Abstract
In this work, the feasibility of estimating rain rate based on polarimetric Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals is explored in theory. After analyzing the cause of polarimetric signals, three physical-mathematical relation models between co-polar phase shift (KHH, KVV), specific differential phase shift (KDP), and rain rate (R) are respectively investigated. These relation models are simulated based on four different empirical equations of nonspherical raindrops and simulated Gamma raindrop size distribution. They are also respectively analyzed based on realistic Gamma raindrop size distribution and maximum diameter of raindrops under three different rain types: stratiform rain, cumuliform rain, and mixed clouds rain. The sensitivity of phase shift with respect to some main influencing factors, such as shape of raindrops, frequency, as well as elevation angle, is also discussed, respectively. The numerical results in this study show that the results by scattering algorithms T-matrix are consistent with those from Rayleigh Scattering Approximation. It reveals that they all have the possibility to estimate rain rate using the KHH-R, KVV-R or KDP-R relation. It can also be found that the three models are all affected by shape of raindrops and frequency, while the elevation angle has no effect on KHH-R. Finally, higher frequency L1 or B1 and lower elevation angle are recommended and microscopic characteristics of raindrops, such as shape and size distribution, are deemed to be important and required for further consideration in future experiments. Since phase shift is not affected by attenuation and not biased by ground clutter cancellers, this method has considerable potential in precipitation monitoring, which provides new opportunities for atmospheric research.
Highlights
The Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), mainly including the United States’ GlobalPosition System (GPS), Russia’s GLONASS, China’s BeiDou, and European Union’s GALILEO, have been rapidly developed in the past few decades [1]
The zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD) along the GNSS signal path, which is one of the major error sources for GNSS positioning, can be used to detect precipitable water vapor (PWV) [2,3], and its three-dimensional distribution can be retrieved by ground-based GNSS station networks
This paper has researched the theoretical feasibility of estimating rain rate based on the
Summary
The Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), mainly including the United States’ Global. Position System (GPS), Russia’s GLONASS, China’s BeiDou, and European Union’s GALILEO, have been rapidly developed in the past few decades [1]. Along with its vigorous development of GNSS, the non-navigational applications of GNSS signals have attracted more and more attention, especially in the field of Atmosphere-Ocean and Space environmental remote sensing. The zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD) along the GNSS signal path, which is one of the major error sources for GNSS positioning, can be used to detect precipitable water vapor (PWV) [2,3], and its three-dimensional distribution can be retrieved by ground-based GNSS station networks. The results of these research endeavors created a new science, GNSS meteorology.
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