Identification of Vertical Profiles of Reflectivity for Correction of Volumetric Radar Data Using Rainfall Classification

Abstract Nonuniform beam filling associated with the vertical variation of atmospheric reflectivity is an important source of error in the estimation of rainfall rates by radar. It is, however, possible to correct for this error if the vertical profile of reflectivity (VPR) is known. This paper presents a method for identifying VPRs from volumetric radar data. The method aims at improving an existing algorithm based on the analysis of ratios of radar measurements at multiple elevation angles. By adding a rainfall classification procedure defining more homogeneous precipitation patterns, the issue of VPR homogeneity is specifically addressed. The method is assessed using the dataset from a volume-scanning strategy for radar quantitative precipitation estimation designed in 2002 for the Bollene radar (France). The identified VPR is more representative of the rain field than are other estimated VPRs. It has also a positive impact on radar data processing for precipitation estimation: while scatter remains un...

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