Bistatic scattering of microwave and millimeter wave by a melting layer of precipitation

A melting layer of precipitation is assumed to be composed of melting snow particles and the melting layer is related to the physical constants and the meteorological parameters. Shapes of the particles are approximated to oblate spheroids (or spheres). Bistatic radar reflectivities are computed at 1-100 GHz. Numerical results show that interference between earth stations can be caused by the melting layer at microwaves and millimeter waves. Radar bright band can be explained with the effective radar reflectivity factors and the differential reflectivity is on the expected order. Accordingly, the radar bright band can be absent in the melting layer at frequencies above 20 GHz. This agrees with radar observations at 35 and 94 GHz. It has also been found that the melting layer can result in interference between earth stations and terrestrial radio-relay stations.