Precipitation and Lightning Measurements by Polarization Diversity Radar

Abstract

Observations of severe convective storms in June 1987 by an 11-cm polarization diversity Doppler radar are described. Specific features include heavy rain, large hail, melting ice particles, lightning, and signal propagation effects. Of particular interest are the first measurements of the polarization differential reflectivity of lightning channels, which reveal the predominant orientations of the channels. Successive radar pulses were transmitted with alternating horizontal and vertical polarization by means of a high-power microwave switch to permit derivation of the differential reflectivity with a small standard error of estimate. Keywords: Polarization diversity weather radar; Dual polarization radar; Precipitation microphysics. (JHD)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 07, 1988
Accession Number
ADA213810

Entities

People

  • James I. Metcalf

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Data Acquisition
  • Doppler Radar
  • Drops
  • Elevation
  • Isotherms
  • Lightning
  • Measurement
  • Observation
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Particles
  • Polarization
  • Precipitation
  • Radar
  • Rain
  • Reflectivity

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Optical Fiber Sensing and Electromagnetic Propagation.
  • Radio communications and signal processing.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy