Search

Wind velocity is of great importance for weather monitoring, aviation hazard alerting, wind energy exploring, etc. Doppler radar is widely used to measure wind under rainy condition by sensing the raindrops entrained by the background wind. However, the Doppler velocity, which is a reflection of the raindrops’ velocity in radial direction, is not coincident with the background wind because of the strong inertia of raindrops. Efforts should be made to distinguish the difference between the raindrops’ velocity and the background wind velocity. In this article, we try to establish a relationship between the background wind velocity and the raindrops’ velocity by introducing a definition of the raindrops’ characteristic size, which is related to the velocity characterized by the strongest Doppler spectral component. It is found that the fusion of differential reflectivity and the depolarization ratio can serve as a good proxy for the estimation of the characteristic size. Simulation results for $S$/$C$/$X$-band radars and radar measurements verify the good performance of the proposed retrieval model for the characteristic size, which lays a solid foundation for the retrieval of the background wind velocity.

Accurate precipitation estimation with weather radars is essential for hydrological and meteorological applications. The differential reflectivity (ZDR) is a crucial weather radar measurement that helps to improve quantitative precipitation estimates using polarimetric weather radars. However, a system bias between the horizontal and vertical channels generated by the radar produces an offset in ZDR. Existing methods to calibrate ZDR measurements rely on the intrinsic values of the ZDR of natural targets (e.g. drizzle or dry snow) collected at high elevation angles (e.g. higher than 40∘ or even at 90∘), in which ZDR values close to 0 dB are expected. However, not all weather radar systems can scan at such high elevation angles or point the antenna vertically to collect precipitation measurements passing overhead. Therefore, there is a need to develop new methods to calibrate ZDR measurements using lower-elevation scans. In this work, we present and analyse a novel method for correcting and monitoring the ZDR offset using quasi-vertical profiles computed from scans collected at 9∘ elevations. The method is applied to radar data collected through 1 year of precipitation events by two operational C-band polarimetric weather radars in the UK. The proposed method shows a relative error of 0.1 dB when evaluated against the traditional approach based on ZDR measurements collected at 90∘ elevations. Additionally, the method is independently assessed using disdrometers located near the radar sites. The results showed a reasonable agreement between disdrometer-derived and radar-calibrated ZDR measurements.

This study explores the potential for directly assimilating polarimetric radar data (including reflectivity Z and differential reflectivity ZDR) using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) based on the Weather Research and Forecasting model to improve analysis and forecast of Tropical Storm Ewiniar (2018). Ewiniar weakened but brought about heavy rainfall over Guangdong, China after its final landfall. In the present study, two experiments are performed, one assimilating only Z and the other assimilating both Z and ZDR. Assimilation of ZDR together with Z effectively modifies hydrometeor fields, and improves the forecast of the intensity, shape and position of rainbands. Forecast of 24-hour extraordinary rainfall ≥250 mm is significantly improved. Improvement can also be seen in the wind fields because of cross-variable covariance. The current study shows the possibility of applying polarimetric radar data to improve forecasting of tropical cyclones, which deserves more research in the future.

A water-logging disaster occurred in Eastern China on 1 June 2016 was utilized to investigate the practical performance of six radar rainfall estimators based on horizontal reflectivity ( $Z_{\mathrm{H}}$ ), specific attenuation ( $A_{\mathrm{H}}$ ), specific differential phase ( $K_{\text{DP}}$ ), and multi-variable estimators that integrate differential reflectivity ( $Z_{\text{DR}}$ ), namely $R(Z_{\mathrm{H}},\, Z_{\text{DR}}), R(K_{\text{DP}}, Z_{\text{DR}})$ and $R(A_{\mathrm{H}}, Z_{\text{DR}})$ . Detailed evaluation with a local rain gauge network and drop size distribution (DSD) measurements shows that (i) $R(A_{\mathrm{H}},\, Z_{\text{DR}})$ underestimates the light rain pattern, but it achieves the best scores and performs the best among the various estimators; (ii) each radar rainfall estimator can outperform other estimators at a certain period of time determined by the rainfall patterns; (iii) both the optimal radar rainfall relationship and high calibration accuracy are required to obtain accurate rainfall estimates; (iv) the contamination of melting solid hydrometeors on $A_{\mathrm{H}} \text{and}/\text{or}K_{\text{DP}}$ may make them less effective than $Z_{\mathrm{H}}$ . In addition, with appropriate adjustment of $\alpha$ coefficient, $R(A_{\mathrm{H}})$ can perform better than $R(K_{\text{DP}})$ .

