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Processing of ARM Millimeter Wave Cloud Radar Signals at Low Signal to Noise Conditions

Kollias, P. and Albrecht B.A., University of Miami
Twelfth Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Science Team Meeting

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program has supported the deployment of several Millimeter Wave Cloud Radars (MMCRs) operating at 35-GHz for an accurate detection of all the hydrometeors in the atmosphere. Despite their short wavelength that increases the Rayleigh backscattering cross-section , MMCRs often observe atmospheric signals buried in noise. In this paper, the variance of the spectral moments and signal power measurements in low signal-to-noise (SNR) conditions by the MMCRs is discussed. Using simulations of Doppler radar signals and MMCR observations of boundary layer clouds at the ARM Tropical Western Pacific (TWP) site the radar measurements accuracy at low SNR is quantified. The sensitivity of the MMCRs modes is evaluated and rejection criteria of large uncertainty estimates are proposed based on the first and second Doppler spectra moments (mean Doppler and Doppler spectrum width).

Note: This is the poster abstract presented at the meeting; an extended version was not provided by the author(s).