A method for measuring precipitation parameters using radar reflectivity and optical extinction

A method is described by which radar reflectivity and optical extinction are used to determine precipitation parameters, such as liquid water content and rainfall rate, and an exponential approximation to the raindrop size spectrum. The improvement in the accuracy of the results over that which is possible using empirical relations is demonstrated by applying the method to a set of experimentally observed raindrop size spectra. It is also shown that the assumption of an exponential spectrum is not a necessary feature of the method and that any two parameter drop size distribution can be employed.