Articles | Volume 18, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5157-2025
© 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-18-5157-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
08 Oct 2025
Research article |
| 08 Oct 2025
| 08 Oct 2025
Calibration of weather radars with a target simulator
Marc Schneebeli
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Palindrome Remote Sensing, Landquart, Switzerland
now at: Geoprevent AG, Zurich, Switzerland
Andreas Leuenberger
Palindrome Remote Sensing, Landquart, Switzerland
Philipp J. Schmid
Palindrome Remote Sensing, Landquart, Switzerland
now at: Institute of Applied Physics (IAP), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Jacopo Grazioli
Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
Heather Corden
Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
Alexis Berne
Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
Patrick Kennedy
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Jim George
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Francesc Junyent
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
V. Chandrasekar
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Romanos Foskinis, Anne-Claire Billault-Roux, Henrik Skov, Lise Lotte Sørensen, Sven-Erik Gryning, Athanasios Nenes, and Alexis Berne
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-549, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-549, 2026
Preprint under review for ESSD
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We present a dataset collected with the WProf cloud radar during the CleanCloud Arctic Villum ExpeRiment campaign in northeast Greenland in spring 2024. It includes Doppler spectra, hydrometeor classification, and cloud observations that reveal the microphysical structure of Arctic clouds. The data show that multimodality, where different cloud particle populations coexist, is common and support studies of aerosol–cloud interactions and improvements in weather and climate models.
Ioannis Chaniotis, Paraskevi Georgakaki, Romanos Foskinis, Marilena Gidarakou, Maria Gini, Platon Patlakas, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis, Alexandros Papagiannis, Elissavet Bossioli, Nicole Clerx, Alexis Berne, Helena Flocas, and Athanasios Nenes
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This study implements three secondary ice production mechanisms in the RAMS-ICLAMS model to better represent mixed-phase clouds. Validated against CHOPIN campaign data and for two characteristic alpine cloud formations, these mechanisms improve ice crystal concentrations, cloud structure, and reflectivity. However, opposing precipitation responses have been predicted, highlighting a non linear response, which aligns with independent previous findings.
A. V. Sreenath, Peter T. May, Steven Siems, Heather Corden, and Alexis Berne
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4159, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4159, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
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We investigated how synoptic weather regimes control cloud growth and surface precipitation at Dumont d’Urville, East Antarctica. Multi-instrument observations show that synoptic forcing determines hydrometeor growth and precipitation formation aloft, while boundary-layer conditions, including local downslope flow and near-surface moisture, control how much precipitation reaches the surface.
Gionata Ghiggi, Kim Candolfi, Anne-Claire Billault-Roux, Régis Longchamp, Son Pham-Ba, Charlotte Weil, Remko Uijlenhoet, and Alexis Berne
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 19, 4943–4987, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4943-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4943-2026, 2026
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disdrodb is a Python package for standardized sharing, processing, and analysis of disdrometer observations. It makes precipitation particle size distribution datasets easier to discover, access, and download, and converts heterogeneous raw measurements into global harmonized products for remote sensing precipitation retrievals and particle size distribution studies.
Heather Corden, Julien Delanoë, Massimo Del Guasta, and Alexis Berne
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3964, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3964, 2026
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In Antarctica, intrusions of warm, moist air from the coast to the high plateau are responsible for a significant proportion of the snow accumulating on the ice sheet each year. We present a case study of an intrusion in East Antarctica in February 2025. Meteorological radars along a 1100-km transect were used to investigate the processes leading to precipitation in the intrusion. The processes vary according to the changing temperature, humidity and wind dynamics between the coast and plateau.
Matteo Guidicelli, Alfonso Ferrone, Gionata Ghiggi, Marco Gabella, Urs Germann, and Alexis Berne
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-594, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-594, 2026
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We developed a radar-based method to estimate the number and size of hailstones across Switzerland using multiple weather radars. The approach shows reasonable agreement with independent observations (automatic hailsensors, drone-based, and crowd-sourced) and provides high-resolution information on hail events. This method can support monitoring, forecasting, and assessing hail-related damages.
Kevin Ohneiser, Patric Seifert, Willi Schimmel, Fabian Senf, Tom Gaudek, Martin Radenz, Audrey Teisseire, Veronika Ettrichrätz, Teresa Vogl, Nina Maherndl, Nils Pfeifer, Jan Henneberger, Anna J. Miller, Nadja Omanovic, Christopher Fuchs, Huiying Zhang, Fabiola Ramelli, Robert Spirig, Anton Kötsche, Heike Kalesse-Los, Maximilian Maahn, Heather Corden, Alexis Berne, Majid Hajipour, Hannes Griesche, Julian Hofer, Ronny Engelmann, Annett Skupin, Albert Ansmann, and Holger Baars
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 17363–17386, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-17363-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-17363-2025, 2025
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This study focuses on a seeder-feeder cloud system on 8 Jan 2024 in Eriswil, Switzerland. It is shown how the interaction of these cloud systems changes the cloud microphysical properties and the precipitation patterns. A big set of advanced remote-sensing techniques and retrieval algorithms are applied, so that a detailed view on the seeder-feeder cloud system is available. The gained knowledge can be used to improve weather models and weather forecasts.
