Multiple scattering in observations of the GPM dual-frequency precipitation radar: Evidence and impact on retrievals.

ABSTRACT: This paper illustrates how multiple scattering signatures affect Global Precipitation Measuring (GPM) Mission Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) Ku and Ka band reflectivity measurements and how they are consistent with prelaunch assessments based on theoretical considerations and confirmed by airborne observations. In particular, in the presence of deep convection, certain characteristics of the dual-wavelength reflectivity profiles cannot be explained with single scattering, whereas they are readily explained by multiple-scattering theory. Examples of such signatures are the absence of surface reflectivity peaks and anomalously small reflectivity slopes in the lower troposphere. These findings are relevant for DPR-based rainfall retrievals and stratiform/convective classification al

SUBMITTER: Battaglia A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4984847 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature