Biological Scatterers Observed by S-Pol

Biological scatterers are a very common occurrence in the returns of weather radars. S-Pol, NCAR’s research S-band radar has made numerous observations of various types of insects and birds. This paper will focus on biological scatter during the recent field experiment PECAN (Plains Elevated Convection at Night) where S-Pol was located near Hays, Kansas in the summer of 2014. Observations of nighttime and daytime insects are presented. Insects are seen in various layers with distinctly different polarimetric signatures. Zdr values exceed 17 dB and some insects are characterized by large back scatter phase shift. Movies of insects taking off and landing at sunrise and sunsets are shown. Biological scatter from S-Pol from other experiments are shown as well.