This study uses dual-polarization radar data collected during NASA’s Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) field campaign (McMurdie et al. 2022) and data from the National Weather Service’s WSR-88D radars to evaluate the performance of different KDP estimators and their associated hydrometeor classification outputs. Specifically, we evaluate the performance of three well-known methods: the operational National Weather Service estimator, the Maesaka estimator (Maesaka et al. 2012), and the Vulpiani estimator (Vulpiani et al. 2012, 2015). In addition to the NEXRAD data, data from the University of Oklahoma’s (OU) Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC) Rapid-scanning X-band Polarimetric (RaXPol) radar from two events is used, namely, the 29 January 2022 Plymouth, MA Nor’easter blizzard and the 25 February 2022 Albany, NY snowstorm. We envision creating a new hybrid KDP estimator that combines previous algorithms and selects the best estimation method based on HCA classification outputs with the goal of maximizing the accuracy of data-derived products. This hybrid method will aid in the quantification and prediction of snow and ice.
References:
- McMurdie, L. A., and Coauthors, 2022: Chasing Snowstorms: The Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) Campaign. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 103, E1243–E1269. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-20-0246.1
- Maesaka, T., K. Iwanami, and M. Maki, 2012: Non-negative KDP estimation by monotone increasing ΦDP assumption below melting layer. Seventh European Conf. on Radar in Meteorology and Hydrology, Toulouse, France, ERAD, http://www.meteo.fr/cic/meetings/2012/ERAD/extended_abs/QPE_233_ext_abs.pdf.
- Vulpiani, G., L. Baldini, and N. Roberto, 2015: Characterization of Mediterranean hail-bearing storms using an operational polarimetric X-band radar. Atmos. Meas. Tech., 8, 4681–4698, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-4681-2015.
- Vulpiani, G., M. Montopoli, L. D. Passeri, A. G. Gioia, P. Giordano, and F. S. Marzano, 2012: On the use of dual-polarized C-band radar for operational rainfall retrieval in mountainous areas. J. Appl. Meteor. Climatol., 51, 405–425, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-10-05024.1.