Conventionally, the short term prediction of precipitation (or nowcast) observed by a network of weather radars is conducted by means of advection schemes. Such schemes often lead to underestimated areas of predicted precipitation cells and they do not include the vertical structure of the cells, which can carry important information on the evolution of precipitation. To mitigate such limitations on nowcasts, storm cells have been treated as 3D targets, allowing the exploitation of their vertical and dynamic structure. In this work, storm cell targets are identified and tracked from 2D reflectivity nationwide fields collected by the German meteorological service DWD. Then, the vertical structure of the cells are analyzed in terms of the polarimetric-based differential reflectivity Z DR -column, which is a predictor of potential changes in precipitation. Knowing the location and tendency of storm cells and their associated Z DR columns, the nowcast skills can be further improved, mainly in localized regions.

Many nontornadic supercell storms have times when they appear to be moving toward tornadogenesis, including the development of a strong low-level vortex, but never end up producing a tornado. These tornadogenesis failure (TGF) episodes can be a substantial challenge to operational meteorologists. In this study, a sample of 32 pre-tornadic and 36 pre-TGF supercells is examined in the 30 min pre-tornadogenesis or pre-TGF period to explore the feasibility of using polarimetric radar metrics to highlight storms with larger tornadogenesis potential in the near-term. Overall the results indicate few strong distinguishers of pre-tornadic storms. Differential reflectivity (ZDR) arc size and intensity were the most promising metrics examined, with ZDR arc size potentially exhibiting large enough differences between the two storm subsets to be operationally useful. Change in the radar metrics leading up to tornadogenesis or TGF did not exhibit large differences, though most findings were consistent with hypotheses based on prior findings in the literature.

A multi-radar analysis of the 20 May 2013 Moore, Oklahoma, U.S. supercell is presented using three Weather Surveillance Radars 1988 Doppler (WSR-88Ds) and PX-1000, a rapid-scan, polarimetric, X-band radar, with a focus on the period between 1930 and 2008 UTC, encompassing supercell maturation through rapid tornado intensification. Owing to the 20-s temporal resolution of PX-1000, a detailed radar analysis of the hook echo is performed on (1) the microphysical characteristics through a hydrometeor classification algorithm (HCA)—inter-compared between X- and S-band for performance evaluation—including a hail and debris class and (2) kinematic properties of the low-level mesocyclone (LLM) assessed through ΔVr analyses. Four transient intensifications in ΔVr prior to tornadogenesis are documented and found to be associated with two prevalent internal rear-flank downdraft (RFD) momentum surges, the latter surge coincident with tornadogenesis. The momentum surges are marked by a rapidly advancing reflectivity (ZH) gradient traversing around the LLM, descending reflectivity cores (DRCs), a drop in differential reflectivity (ZDR) due to the advection of smaller drops into the hook echo, a decrease in correlation coefficient (ρhv), and the detection of debris from the HCA. Additionally, volumetric analyses of ZDR and specific differential phase (KDP) signatures show general diffusivity of the ZDR arc even after tornadogenesis in contrast with explosive deepening of the KDP foot downshear of the updraft. Similarly, while the vertical extent of the ZDR and KDP columns decrease leading up to tornadogenesis, the phasing of these signatures are offset after tornadogenesis, with the ZDR column deepening the lagging of KDP.

This paper discusses the effects of cross-polar radiation on the calibration methods usually employed for the calibration of the differential reflectivity. It is shown that cross-polar radiation has significant effects when simultaneous transmission and reception of horizontal and vertical polarizations are used to obtain polarimetric measurements. Additionally, it is shown that propagation through a transpolarizing medium considerably affects the results.

