Microwave raindrop distrometer for radar meteorology applications

Eugene F. Greneker III

doi:10.1117/12.319446

26 August 1998 Microwave raindrop distrometer for radar meteorology applications

Eugene F. Greneker III

Proceedings Volume 3395, Radar Sensor Technology III; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319446
Event: Aerospace/Defense Sensing and Controls, 1998, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Meteorological radars are used to infer rainfall rate 'R' on the basis of reflectivity of the raindrops contained within a radar range and azimuthal cell. However, in order to achieve accurate measurements of R, the raindrop size distribution must be known over a drop size interval between approximately 0.5 and 6 millimeters diameter. This paper describes a Doppler raindrop distrometer that will provide the size distribution of raindrops reaching the earth. The system uses a vertically pointing homodyne microwave Doppler sensor to determine the velocity of falling raindrops. Early research by others has shown that rainfall velocity is very closely correlated with raindrop size. Because this relationship holds over the size interval of interest, drop size can be inferred by measuring the fall velocity of the raindrops.

Citation Download Citation

Eugene F. Greneker III "Microwave raindrop distrometer for radar meteorology applications", Proc. SPIE 3395, Radar Sensor Technology III, (26 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319446

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