Optimization of Multiparameter Radar Estimates of Rainfall

Abstract

The estimates of rainfall rate derived from a multiparameter radar based on reflectivity factor (R_ZH), differential reflectivity (R_DR), and specific differential propagation phase (R_DP) have widely varying accuracies over the dynamic range of the natural occurrence of rainfall. This paper presents a framework to optimally combine the three estimates, R_ZH, R_DR, and R_DP, to derive the best estimate of rainfall using coherent multiparameter radars. The optimization procedure is demonstrated for application to multiparameter radar measurements at C band.