The BMRC/NCAR C-Band Polarimetric (C-POL) Radar System

Abstract

The development of the first Australian C-band polarimetric/Doppler meteorological radar system (C-POL) is described. Motivated by the need to obtain improved rainfall estimation and the vertical profile of hydrometeors, C-POL was developed jointly by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation of Australia, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. C-POL is based on a standard operational C-band radar employed by the BOM but modified to be capable of transmitting linear horizontal and vertical polarizations and receiving the co- and cross polarizations on a pulse-to-pulse basis. Standard variables extracted include horizontal reflectivity (ZHH), radial velocity (Vr), spectral width (σ?), differential reflectivity (ZDR), differential phase shift (ΦDP), and zero lag correlation coefficient [?HV(0)]. With the addition of a second receiver chain, the linear depolarization ratio will soon be available. Initial results with the radar are discussed to give examples of the data quality, as well as some of the problems inherent in using a C-band radar in the Tropics.