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www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/4/527/2011/
doi:10.5194/amtd-4-527-2011
© Author(s) 2011. This work is distributed
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Towards the improvement of cloud microphysical retrievals using simultaneous Doppler and polarimetric radar measurements
International Research Centre for Telecommunication and Radar (IRCTR), Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 4, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
Abstract. Radar-based retrievals are often employed to characterize the microphysical properties of cloud hydrometeors, i.e., their phases, habits, densities as well as their respective size and orientation distributions. These techniques are based on a synergetic use of different cloud observation sensor(s) and microphysical algorithm(s) where the information extracted from both sensors and models are combined and converted into microphysical cloud properties. However, the amount of available information is often limited, which forces current microphysical retrieval techniques to base their algorithms on several microphysical assumptions which affect the retrieval accuracy.
By simultaneously combining Doppler and polarimetric measurements obtained from fully Doppler polarimetric radar, it is possible to create spectral polarimetric parameters. Although these parameters are easily contaminated with unwanted echoes, this work shows that, from a correct radar signal processing based on filtering and averaging techniques, spectral polarimetric parameters can be correlated to microphysical cloud properties. In particular, preliminary results suggest that particle orientations and habits can be easily determined from the solely use of such spectral polarimetric parameters. Therefore, such additional microphysical information offers a great opportunity to improve current microphysical models by reducing their amount of microphysical assumptions.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 12970 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 4 Comments) Final Revised Paper (AMT) Special Issue
Notice on Discussion StatusCitation: Dufournet, Y. and Russchenberg, H. W. J.: Towards the improvement of cloud microphysical retrievals using simultaneous Doppler and polarimetric radar measurements, Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., 4, 527-562, doi:10.5194/amtd-4-527-2011, 2011. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
