Resonance Scattering Detection Using the CSU–CHILL Dual-Wavelength, Dual-Polarization Radar

Abstract

AbstractThe CSU?CHILL radar is a dual-wavelength, dual-polarization weather radar system operating at S and X band with coaxial beams. This radar system offers a unique environment to develop and/or validate algorithms that cut across its wavelengths and polarizations. This paper presents a method to retrieve resonance scattering regions from the difference in intrinsic reflectivities after attenuation correction, which is performed using measured reflectivity fields only. The algorithm to retrieve these regions dominated by non-Rayleigh scattering is applied to different storm events, and the obtained data field capturing the difference in S- and X-band reflectivities due to resonance effects (which we will call Mie signal for convenience) is compared to the collocated dual-polarization fields. The obtained Mie signal is also compared to hail reports. In both cases, the retrieved Mie signal is found to be consistent with the rest of the dual-polarization data fields, and in some situations, it is shown to bring information not directly discernible from the usual dual-polarization radar variables.