First observations of G-band radar Doppler spectra
Abstract
The first Doppler spectra ever acquired by an atmospheric radar at 200 GHz (G-band) are presented. The observations were taken during a light precipitation event in May (rain rates <2 mm hr−1) at Chilbolton Observatory, UK, with coincident Ka-band and W-band Doppler radar measurements. The collected rain spectra agree with Mie theory predictions: at G-band they show significant reductions in the spectral power return—as compared to theoretical Rayleigh scattering—corresponding to high Doppler velocities (i.e., large raindrops) with the presence of multiple peaks and “Mie notches” in correspondence to the maxima and minima of the raindrop backscattering cross sections. The first two G-band Mie troughs correspond to smaller velocities/sizes than the first W-band Mie notch. These features offered by G-band radars pave the way toward applying, in rain, Mie notch vertical wind retrievals and multifrequency drop size distribution microphysical retrievals to smaller rain rates and smaller characteristic sizes than ever before.
Citation
Courtier , B M , Battaglia , A , Huggard , P G , Westbrook , C , Mroz , K , Dhillon , R S , Walden , C J , Howells , G , Wang , H , Ellison , B N , Reeves , R , Robertson , D A & Wylde , R J 2022 , ' First observations of G-band radar Doppler spectra ' , Geophysical Research Letters , vol. 49 , no. 4 , e2021GL096475 . https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL096475
Publication
Geophysical Research Letters
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0094-8276Type
Journal article
Description
The work done by B. M. Courtier, A. Battaglia, and C. D. Westbrook was funded by the UK NERC project GRACES (G-band RAdar for Cloud and prEcipitation Studies, Grant No. RP16G1219). The instrument development work by D. A. Robertson, R. J. Wylde, H. Wang, G. Howells, B. N. Ellison, and P. G. Huggard was funded by the UK-CEOI project GRaCE. The work by K. Mroz was performed at the University of Leicester under Grant No. RP1890005 with the National Centre for Earth Observation. C. D. Westbrook's contribution was also supported by a Research Endowment Trust Fund award from the University of Reading. Operation of the Chilbolton Ka-band and W-band radars was funded as part of NERC National Capability. We would like to thank Karina McCusker and Emal Rumi for coordinating the collection of 35 and 94 GHz radar data as part of the NERC PICASSO project, Grant No. NE/P012426/1.Collections
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