Valentin Wiener, Étienne Vignon, Thomas Caton Harrison, Christophe Genthon, Felipe Toledo, Guylaine Canut-Rocafort, Yann Meurdesoif, and Alexis Berne
Weather Clim. Dynam., 6, 1605–1627, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-1605-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-1605-2025, 2025
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Katabatic winds are a key feature of the climate of Antarctica, but substantial biases remain in their representation in atmospheric models. This study investigates a katabatic wind event in an atmospheric circulation model using in-situ observations. The framework allows to disentangle which part of the bias is due to horizontal resolution, to parameter calibration and to structural deficiencies in the model. We underline in particular the need to refine the physics of the model snow cover.
Brian C. Filipiak, David B. Wolff, Aaron Spaulding, Ali Tokay, Charles N. Helms, Adrian M. Loftus, Alexey V. Chibisov, Carl Schirtzinger, Mick J. Boulanger, Charanjit S. Pabla, Larry Bliven, EunYeol Kim, Francesc Junyent, V. Chandrasekar, Hein Thant, Branislav M. Notaros, Gustavo Britto Hupsel de Azevedo, and Diego Cerrai
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 5783–5810, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-5783-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-5783-2025, 2025
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A GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) Ground Validation field campaign in Connecticut collected high-resolution microphysical and radar observations of winter precipitation. This field campaign was unique because there was a wide-ranging suite of instruments capable of observing all phases of precipitation co-located with comparable measurements. The observations provide an opportunity to verify and understand complex winter precipitation events through satellite data, microphysical processes, and numerical model simulations.
Zhenhai Zhang, Vesta Afzali Gorooh, Duncan Axisa, Chandrasekar Radhakrishnan, Eun Yeol Kim, Venkatachalam Chandrasekar, and Luca Delle Monache
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1981–2003, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1981-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1981-2025, 2025
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Water is a precious resource, and it is essential to monitor and predict the current and future occurrence of precipitation-producing clouds. We investigate the cloud characteristics related to precipitation using several cloud cases in the United Arab Emirates with data from aircraft measurements, satellite observations, and weather radar observations. This study provides scientific support for the development of an applicable framework to examine cloud precipitation processes.
Frédéric G. Jordan, Clément Cosson, Marco Gabella, Ioannis V. Sideris, Adrien Liernur, Alexis Berne, and Urs Germann
Abstr. Int. Cartogr. Assoc., 9, 19, https://doi.org/10.5194/ica-abs-9-19-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ica-abs-9-19-2025, 2025
Alfonso Ferrone, Jérôme Kopp, Martin Lainer, Marco Gabella, Urs Germann, and Alexis Berne
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 7143–7168, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-7143-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-7143-2024, 2024
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Estimates of hail size have been collected by a network of hail sensors, installed in three regions of Switzerland, since September 2018. In this study, we use a technique called “double-moment normalization” to model the distribution of diameter sizes. The parameters of the method have been defined over 70 % of the dataset and tested over the remaining 30 %. An independent distribution of hail sizes, collected by a drone, has also been used to evaluate the method.
Kunfeng Gao, Franziska Vogel, Romanos Foskinis, Stergios Vratolis, Maria I. Gini, Konstantinos Granakis, Anne-Claire Billault-Roux, Paraskevi Georgakaki, Olga Zografou, Prodromos Fetfatzis, Alexis Berne, Alexandros Papayannis, Konstantinos Eleftheridadis, Ottmar Möhler, and Athanasios Nenes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 9939–9974, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9939-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-9939-2024, 2024
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Ice nucleating particle (INP) concentrations are required for correct predictions of clouds and precipitation in a changing climate, but they are poorly constrained in climate models. We unravel source contributions to INPs in the eastern Mediterranean and find that biological particles are important, regardless of their origin. The parameterizations developed exhibit superior performance and enable models to consider biological-particle effects on INPs.
Valentin Wiener, Marie-Laure Roussel, Christophe Genthon, Étienne Vignon, Jacopo Grazioli, and Alexis Berne
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 821–836, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-821-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-821-2024, 2024
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This paper presents 7 years of data from a precipitation radar deployed at the Dumont d'Urville station in East Antarctica. The main characteristics of the dataset are outlined in a short statistical study. Interannual and seasonal variability are also investigated. Then, we extensively describe the processing method to retrieve snowfall profiles from the radar data. Lastly, a brief comparison is made with two climate models as an application example of the dataset.
