Polarimetry and phased array are two advanced radar technologies that have received much attention and are making contributions in the weather community. It is, however, a big challenge to combine the two technologies into one system for future Multi-mission Phased Array Radar (MPAR). The challenge comes from the fact that polarization base changes as radar beam electronically scan off broadside of a planar array antenna. For planar polarimetric phased array radar (PPPAR), horizontally (H) and vertically (V) polarized wave fields are not perpendicular when the beam scans away from broadside. That is H-pol and V-pol fields are coupled, which causes high cross-polarization for planar structure. To preserve the H, V bases, a cylindrical array configuration has been recently proposed as a candidate for MPAR.

In this work, antenna polarization characteristics of the two array configurations are analyzed and compared, and polarimetric parameter (e.g., differential reflectivity) bias correction techniques for the two antennas are presented. The cross-polarization of one polarization at mainbeam direction can be calculated and corrected by adjusting the amplitude and phase of the other polarization. In the case of cylindrical polarimetric phased array radar (CPPAR), the beam is formed at the bisector of the cylindrical sector and cross-polarizations caused by opposing elements in azimuth cancel each other, yielding very low cross-polarization level. Copolar and cross-polar patterns of PPPAR and that CPPAR are compared to reveal their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, to quantify their respective performance, effects of antenna element separation, amplitude tapering, and errors in element placement and failure are studied.