Differential reflectivity (Z-DR) measurements of rainfall compared with ground-based disdrometer measurements

The dual-polarization differential-reflectivity (Z-DR) radar technique of Seliga and Bringi (1976) is used to determine rainfall rates and drop sizes over a site located at a distance of 47.1 km, and the results are analyzed using the empirical calibration relations of Seliga et al. (1983) and compared with electromechanical-disdrometer measurements. The data are presented in graphs and found to be well correlated, demonstrating the validity of the Z-DR estimates and the improvement introduced by applying the empirical relations rather than an a priori drop-size distribution.