Comparison of Raindrop Size Distribution Estimates From X-Band and S-Band Polarimetric Observations

This letter evaluates the consistency of rainfall drop size distribution (DSD) parameters that were estimated from attenuation-corrected X-band dual-polarization (XPOL) radar measurements with estimates from a colocated S-band dual-polarization radar (S-Pol). The DSD retrieval technique uses reflectivity and differential reflectivity, and a constrained relationship to estimate the three parameters of a ldquonormalizedrdquo gamma distribution model. The more definitive S-Pol DSD parameter estimates are used as a reference to assess the performance of the corresponding XPOL estimates for different rain-path attenuation values. Results show that XPOL attenuation-corrected profiles can provide rainfall DSD estimations that are consistent to an S-band dual-polarization radar, even in cases of moderate to high rain-path attenuation.