On Optimal Radar Reflectivity Processing

Abstract

A format for an optimal post-detection integration is discussed. The measurement cells in the integration scheme have equal down-range and cross-range resolution to conserve more of the variability of the precipitation field. Every measurement cell combines partially dependent data both in range and time to achieve an adequate number of independent samples without losing resolution. Thus, the standard deviation of the average signal intensity level over a cell (σj) is reduced to a more desirable value. The radial and tangential extent of the cells change as a function of range, and are determined by σj. Such data processing is optimized for biases related to reflectivity gradients, space resolution and density of information.