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Experimental tests of methods for the measurement of rainfall rate using an airborne dual-wavelength radarSeveral attenuation-based methods for estimating the rainfall rate were applied to measurements made by an airborne dual-wavelength radar operating at 0.87 cm, the K(a)-band, and at 3 cm, the X-band. These methods included the traditional Z-R methods, designated Z(X)-R and Z(K)-R for the X- and K(a) band wavelengths, respectively; single- and dual-wavelength surface reference techniques (SRT and DSRT, respectively); and standard dual-wavelength methods with and without range-averaging. As the primary sources of error for these methods are nearly independent, agreement among the rain rates obtained with these methods would lend confidence in the results. Correlation coefficients obtained between the rainfall rates with the Z(X)-R and DSRT methods were generally between 0.7 and 0.9. Good agreement among the methods occurred most often in stratiform rain for rain rates betwen a few mm/hr to about 15 mm/hr, i.e., where attenuation at the shorter wavelength is significant but not so severe as to result in a loss of signal.
Document ID
19890063864
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Meneghini, R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Nakamura, K.
(Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Radio Research Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan)
Ulbrich, C. W.
(Clemson University SC, United States)
Atlas, D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Volume: 6
ISSN: 0739-0572
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
89A51235
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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