CFRSL rain measurement facility, Part I: Radiometer and rain gauges

The Central Florida Remote Sensing Laboratory has developed a rain measurement facility to study atmospheric microwave noise emission during heavy rain events. This paper (part-1 of 2) describes the design and primarily results obtained from a 6.8 GHz microwave radiometer, rain rate, and rain drop size sensors. This instrument suite can be used to determine rain absorption coefficient during high rain rate events, tropical storms, and occasional hurricane that occur in Central Florida. Results from this facility will advance the development of an empirical model to predict atmospheric propagation loss during heavy rain (> 50 mm/hr). Preliminary results show measurements obtained from the radiometer and rain gauges are correlated, where a maximum rate of approximately 82 mm/hr is observed.