Direct Observations of Coherent Backscatter of Radar Waves in Precipitation

In previous work, it was argued that a source of radar coherent scatter occurs in the direction perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation because of the presence of grids of enhanced particle concentrations with spatial periodicities in resonance with the radar wavelength. While convincing,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the atmospheric sciences 2010-09, Vol.67 (9), p.3000-3005
Main Authors: JAMESON, A. R, KOSTINSKI, A. B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atoms & subatomic particles
Earth, ocean, space
Estimates
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Meteorology
Physics of the high neutral atmosphere
Precipitation
Propagation
Radar
Rain
Snow
Theory
Wave propagation
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Summary:In previous work, it was argued that a source of radar coherent scatter occurs in the direction perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation because of the presence of grids of enhanced particle concentrations with spatial periodicities in resonance with the radar wavelength. While convincing, the evidence thus far has been indirect. In this work the authors now present direct observations of radar coherent backscattered signals in precipitation in the direction of wave propagation. The theory is developed for the cross-correlation function of the complex amplitudes in the direction of propagation calculated for nearest neighbor range bins. Data are analyzed in snow and in rain. The results agree with the earlier conclusions in the previous work, namely that coherent scatter occurs in both rain and snow, that it is larger in snow than it is in rain, and that it can be significant at times.
ISSN:0022-4928
1520-0469
DOI:10.1175/2010JAS3488.1