Sophie Erb, Elias Graf, Yanick Zeder, Simone Lionetti, Alexis Berne, Bernard Clot, Gian Lieberherr, Fiona Tummon, Pascal Wullschleger, and Benoît Crouzy
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 441–451, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-441-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-441-2024, 2024
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In this study, we focus on an automatic bioaerosol measurement instrument and investigate the impact of using its fluorescence measurement for pollen identification. The fluorescence signal is used together with a pair of images from the same instrument to identify single pollen grains via neural networks. We test whether considering fluorescence as a supplementary input improves the pollen identification performance by comparing three different neural networks.
Alfonso Ferrone, Étienne Vignon, Andrea Zonato, and Alexis Berne
The Cryosphere, 17, 4937–4956, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4937-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4937-2023, 2023
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In austral summer 2019/2020, three K-band Doppler profilers were deployed across the Sør Rondane Mountains, south of the Belgian base Princess Elisabeth Antarctica. Their measurements, along with atmospheric simulations and reanalyses, have been used to study the spatial variability in precipitation over the region, as well as investigate the interaction between the complex terrain and the typical flow associated with precipitating systems.
Marco Gabella, Martin Lainer, Daniel Wolfensberger, and Jacopo Grazioli
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4409–4422, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4409-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4409-2023, 2023
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A still wind turbine observed with a fixed-pointing radar antenna has shown distinctive polarimetric signatures: the correlation coefficient between the two orthogonal polarization states was persistently equal to 1. The differential reflectivity and the radar reflectivity factors were also stable in time. Over 2 min (2000 Hz, 128 pulses were used; consequently, the sampling time was 64 ms), the standard deviation of the differential backscattering phase shift was only a few degrees.
Anne-Claire Billault-Roux, Paraskevi Georgakaki, Josué Gehring, Louis Jaffeux, Alfons Schwarzenboeck, Pierre Coutris, Athanasios Nenes, and Alexis Berne
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 10207–10234, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10207-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-10207-2023, 2023
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Secondary ice production plays a key role in clouds and precipitation. In this study, we analyze radar measurements from a snowfall event in the Jura Mountains. Complex signatures are observed, which reveal that ice crystals were formed through various processes. An analysis of multi-sensor data suggests that distinct ice multiplication processes were taking place. Both the methods used and the insights gained through this case study contribute to a better understanding of snowfall microphysics.
Alfonso Ferrone and Alexis Berne
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 1115–1132, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1115-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1115-2023, 2023
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This article presents the datasets collected between November 2019 and February 2020 in the vicinity of the Belgian research base Princess Elisabeth Antarctica. Five meteorological radars, a multi-angle snowflake camera, three weather stations, and two radiometers have been deployed at five sites, up to a maximum distance of 30 km from the base. Their varied locations allow the study of spatial variability in snowfall and its interaction with the complex terrain in the region.
Anne-Claire Billault-Roux, Gionata Ghiggi, Louis Jaffeux, Audrey Martini, Nicolas Viltard, and Alexis Berne
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 911–940, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-911-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-911-2023, 2023
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Better understanding and modeling snowfall properties and processes is relevant to many fields, ranging from weather forecasting to aircraft safety. Meteorological radars can be used to gain insights into the microphysics of snowfall. In this work, we propose a new method to retrieve snowfall properties from measurements of radars with different frequencies. It relies on an original deep-learning framework, which incorporates knowledge of the underlying physics, i.e., electromagnetic scattering.
Zane Dedekind, Jacopo Grazioli, Philip H. Austin, and Ulrike Lohmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 2345–2364, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2345-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2345-2023, 2023
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Simulations allowing ice particles to collide with one another producing more ice particles represented surface observations of ice particles accurately. An increase in ice particles formed through collisions was related to sharp changes in the wind direction and speed with height. Changes in wind speed and direction can therefore cause more enhanced collisions between ice particles and alter how fast and how much precipitation forms. Simulations were conducted with the atmospheric model COSMO.
Claudia Mignani, Lukas Zimmermann, Rigel Kivi, Alexis Berne, and Franz Conen
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 13551–13568, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13551-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13551-2022, 2022
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We determined over the course of 8 winter months the phase of clouds associated with snowfall in Northern Finland using radiosondes and observations of ice particle habits at ground level. We found that precipitating clouds were extending from near ground to at least 2.7 km altitude and approximately three-quarters of them were likely glaciated. Possible moisture sources and ice formation processes are discussed.
Étienne Vignon, Lea Raillard, Christophe Genthon, Massimo Del Guasta, Andrew J. Heymsfield, Jean-Baptiste Madeleine, and Alexis Berne
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12857–12872, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12857-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12857-2022, 2022
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The near-surface atmosphere over the Antarctic Plateau is cold and pristine and resembles to a certain extent the high troposphere where cirrus clouds form. In this study, we use innovative humidity measurements at Concordia Station to study the formation of ice fogs at temperatures <−40°C. We provide observational evidence that ice fogs can form through the homogeneous freezing of solution aerosols, a common nucleation pathway for cirrus clouds.
