Efficiencies for extinction and backscattering of a microwave pulse incident on water drops

Efficiencies for extinction and backscattering of microwave radiation by water drops are calculated from general formulae describing scattering of an arbitrarily short duration electromagnetic field pulse by a spherical particle. Water drops of radius less than 2.5 mm, covering all types of clouds and precipitations, are considered. The calculations show that for large particles (the radius is compatible with the carrier wave length) scattering characteristics of very narrow pulses and monochromatic waves differ noticeably. For wave lengths shorter than 22 mm, ranges of particle size are found where pulse and monochromatic scattering characteristics are appreciatively different. For longer waves these differences disappear