Articles | Volume 13, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-1797-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-1797-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
08 Apr 2020
Research article |
| 08 Apr 2020
| 08 Apr 2020
Estimating raindrop size distributions using microwave link measurements: potential and limitations
Thomas C. van Leth
Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
Hidde Leijnse
R&D Observations and Data Technology, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), De Bilt, the Netherlands
Aart Overeem
Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
R&D Observations and Data Technology, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), De Bilt, the Netherlands
Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Atmospheric observations with E-band microwave links – challenges and opportunities M. Fencl et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6559-2020
- Rainfall Monitoring Using a Microwave Links Network: A Long-Term Experiment in East China X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-023-2104-z
- Precipitation Monitoring Using Commercial Microwave Links: Current Status, Challenges and Prospectives P. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15194821
- Cross-Regional Precipitation Estimation From Commercial Microwave Links via CNN-LSTM S. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2026.3722697
- Earth-to-Earth Microwave Rain Attenuation Measurements: A Survey On the Recent Literature V. Christofilakis et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym12091440
- A Bayesian deep learning approach for video-based estimation and uncertainty quantification of urban rainfall intensity F. Zheng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131706
- Information-theoretic analysis of commercial microwave link and environmental variables in rainfall estimation A. Špačková et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-7445-2025
- disdrodb: an open-source Python package for standardized processing, sharing, and analysis of disdrometer data G. Ghiggi et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4943-2026
- A Review on Rainfall Measurement Based on Commercial Microwave Links in Wireless Cellular Networks B. Lian et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22124395
- Water Vapor Retrieval Using Commercial Microwave Links Based on the LSTM Network K. Pu et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2021.3073013
- A year of attenuation data from a commercial dual-polarized duplex microwave link with concurrent disdrometer, rain gauge, and weather observations A. Špačková et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-4219-2021
- Commercial microwave links as a tool for operational rainfall monitoring in Northern Italy G. Roversi et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-5779-2020
- Retrieval of Raindrop Size Distribution Using Dual-Polarized Microwave Signals from LEO Satellites: A Feasibility Study through Simulations X. Shen & D. Huang https://doi.org/10.3390/s21196389
- Sensitivity analysis of DSD retrievals from polarimetric radar in stratiform rain based on the μ–Λ relationship C. Gatidis et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4951-2022
- A new power-law model for μ–Λ relationships in convective and stratiform rainfall C. Gatidis et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-235-2024
- Opportunistic ISAC for Rain Microphysical Parameters Estimation Using LOS-MIMO Systems C. Han et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2025.3578027
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Atmospheric observations with E-band microwave links – challenges and opportunities M. Fencl et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6559-2020
- Rainfall Monitoring Using a Microwave Links Network: A Long-Term Experiment in East China X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-023-2104-z
- Precipitation Monitoring Using Commercial Microwave Links: Current Status, Challenges and Prospectives P. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15194821
- Cross-Regional Precipitation Estimation From Commercial Microwave Links via CNN-LSTM S. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2026.3722697
- Earth-to-Earth Microwave Rain Attenuation Measurements: A Survey On the Recent Literature V. Christofilakis et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym12091440
- A Bayesian deep learning approach for video-based estimation and uncertainty quantification of urban rainfall intensity F. Zheng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131706
- Information-theoretic analysis of commercial microwave link and environmental variables in rainfall estimation A. Špačková et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-7445-2025
- disdrodb: an open-source Python package for standardized processing, sharing, and analysis of disdrometer data G. Ghiggi et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4943-2026
- A Review on Rainfall Measurement Based on Commercial Microwave Links in Wireless Cellular Networks B. Lian et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22124395
- Water Vapor Retrieval Using Commercial Microwave Links Based on the LSTM Network K. Pu et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2021.3073013
- A year of attenuation data from a commercial dual-polarized duplex microwave link with concurrent disdrometer, rain gauge, and weather observations A. Špačková et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-4219-2021
- Commercial microwave links as a tool for operational rainfall monitoring in Northern Italy G. Roversi et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-5779-2020
- Retrieval of Raindrop Size Distribution Using Dual-Polarized Microwave Signals from LEO Satellites: A Feasibility Study through Simulations X. Shen & D. Huang https://doi.org/10.3390/s21196389
- Sensitivity analysis of DSD retrievals from polarimetric radar in stratiform rain based on the μ–Λ relationship C. Gatidis et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4951-2022
- A new power-law model for μ–Λ relationships in convective and stratiform rainfall C. Gatidis et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-235-2024
- Opportunistic ISAC for Rain Microphysical Parameters Estimation Using LOS-MIMO Systems C. Han et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2025.3578027
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 25 Oct 2026
Short summary
We present a method of using collocated microwave link instruments to estimate the average size distribution of raindrops along a path of several kilometers. Our method is validated using simulated fields as well as five laser disdrometers installed along a path. We also present preliminary results from an experimental setup measuring at 26 and 38 GHz along a 2.2 km path. We show that a retrieval on the basis of microwave links can be highly accurate, provided the base power level is stable.
We present a method of using collocated microwave link instruments to estimate the average size...
