Articles | Volume 18, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1621-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-18-1621-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
10 Apr 2025
Research article |
| 10 Apr 2025
| 10 Apr 2025
Empirical model for backscattering polarimetric variables in rain at W-band: motivation and implications
Alexander Myagkov
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Radiometer Physics GmbH, Meckenheim, Germany
Tatiana Nomokonova
Radiometer Physics GmbH, Meckenheim, Germany
Michael Frech
Observatorium Hohenpeißenberg, Deutscher Wetterdienst, Hohenpeißenberg, Germany
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Water vapor (WV) is an important variable in the climate system. Satellite measurements are thus crucial to characterize the spatial and temporal variability in WV and how it changed over time. In particular with respect to the observed strong Arctic warming, the role of WV still needs to be better understood. However, as shown in this paper, a detailed understanding is still hampered by large uncertainties in the various satellite WV products, showing the need for improved methods to derive WV.
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Short summary
The study examines the use of the spheroidal shape approximation for calculating cloud radar observables in rain and identifies some limitations. To address these, it introduces the empirical scattering model (ESM) based on high-quality Doppler spectra from a 94 GHz radar. The ESM offers improved accuracy and directly incorporates natural rain's microphysical effects. This new model can enhance retrieval and calibration methods, benefiting cloud radar polarimetry experts and scattering modelers.
The study examines the use of the spheroidal shape approximation for calculating cloud radar...
