Dual-parameter radar rainfall measurement from space: a test resultfrom an aircraft experiment

An aircraft experiment has been conducted with a dual-frequency ( X/Ka-bands) radar to test various rainfall retrieval methods from space. The authors test a method to derive raindrop size distribution (DSD) parameters from the combination of a radar reflectivity profile and a path-integrated attenuation derived from the surface return, which may be available from most spaceborne radars. The test results indicate the feasibility of the dual-parameter radar measurement from space in achieving a better accuracy in quantitative rainfall remote measurements