Graphical Abstract

• Tweet

Geng, B., and M. Katsumata, 2020: An algorithm for detecting and removing the spurious differential phase observed by C-band polarimetric radar in the rain. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 98, 585-613.
Special Edition on Years of the Maritime Continent (YMC)
https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2020-031
Graphical Abstract

Plain Language Summary: An algorithm is developed to detect the spurious differential phase Ф_DP and specific differential phase K_DP in the rain. The development and validation of the algorithm was conducted using the data observed by the C-band polarimetric radar aboard the research vessel Mirai during a pilot field campaign of the Years of the Maritime Continent (YMC) project. The algorithm developed in this study facilitates the quality control of Ф_DP and K_DP.

Highlights:

• The algorithm is a threshold filter that is designed based on the empirical relationship between the K_DP and radar reflectivity factor at horizontal polarization Z_H for raindrops.
• The positively and negatively biased K_DP values can be efficiently detected by this new algorithm, while quality data, especially those with high Z_H values, remain unaffected as far as possible.
• The standard deviation of the K_DP in areas with relatively low Z_H is also significantly reduced by applying the algorithm.