Identification of snow from GPM-DPR observations and cross validation with S-band ground radar dual polarization measurements

Abstract

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Core Observatory is equipped with a dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) operating at frequency channel of 13.6 GHz (Ku-band) and 35.5 GHz (Ka-band). In this paper, GPM-DPR's simultaneous observations at these two frequencies are used to study the characteristics of vertical profile of reflectivity of snow. An algorithm to identify falling snow is considered. Its performance is also evaluated by cross validation with dual polarization measurements from ground radar.