Integrated model for simulation of dual linear polarisation radar measurement fields

A procedure is described for the simulation of radar reflectivity measurements (absolute and differential) by dual linear polarisation meteorological radars. The aim is that radar data obtained at the end of the process be correlated in a physically plausible manner to the rainfall field at ground generated through a stochastic space-time rainfall model. The simulation procedure starts by generating volumetric reflectivity fields from which the radar-measured fields are computed by simulating the radar volume sampling process while accounting for the related errors. The rainfall fields serve as a basis for both the generation of the cited volumetric reflectivity fields and the definition of a high resolution ground truth reference, useful for testing performance of radar (and raingauge) data processing techniques conceived to improve radar rainfall estimates. To this end, sample tests have been made to check the effectiveness of the differential reflectivity technique employed to compensate for propagation attenuation, and to evaluate performance of radar calibration based on raingauge measurements. Results obtained through these tests are discussed