Comparison of Advanced Radar Polarimetric Techniques for Operational Attenuation Correction at C Band.

Rain path attenuation correction is a challenging task for quantitative use of weather radar measurements at frequencies higher than S band. The proportionality relationship between specific attenuation α_hh (specific differential attenuation α_dp) and specific differential phase K_dp is the basis for simple path-integrated attenuation correction using differential phase Φ_dp. However, the coefficients of proportionality are known to be dependent upon temperature, on the one hand, and shape and raindrop size distribution, on the other hand. To solve this problem, a Bayesian classification scheme is proposed to empirically find the prevailing rain regime and adapt the Φ_dp-based method. The proposed approach herein is compared with other polarimetric techniques currently available in the literature. Several episodes observed in the Paris, France, area by the C-band dual-polarized weather radar operating in Trappes (France) are analyzed and results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]