Absolute calibration method for frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) cloud radars based on corner reflectors

Toledo, Felipe; Delanoë, Julien; Haeffelin, Martial; Dupont, Jean-Charles; Jorquera, Susana; Le Gac, Christophe

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6853-2020

Articles | Volume 13, issue 12

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6853-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6853-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 13, issue 12

Research article

|

16 Dec 2020

Research article |

| 16 Dec 2020

Absolute calibration method for frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) cloud radars based on corner reflectors

Felipe Toledo, Julien Delanoë, Martial Haeffelin, Jean-Charles Dupont, Susana Jorquera, and Christophe Le Gac

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-6853-2020-supplement

Data sets

2018 and 2019 ACTRIS Cloud Radar Calibration Campaign, Corner Reflectors on Masts Experiment F. Toledo, J.-C. Dupont, J. Delanoë, M. Haeffelin, J. Parra, P. Delville, C. Boitel, and C. Le Gac https://doi.org/10.14768/6dd7bbb2-6e0d-4de3-bf03-7d6ead628845

Short summary

Cloud observations are essential to rainfall, fog and climate change forecasts. One key instrument for these observations is cloud radar. Yet, discrepancies are found when comparing radars from different ground stations or satellites. Our work presents a calibration methodology for cloud radars based on reference targets, including an analysis of the uncertainty sources. The method enables the calibration of reference instruments to improve the quality and value of the cloud radar network data.