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Methods of Attenuation Correction for the TRMM Precipitation Radar DataThe surface reference technique (SRT) has been studied extensively both theoretically and experimentally over the last decade. It is only with the launch of the Tropical Rain Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar, however, that we can begin to test directly whether the technique provides a reliable means of attenuation correction for spaceborne weather radars. Preliminary results indicate that the method yields results that are qualitatively reasonable when the rain rate is moderate or high and when the surface provides a stable reference value. The structure of the normalized radar cross section of the surface (NRCS), however, is highly complex in the sense that the statistics change with background type, incidence angle, location, and season. As a consequence of this, the reliability of the path attenuation estimate is not proportional simply to the amount of rain attenuation but to the rain attenuation relative to the inherent variability of the reference target. To illustrate the behavior of the SRT, several overpasses of the Hurricane Bonnie are shown. We also show that the proper choice of reference data set (spatial, temporal and global) can be critical to the success of the method.
Document ID
20000040165
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Meneghini, Robert
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Iguchi, Toshio
(Communications Research Lab. Kashima, Japan)
Kozu, Toshiaki
(Communications Research Lab. Tokyo, Japan)
Okamoto, Kenichi
(Communications Research Lab. Tokyo, Japan)
Jones, Jeffrey
(HSTX United States)
Liao, Liang
(Caelum Research Corp. Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2000
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: 26th General Assembly of the International Union of Radio Science
Country: United States
Start Date: August 15, 1999
End Date: August 20, 1999
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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