A C-Band Coherent Polarimetric Radar for Propagation and Cloud Physics Research

Abstract

At DFVLR in Oberpfaffenhofen, West Germany, a recently developed coherent polarimetric C-band radar is now in operation for research in atmospheric physics and radio wave propagation physics. Its capabilities provide opportunities to investigate the microphysics and dynamics of clouds and precipitation and the kinematics of mesoscale systems with high sampling rates and good resolution in space and time. They include the measurement of scattering (S-) and Stokes matrices by virtue of polarization agility and the ability to receive echoes on the corresponding co- and cross-channels. Investigations of hydrometeor volumes are discussed and first measurement results are presented.