Evaluation of triple-frequency radar retrieval of snowfall properties using coincident airborne in-situ observations during olympex

Particle scattering models have shown that aggregates and spherical particles occupy distinct regions of the Ku-Ka-W-band Dual-Frequency Ratio (DFR) plane. Furthermore, ground-based observations suggest that particle bulk density and characteristic size can be retrieved from the DFR plane. This is the first study to evaluate the retrieval of particle shape, bulk density and characteristic size using airborne triple-frequency radar observations coincident with airborne in-situ microphysical measurements. Data from the Olympic Mountains Experiment (OLYMPEX) resulted in 2.2 hours of observations that showed the Ku-Ka-W DFR plane offered little unambiguous information about particle shape. Analysis of a case study on 3 December 2015 is consistent with a past modeling study, showing increased bulk density with increased DFR between the Ka- and W-band. Meanwhile, bulk statistics are consistent with a past observational study, showing the potential retrieval of effective density and characteristic size from the DFR Ku-Ka-W plane.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Atmospheric Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2018

Author dc:creator

• Chase, Randy J.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Nesbitt, Stephen W.
• McFarquhar, Greg M.

• Precipitation Retrievals
• Global Precipitation Measurement
• Triple-Frequency Radar
• Snow

Statement dc:rights

• © by Randy J. Chase

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/101185

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/101185