Based on Jiangsu X-band dual-line polarization radar data, $\mathrm{Z}_{\mathrm{H}}$ (radar horizontal reflectance factor), $\mathrm{Z}_{\mathrm{D}\mathrm{R}}$ (differential reflectivity factor), $\mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{D}\mathrm{P}}$ (differential propagation phase shift), $\mathrm{p}_{\mathrm{H}\mathrm{V}}(0)$ (zero lag) are selected using a fuzzy logic algorithm The number of correlations) and other four parameters were used to establish a precipitation particle phase recognition algorithm, and a typical case was used to test and evaluate the effect of the algorithm's phase recognition. Through analysis, the author believes that: (1) The algorithm can basically reflect the phase states of various precipitation particles, indicating that the precipitation particle recognition algorithm established in this paper has strong applicability and the recognition results are credible. (2) This algorithm does not consider the zero-degree layer height and the ambient temperature of each layer, which results in a large recognition error in individual areas. The next step is to use the ambient temperature as an input and use $\mathrm{Z}_{\mathrm{H}}$, $\mathrm{Z}_{\mathrm{D}\mathrm{R}}$, $\mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{D}\mathrm{P}}$, The construction of membership function with $\mathrm{p}_{\mathrm{H}\mathrm{V}}(0)$ and ambient temperature T should further improve the accuracy of phase identification. (3) The results of the precipitation particle identification are closely related to the parameter settings of the membership functions of the 10 types of water condensate types, and the setting of these parameters is very subjective. A large number of individual statistics are needed to obtain more reliable parameter values.

This paper uses the MaXPol dual-polarization radar data of WeiNing Meteorological Bureau of GuiZhou Province to analyze the hail weather process on September 13, 2019. The research shows that (1) Using the attenuation-corrected X-band data, it is analyzed by comparison method in the echo region and shows that the differential reflectivity (Zdr),the correlation coefficient (ρhv) are high but the differential phase (PhiDP) is low, when the reflectivity (Z) is 50 dBZ or more. (2) Particles of the process are classified by the fuzzy logic method with parameters of Z, Zdr, ρhv and PhiDP. (3) The hail region were identified from the radar echo map and found to be consistent with local weather phenomena.

In this study, empirical A H -K DP and A DP -K DP relationship-based and self-consistent methods were used to correct the attenuation of reflectivity (z h ) and differential reflectivity (Z DR ) acquired from C- and X-bands dualpolarization radars, and the Z h of S-band Doppler radar was used to evaluate the results. The results indicated that, for Xband dual-polarization radar, the attenuation of Z h and Z DR could be corrected by two methods for heavy and moderate rain, and the distribution of Z h -Z DR scatters were closer to the theoretical relationship after self-consistent correction than that after empirical A H -K DP and A DP -K DP relationship-based correction. For light rain, similar results were obtained for two methods. For C-band dual-polarization radar, the degree of attenuation was less than X-band dual-polarization radar for the same intensity of rainfall, and the attenuation was need to be considered in heavy and moderate rain. For heavy rain, the distribution of Z h -Z DR scatters were closer to the theoretical relationship after empirical A H -K DP and A DP -K DP relationship based correction than that after self-consistent correction. For moderate rain, similar results were obtained for two methods. The corrected reflectivity of C-band dual-polarization radar was closer to that of S-band Doppler radar, however, for X-band dual-polarization radar, it was 5.10 dB larger than that of Sband Doppler radar in heavy rain, 4.64 dB in moderate rain, and 3.34 dB in light rain. It was consistent with the scattering simulation results of other scholars.

