Polarimetric attenuation correction and rainfall estimation for heavy rain events at C band

To obtain high-quality radar data, reliable radar calibration and efficient attenuation correction are very important. Microwave radiation at shorter wavelength experiences strong attenuation in precipitation and has to be accounted for. In this study, the performance of different attenuation/differential attenuation correction schemes at C band is tested for several strong rain events which occurred in the Chicago metropolitan area and central Oklahoma. The data collected by polarimetric radars belonging to the University of Valparaiso and University of Oklahoma (OU PRIME) are utilized. The polarimetric attenuation correction scheme that separates relative contributions of strong convective cells and the rest of the storm to the path-integrated total and differential attenuation is among the algorithms explored in several cases. Advantages and drawbacks of different attenuation correction schemes are discussed. A quantitative use of weather radar measurement such as rainfall estimation relies on the reliable attenuation correction. We examined the impact of attenuation correction on estimates of rainfall in heavy rain events by using cross-checking with S-band radar measurements which are much less affected by attenuation and compared the storm rain totals obtained from the corrected Z and KDP and rain gages in several cases.