Meteorology Prof. Leyda Len OF332 X6197 Now What is Radar Reflectivity? Where Vc is the contributing volume The above equation applies for a uniform beam. For a Gaussian beam, a correction term 2ln(2) has to be added Read Section 5.3 Bringi &Chandra 2001. As contributing volume grows with distance, more targets are added. Number of targets added is proportional to r2, which reduces the dependence of the returned power from r-4 to r-2. From Distributed Targets to Weather Radar equation Now we link radar equation to distributed weather targets! #1Whats my target? SPHERES! Small raindrops and cloud Spheres droplets !" Ellipsoids Large raindrops !" Varied shapes Ice crystals !" Can be Graupel and rimed particles !" spherical
Hail ! May or may not
be spheres #2 They are Rayleigh Scatterers!
For an array of particles
Reflectivity factor?
Radar Reflectivity FACTOR! Z
Commonly expressed in logarithmic units!
THIS is what we see in weather
radars screen! In general and back to radar equation
We can combine this with the radar
equation! The radar equation for weather targets Reviewing: 1. The precipitation particles are homogeneous dielectric spheres with diameters small compared to the radar wavelength. 2. The particles are spread throughout the contributing region. If not then the equation gives an average reflectivity factor for the contributing region. 3. The reflectivity factor Z is uniform throughout the contributing region and constant over the period of time needed to obtain the average value of the received power. Cont
4. All of the particles have the same dielectric
factor; that is, they are all either water droplets or ice particles. 5. The main lobe of the antenna is adequately described by a Gaussian function. 6. Microwave attenuation over the distance between the radar and the target is negligible. 7. Multiple scattering is negligible. Multiple scattering and attenuation are related so if one is true the other is too. 8. The incident and back-scattered waves are linearly polarized. When this is not met
When the assumptions built into the radar
equation are NOT satisfied, Z is replaced by the equivalent reflectivity factor and is referred to as Ze Reviewing units
One would think the
standard units of Z would be m6/m3 = m3 BUT NO! The standard units of Z is [mm6/m3] If these units are not used, you will be off by 10-18 Some weather echoes Echo Z [mm6/m3] dBZ Giant Hail 31,622,777 75dBZ Heavy Rain 100,000 45-50dBZ Snow 316 25dBZ Haze 0.001585 -28dBZ Hail Storm over Aasco Date: Sept 11, 2014 Time:17:26:06 UTC
TropiNet Cabo Rojo
TropiNet Cabo Rojo NEXRAD
Other CASES Hail Storm over Multiple Locations Date: Sept 12, 2014 Time:18:06:16 UTC http://www.radar-sales.com/PDFs/Performance_RDR%26TDR.pdf http://www.rapidtables.com/ electric/dBm.htm Taking into account the losses Due to coupler losses, waveguide losses, and receiver losses. i.e. RX has a finite bandwidth (typically 20-30 MHz) to limit the noise power of the receiver.
Where Lm and Lr as expressed as
dimensionless numbers less than unity (Lm as the power loss associated with antenna, coupler and waveguide losses Lr the loss in the receiver). Express all units in the MKS system to use this equation. Radians are used for the antenna beamwidth inputs. MKS: Meter-Kilogram-Second