Applications

  1. Recognition of AP and ground clutter. Rayleigh scatter of spherical raindrops vs non Rayleigh scatter of non-sphere shaped ground clutter
  2. Improved rain-rate estimates when rain alone is present. Knowing the drop-size distribution (DSD) allows better estimates of R=Σ(ND3.67). Z=Σ(ND6)
  3. Polarimetric radar provides critical rainfall estimation information for stream flow forecasts and river flooding and could also be useful in water management
  4. Polarimetric radar can tell the difference between very heavy rain and hail. Without this information, the presence of hail leads to an overestimate in the rainfall estimates
  5. Polarimetric radar can identify types of precipitation in winter weather forecasts, improving forecasts of liquid water equivalent or snow depth
  6. Correction for attenuation. Attenuation is proportional to drop size
  7. Identification of hydrometeors
  8. For aviation users, polarimetric radar can detect hazards such as birds as well as aircraft icing conditions