To investigate the impact of rainfall type on rainfall estimation using polarimetric variables, rainfall relations such as those between rain rate (R) and specific differential phase (KDP), between R and KDP/differential reflectivity (ZDR), and between R and reflectivity (Z)/ZDR, were examined with respect to the precipitation type classified using drop size distributions (DSDs) measured by a disdrometer. The classification of rainfall type was assessed using four different methods: temporal rainfall variation, and the relations between intercept parameter (N0) and R, normalized intercept parameter (Nw) and median diameter (D0), and slope parameter (&Lambda, ) and R. The logN0&ndash, R relation discriminated between convective and stratiform rain with less standard deviation than the other methods as shown by the Z&ndash, ZDR scatter with respect to the rainfall types. The transition type from convective to stratiform and vice versa occurred in the stratiform rain region for all methods. To apply the classified rainfall relations to radar rainfall estimation, logNw and D0 were retrieved from polarimetric variables to discriminate the rainfall types in the radar domain. The DSD classification was verified with the vertical profile of reflectivity extracted at two positions corresponding to gage sites. Statistical analysis of four different rainfall events showed that rainfall estimation using the relations with precipitation type were better than those obtained without classification. The R(KDP,ZDR) relation with classification performed best on rainfall estimation for all rainfall events. The greatest improvement in rainfall estimation was obtained from R(Z,ZDR) with classification. We conclude that the classification of rainfall type leads to more accurate rainfall estimation. The different relations R(KDP), R(KDP,ZDR), and R(Z,ZDR) with respect to the rain types using polarimetric radar show improvement compared to estimation without consideration of rainfall type, in Korea.

This study investigates Bragg scatter signatures in dual-polarization radar observations, which are defined by low differential reflectivity values, as a proxy for convective boundary layer (CBL) depth. Using data from the WSR-88D in Twin Lakes, Oklahoma (KTLX), local minima in quasi-vertical profiles of are found to provide a reasonable estimate of CBL depth when compared with depth estimates from upper-air soundings from Norman, Oklahoma (KOUN), during 2014. The 243 Bragg scatter and upper-air sounding CBL depth estimates have a correlation of 0.90 and an RMSE of 254 m. Using Bragg scatter as a proxy for CBL depth was expanded to other seasons and locations—performing well in Wilmington, Ohio; Fairbanks, Alaska; Tucson, Arizona; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Albany, New York; Portland, Oregon; and Tampa, Florida—showing its potential usefulness in monitoring CBL depth throughout the year in a variety of geographic locations and meteorological conditions.

The measurement error of differential reflectivity (ZDR), especially systematic ZDR bias, is a fundamental issue for the application of polarimetric radar data. Several calibration methods have been proposed and applied to correct ZDR bias. However, recent studies have shown that ZDR bias is time-dependent and can be significantly different on two adjacent days. This means that the frequent monitoring of ZDR bias is necessary, which is difficult to achieve with existing methods. As radar sensitivity has gradually been enhanced, large amounts of online solar echoes have begun to be observed in volume-scan data. Online solar echoes have a high frequency, and a known theoretical value of ZDR (0 dB) could thus allow the continuous monitoring of ZDR bias. However, online solar echoes are also affected by low signal-to-noise ratio and precipitation attenuation for short-wavelength radar. In order to understand the variation of ZDR bias in a C-band polarimetric radar at the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST-CDP), we analyzed the characteristics of online solar echoes from this radar, including the daily frequency of occurrence, the distribution along the radial direction, precipitation attenuation, and fluctuation caused by noise. Then, an automatic method based on online solar echoes was proposed to monitor the daily ZDR bias of the NUIST-CDP. In the proposed method, a one-way differential attenuation correction for solar echoes and a maximum likelihood estimation using a Gaussian model were designed to estimate the optimal daily ZDR bias. The analysis of three months of data from the NUIST-CDP showed the following: (1) Online solar echoes occurred very frequently regardless of precipitation. Under the volume-scan mode, the average number of occurrences was 15 per day and the minimum number was seven. This high frequency could meet the requirements of continuous monitoring of the daily ZDR bias under precipitation and no-rain conditions. (2) The result from the proposed online solar method was significantly linearly correlated with that from the vertical pointing method (observation at an elevation angle of 90&deg, ), with a correlation coefficient of 0.61, suggesting that the proposed method is feasible. (3) The day-to-day variation in the ZDR bias was relatively large, and 32% of such variations exceeded 0.2 dB, meaning that a one-time calibration was not representative in time. Accordingly, continuous calibration will be necessary. (4) The ZDR bias was found to be largely influenced by the ambient temperature, with a large negative correlation between the ZDR bias and the temperature.

Mechanisms of formation of differential reflectivity columns are investigated in simulations of a midlatitude summertime hailstorm with hailstones up to several centimeters in diameter. Simulations are performed using a new version of the Hebrew University Cloud Model (HUCM) with spectral bin microphysics. A polarimetric radar forward operator is used to calculate radar reflectivity and differential reflectivity ZDR. It is shown that ZDR columns are associated with raindrops and with hail particles growing in a wet growth regime within convective updrafts. The height and volume of ZDR columns increases with an increase in aerosol concentration. Small hail forming under clean conditions grows in updrafts largely in a dry growth regime corresponding to low ZDR. Characteristics of ZDR columns are highly correlated with vertical velocity, hail size, and aerosol concentration.

Chaff is a radar countermeasure typically used by military branches in training exercises around the United States. Chaff within view of the S-band WSR-88D beam can appear prominently on radar users’ displays. Knowledge of chaff characteristics is useful for radar users to discriminate between chaff and weather echoes and for automated algorithms to do the same. The WSR-88D network provides dual-polarimetric capabilities across the United States, leading to the collection of a large database of chaff cases. This database is analyzed to determine the characteristics of chaff in terms of the reflectivity factor and polarimetric variables on large scales. Particular focus is given to the dynamics of differential reflectivity ZDR in chaff and its dependence on height. In contrast to radar observations of chaff for a single event, this study is able to reveal a repeatable and new pattern of radar chaff observations. A discussion about the observed characteristics is presented, and hypotheses for the observed ZDR dynamics are put forth.

This study investigates the how riming in stratiform precipitation impacts polarimetric signatures. Using a vertically pointing Doppler X-band radar, cases can be separated into one of three groups: unrimed to lightly rimed, riming with no bimodal spectra and fall speeds greater than 2.0 m s−1, and riming with bimodal velocity spectra. By averaging polarimetric variables over a 20° by 10-km box near the X-band radar, different signatures were documented for each of the three groups. These polarimetric signatures were then compared with a simplified T-matrix scattering model. Differential reflectivity ZDR was the one polarimetric variable to consistently vary across all three groups. Unrimed to lightly rimed cases had profiles of polarimetric signatures similar to numerous previous studies. Riming cases without detectable bimodal spectra had ZDR values on the order of 0.2 dB lower than unrimed to lightly rimed cases, while cases with bimodal spectra had ZDR values about 0.2–0.4 dB higher than unrimed to lightly rimed cases. Both signatures were reproduced using populations of aggregates, dendrites, and needles in the T-matrix scattering model. While these signatures show the potential to identify riming, they are not enough larger than measurement biases and case-to-case variability to be confidently used without confirmation from other data sources, such as a vertically pointing radar.

This study implements a new quasi-vertical profile (QVP) methodology to investigate the microphysical evolution and significance of intriguing winter polarimetric signatures and their statistical correlations. QVPs of transitional stratiform and pure snow precipitation are analyzed using WSR-88D S-band data, alongside their corresponding environmental thermodynamic High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model analyses. QVPs of KDP and ZDR are implemented to demonstrate their value in interpreting elevated ice processes. Several fascinating and repetitive signatures are observed in the QVPs for differential reflectivity ZDR and specific differential phase KDP, in the dendritic growth layer (DGL), and at the tops of clouds. The most striking feature is maximum ZDR (up to 6 dB) in the DGL occurring near the −10-dBZ ZH contour within low KDP and during shallower and warmer cloud tops. Conversely, maximum KDP (up to 0.3° km−1) in the DGL occurs within low ZDR and during taller and colder cloud tops. Essentially, ZDR and KDP in the DGL are anticorrelated and strongly depend on cloud-top temperature. Analyses also show correlations indicating larger ZDR within lower ZH in the DGL and larger KDP within greater ZH in the DGL. The high-ZDR regions are likely dominated by growth of a mixture of highly oblate dendrites and/or hexagonal plates, or prolate needles. Regions of high KDP are expected to be overwhelmed with snow aggregates and crystals with irregular or nearly spherical shapes, seeded at cloud tops. Furthermore, QVP indications of hexagonal plate crystals within the DGL are verified using in situ microphysical measurements, demonstrating the reliability of QVPs in evaluating ice microphysics in upper regions of winter clouds.

The mean axis ratio (length/width) and the degree of orientation of cloud ice particles are retrieved from radar differential reflectivity (ZDR) and the copolar correlation coefficient (ρhv) measured with the S-band WSR-88D radar. Hardware differential phases and amplifications in the polarimetric channels affect measured ZDR and ρhv and are taken into consideration in the retrieval procedure. The retrieval is performed for particles in shapes of hexagonal prisms, which are closer to shapes of real cloud particles than frequently used spheroids. The median retrieved axis ratio for prisms is larger than that for spheroids. The statistical 1σ retrieval errors caused by fluctuations of radar returns are about 40% in areas of signal-to-noise ratios stronger than 10 dB. The values of the degree of orientation lie in an interval from 2° to 23°, which points to significant perturbations in the orientations of ice particles most likely caused by the wind field.

Clear-air Bragg scatter (CABS) is a refractivity gradient return generated by turbulent eddies that operational Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) systems can detect. The randomly oriented nature of the eddies results in a differential reflectivity (ZDR) value near 0 dB, and thus CABS can be used as an assessment of ZDR calibration in the absence of excessive contamination from precipitation or biota. An automated algorithm to estimate ZDR bias from CABS was developed by the Radar Operations Center and can be used to assess the calibration quality of the dual-polarized WSR-88D fleet. This technique supplements existing ZDR bias assessment tools, especially the use of other external targets, such as light rain and dry snow.The estimates of ZDR bias from CABS using a 1700–1900 UTC time window were compared to estimates from the light rain and dry snow methods. Output from the automated CABS algorithm had approximately the same amount of bias reported as the light rain and dry snow estimates (within ±0.1 dB). As the 1700–1900 UTC time window appeared too restrictive, a modified version of the algorithm was tested to detect CABS diurnally on a volume-by-volume basis (continuous monitoring). Continuous monitoring resulted in a two- to fourfold increase in the number of days with CABS detections. Results suggest estimates from CABS are viable for many sites throughout the year and provide an important addition to existing bias estimation techniques.

Comprehensive analysis of an unusual graupel-shower event recorded by an S-band polarimetric radar and two optical-imaging surface instruments is presented. The primary radar characteristic was negative differential reflectivity Zdr values along a vertical column. During the afternoon hours of 16 February 2015, a sequence of three showers that were composed primarily of small (8–15-mm diameter) graupel affected the ground instrumentation site that was established for the Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera and Radar (MASCRAD) experiment in the high plains of Colorado. While these showers passed the instrumentation site, the CSU–CHILL radar conducted high-time-resolution (~2.5-min cycle time) range–height indicator (RHI) scans from a range of 13 km. The RHI data show that the negative Zdr values extended vertically through much of the reflectivity cores, implying that the reflectivity-weighted mean axis ratios of the graupel particles in this event remained somewhat prolate throughout their lifetime. To be specific, the cores of the convective showers only extended to heights of ~3.5 km AGL and had fractionally negative (from ~−0.3 to −0.7 dB) Zdr levels in those cores. Particle-image data obtained by the MASC system and by a collocated 2D video disdrometer measured the diameters, shapes, and fall speeds of the graupel particles as they reached the surface. The graupel particles were found to be primarily of the lump type with a slightly prolate mean shape (especially for the larger-diameter particles). Microwave backscatter calculations confirm that the graupel-particle shape and orientation characteristics are consistent with the observed slightly, but consistently, negative Zdr values.