Application of a differential reflectivity technique to the EDOP radar in ground-based operation

This paper discusses the modification of a single-frequency Doppler radar (9.6 GHz) to accommodate dual-frequency operation for the study of the microphysical character of precipitation. The modification involves the ER-2 Doppler radar (EDOP), an airborne, meteorological research radar of the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. Radar operation is modified to provide reflectivity signals at two distinct frequencies at 9% separation. Differential reflectivity results are shown from ground-based measurement. Future work will derive drop size distribution estimates from these measurements.