Rain Retrieval Performance of a Dual-Frequency Radar Technique with Differential Attenuation Constraint

Author(s):  
N. Adhikari ◽  
T. Iguchi ◽  
S. Seto ◽  
N. Takahashi
Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuhang Wu ◽  
Yun Zhang ◽  
Lifeng Zhang ◽  
Xiaolong Hao ◽  
Hengchi Lei ◽  
...  

In this study, we evaluated the performance of rain-retrieval algorithms for the Version 6 Global Precipitation Measurement Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (GPM DPR) products, against disdrometer observations and improved their retrieval algorithms by using a revised shape parameter µ derived from long-term Particle Size Velocity (Parsivel) disdrometer observations in Jianghuai region from 2014 to 2018. To obtain the optimized shape parameter, raindrop size distribution (DSD) characteristics of summer and winter seasons over Jianghuai region are analyzed, in terms of six rain rate classes and two rain categories (convective and stratiform). The results suggest that the GPM DPR may have better performance for winter rain than summer rain over Jianghuai region with biases of 40% (80%) in winter (summer). The retrieval errors of rain category-based µ (3–5%) were proved to be the smallest in comparison with rain rate-based µ (11–13%) or a constant µ (20–22%) in rain-retrieval algorithms, with a possible application to rainfall estimations over Jianghuai region. Empirical Dm–Ze and Nw–Dm relationships were also derived preliminarily to improve the GPM rainfall estimates over Jianghuai region.


Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 670
Author(s):  
Liang Liao ◽  
Robert Meneghini ◽  
Toshio Iguchi ◽  
Ali Tokay

With the use of 213,456 one-minute measured data of droplet-size distribution (DSD) of rain collected during several National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-sponsored field campaigns, the relationships between rainfall rate R, mass-weighted diameter Dm and normalized intercept parameter Nw of the gamma DSD are studied. It is found, based on the simulations of the gamma DSD model, that R, Dm and Nw are closely interrelated, and that the ratio of R to Nw is solely a function of Dm, independent of the shape factor μ of the gamma distribution. Furthermore, the model-produced ratio agrees well with those from the DSD data. When a power-law equation is applied to fit the model data, we have: R = aN w D m b , where a = 1.588 × 10 − 4 , b = 4.706 . Analysis of two-parameter relationships such as R–Dm, Nw–R and Nw–Dm reveals that R and Dm are moderately correlated while Nw and Dm are negatively correlated. Nw and R, however, are uncorrelated. The gamma DSD model also reveals that variation of R–Dm relation is caused primarily by Nw. For the application of the Ku- and Ka-band dual-frequency radar for the retrieval of the DSD bulk parameters as well as the specific radar attenuations, the study is carried out to relate the dual-frequency radar reflectivity factors to the DSD and attenuation parameters.


2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Liao ◽  
Robert Meneghini

AbstractTo overcome a deficiency in the standard Ku- and Ka-band dual-wavelength radar technique, a modified version of the method is introduced. The deficiency arises from ambiguities in the estimate of the mass-weighted diameter Dm of the raindrop size distribution (DSD) derived from the differential frequency ratio (DFR), defined as the difference between the radar reflectivity factors (dB) at Ku and Ka band ZKu − ZKa. In particular, for DFR values less than zero, there are two possible solutions of Dm, leading to ambiguities in the retrieved DSD parameters. It is shown that the double solutions to Dm are effectively eliminated if the DFR is modified from ZKu − ZKa to ZKu − γZKa (dB), where γ is a constant with a value less than 0.8. An optimal radar algorithm that uses the modified DFR for the retrieval of rain and Dm profiles is described. The validity and accuracy of the algorithm are tested by applying it to radar profiles that are generated from measured DSD data. Comparisons of the rain rates and Dm estimated from the modified DFR algorithm to the same hydrometeor quantities computed directly from the DSD spectra (or the truth) indicate that the modified DFR-based profiling retrievals perform fairly well and are superior in accuracy and robustness to retrievals using the standard DFR.


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