Alfonso Ferrone, Anne-Claire Billault-Roux, and Alexis Berne
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 3569–3592, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3569-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-3569-2022, 2022
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The Micro Rain Radar PRO (MRR-PRO) is a meteorological radar, with a relevant set of features for deployment in remote locations. We developed an algorithm, named ERUO, for the processing of its measurements of snowfall. The algorithm addresses typical issues of the raw spectral data, such as interference lines, but also improves the quality and sensitivity of the radar variables. ERUO has been evaluated over four different datasets collected in Antarctica and in the Swiss Jura.
Jeong-Su Ko, Kyo-Sun Sunny Lim, Kwonil Kim, Gyuwon Lee, Gregory Thompson, and Alexis Berne
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 4529–4553, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4529-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4529-2022, 2022
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This study evaluates the performance of the four microphysics parameterizations, the WDM6, WDM7, Thompson, and Morrison schemes, in simulating snowfall events during the ICE-POP 2018 field campaign. Eight snowfall events are selected and classified into three categories (cold-low, warm-low, and air–sea interaction cases). The evaluation focuses on the simulated hydrometeors, microphysics budgets, wind fields, and precipitation using the measurement data.
Paraskevi Georgakaki, Georgia Sotiropoulou, Étienne Vignon, Anne-Claire Billault-Roux, Alexis Berne, and Athanasios Nenes
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 1965–1988, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-1965-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-1965-2022, 2022
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The modelling study focuses on the importance of ice multiplication processes in orographic mixed-phase clouds, which is one of the least understood cloud types in the climate system. We show that the consideration of ice seeding and secondary ice production through ice–ice collisional breakup is essential for correct predictions of precipitation in mountainous terrain, with important implications for radiation processes.
Monika Feldmann, Urs Germann, Marco Gabella, and Alexis Berne
Weather Clim. Dynam., 2, 1225–1244, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-2-1225-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-2-1225-2021, 2021
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Mesocyclones are the rotating updraught of supercell thunderstorms that present a particularly hazardous subset of thunderstorms. A first-time characterisation of the spatiotemporal occurrence of mesocyclones in the Alpine region is presented, using 5 years of Swiss operational radar data. We investigate parallels to hailstorms, particularly the influence of large-scale flow, daily cycles and terrain. Improving understanding of mesocyclones is valuable for risk assessment and warning purposes.
Nicholas J. Kedzuf, J. Christine Chiu, V. Chandrasekar, Sounak Biswas, Shashank S. Joshil, Yinghui Lu, Peter Jan van Leeuwen, Christopher Westbrook, Yann Blanchard, and Sebastian O'Shea
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 6885–6904, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6885-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6885-2021, 2021
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Ice clouds play a key role in our climate system due to their strong controls on precipitation and the radiation budget. However, it is difficult to characterize co-existing ice species using radar observations. We present a new method that separates the radar signals of pristine ice embedded in snow aggregates and retrieves their respective abundances and sizes for the first time. The ability to provide their quantitative microphysical properties will open up many research opportunities.
Jussi Leinonen, Jacopo Grazioli, and Alexis Berne
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 6851–6866, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6851-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6851-2021, 2021
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Measuring the shape, size and mass of a large number of snowflakes is a challenging task; it is hard to achieve in an automatic and instrumented manner. We present a method to retrieve these properties of individual snowflakes using as input a triplet of images/pictures automatically collected by a multi-angle snowflake camera (MASC) instrument. Our method, based on machine learning, is trained on artificially generated snowflakes and evaluated on 3D-printed snowflake replicas.
Marc Schwaerzel, Dominik Brunner, Fabian Jakub, Claudia Emde, Brigitte Buchmann, Alexis Berne, and Gerrit Kuhlmann
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 6469–6482, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6469-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6469-2021, 2021
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NO2 maps from airborne imaging remote sensing often appear much smoother than one would expect from high-resolution model simulations of NO2 over cities, despite the small ground-pixel size of the sensors. Our case study over Zurich, using the newly implemented building module of the MYSTIC radiative transfer solver, shows that the 3D effect can explain part of the smearing and that building shadows cause a noticeable underestimation and noise in the measured NO2 columns.
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Short summary
A new technique for the end-to-end calibration of weather radars is introduced. Highly precise artificial radar targets are generated with a radar target simulator and serve as a calibration reference for weather radar observables like reflectivity and Doppler velocity. The system allows investigating and correcting any biases associated with weather radar observations.
A new technique for the end-to-end calibration of weather radars is introduced. Highly precise...
