Abstract
Field experiment in South China was undertaken to improve understanding of cloud and precipitation properties. Measurements of the vertical structures of non-precipitating and precipitating clouds were obtained using passive and active remote sensing equipment: a Ka-band cloud radar (CR) system, a C-band frequency modulated continuous wave vertical pointing radar (CVPR), a microwave radiometer and a laser ceilometer (CEIL). CR plays a key role in high-level cloud observation, whereas CVPR is important for observing low- and mid-level clouds and heavy precipitation. CEIL helps us diminish the effects of “clear-sky” in the planetary boundary layer. The experiment took place in Longmen, Guangdong Province, China from May to September of 2016. This study focuses on evaluating the ability of the two radars to deliver consistent observation data and develops an algorithm to merge the CR, CVPR and CEIL data. Cloud echo base, thickness, frequency of observed cloud types and reflectivity vertical distributions are analyzed in the radar data. Comparisons between the collocated data sets show that reflectivity biases between the CR three operating modes are less than 2 dB. The averaged difference between CR and CVPR reflectivity can be reduced with attenuation correction to 3.57 dB from the original 4.82 dB. No systemic biases were observed between velocity data collected in the three CR modes and CVPR. The corrected CR reflectivity and velocity data were then merged with the CVPR data and CEIL data to fill in the gaps during the heavy precipitation periods and reduce the effects of Bragg scattering and fog on cloud observations in the boundary layer. Meanwhile, the merging of velocity data with different Nyquist velocities and resolutions diminishes velocity folding to provide fine-grain information about cloud and precipitation dynamics. The three daily periods in which low-level clouds tended to occur were at sunrise, noon and sunset and large differences in the average reflectivity values were observed. Mid- and high-level clouds tended to occur at 1400 and 1800 BT. Few clouds were found between a height of 3 and 5 km.
Highlights
Clouds have a distinct influence on weather and climate
The objectives of this study are to (i) investigate the cloud and precipitation detecting capabilities of the above–mentioned two radars and CEIL during 1-month continuous observations; (ii) reveal any bias related to the observations; (iii) develop an algorithm to merge the observations from cloud radar (CR), continuous wave vertical pointing radar (CVPR) and CEIL to improve detections of heavy precipitation and shallow clouds
In order to analyze the differences in reflectivity and velocity observed by the CR and CVPR, the backscattering cross sections of oblate spheroid raindrops and solid ice spheres were computed for Ka and C band radar for Mie scattering by using the extended boundary condition method [25]
Summary
Clouds have a distinct influence on weather and climate. Thermodynamic and microphysical conditions, clouds can begin precipitating. Understanding the variation of vertical reflectivity structures and cloud bases for various types of clouds under different dynamic conditions will improve the analysis of convective weather systems and the impacts of cloud dynamics on climate change [1]. Cloud observation contributes to the aviation safety. No single wavelength ground-based radar has proven to be capable of detecting a wide variety of cloud and precipitation properties. Multi-wavelength vertical observing technology is a promising means to simultaneously obtain the vertical structures of cloud and precipitation systems. Accurate measurements of a wide range of cloud bases rely on integration data from both optical and active microwave remote sensors
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