Improving Data Accuracy of Cloud Radars with Multiple Calibration Methods

Maintaining and improving raw data accuracy of multi-band polarimetric cloud radars requires a coordinated and continual effort involving physicists, engineers, technicians, and data analysts. Calibration of hardware components is necessary at various points along the pathway to deployment and beyond. Various methods of calibration are shown to improve data accuracy and quality. When available, multiple observations are used simultaneously to improve certainty of calibration. Methods include end-to-end calibration with corner reflectors, absolute receiver calibration with solar intensity estimates, relative dual-pol calibration with light rain, and orientation calibration with celestial position models via solar scanning. With each calibration a variety of issues arise including system software instability, weather, environmental parasitics, and limited hardware component lifetimes. A novel 6-hour heartbeat scan strategy and it’s unique challenges is also presented here. Finally, a simple pulse compression filter on a zenith pointing Ka band radar and its improvements are explored. This project is funded by United States DOE.