microwave links at Ku band oriented along radar radials with an accuracy of about 20%–30%. The microwave links with arbitrary orientation can be utilized to optimize the intercepts in the R(KDP) and R(A) relations with an accuracy of about 25%. The performance of the suggested methods is tested using the polarimetric C-band radar operated by the German Weather Service on Mount Hohenpeissenberg in southern Germany and two radially oriented Ku-band microwave links from Ericsson GmbH.