Experiments in rainfall estimation with a polarimetric radar in a subtropical environment

A unique dataset consisting of high-resolution polarimetric radar measurements and dense rain gauge and disdrometer observations collected in east-central Florida during the summer of 1998 was examined. Comparison of the radar measurements and radar parameters computed from the disdrometer observations supported previous studies, which indicate that oscillating drops in the free atmosphere have more spherical apparent shapes in the mean than equilibrium shapes. Radar–disdrometer comparisons improved markedly when using an empirical axis ratio relation developed from observational studies and representing more spherical drop shapes. Fixed-form power-law rainfall estimators for radar reflectivity (ZH), specific differential phase (KDP), specific differential phase–differential reflectivity (KDP, ZDR), and radar reflectivity–differential reflectivity (ZH, ZDR) were then determined using the disdrometer observations. Relations were produced for both equilibrium shapes and the empirical axis ratios. Polarimetric rainfall estimators based on more spherical shapes gave significantly improved performance. However, the improvement was largely in bias mitigation. Rainfall estimates with the ZH–ZDR measurement pair had the highest correlation with rain gauge observations, the smallest range in bias factors from storm to storm, and the smallest root-mean-square error.