Physically based simulator for measurements of precipitation with polarimetric and space-borne radars

Takahisa Kobayashi; Kazuhiko Masuda; Hiroshi Yamauchi; Ahoro Adachi

doi:10.1117/12.897702

26 October 2011 Physically based simulator for measurements of precipitation with polarimetric and space-borne radars

Takahisa Kobayashi, Kazuhiko Masuda, Hiroshi Yamauchi, Ahoro Adachi

Proceedings Volume 8177, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere XVI; 817710 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.897702
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2011, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

A radar is a powerful tool for measurement of the 3-D structure of precipitation. Recently, polarimetric radar is widely used because it can measure the size of raindrops to some degree and therefore can measures more accurate rainfall rate than the conventional weather radar. A space-borne radar is also widely used in precipitation studies. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been continuously monitoring precipitation on a global scale since the launch in November, 1977. Following the TRMM, the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) is scheduled to launch in 2013. The polarimetric parameters observed with the polarimetric radar depend on various precipitation properties in a complex way. Multiple scattering contributions cannot be neglected for a radar operated at higher frequency of 35 GHz higher onboard the GPM. To develop a robust algorithm for more accurate measurements of precipitation from those radars, we should evaluate how micro-physical properties of precipitation link to the received signals. We have developed a generalized radar simulator for polarimetric and space-borne radar (GPASS). This is a physically-based simulator in which the scattering properties of cloud and raindrops are calculated by using radio wave scattering theory. Thus we can make detailed study how the radar signals vary with micro-physical properties of precipitation by using the simulator. We will present the simulator in detail and the limit of the Rayleigh approximation for polarimetric radar.

Citation Download Citation

Takahisa Kobayashi, Kazuhiko Masuda, Hiroshi Yamauchi, and Ahoro Adachi "Physically based simulator for measurements of precipitation with polarimetric and space-borne radars", Proc. SPIE 8177, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere XVI, 817710 (26 October 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.897702

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