Detection of the melting level with polarimetric weather radar

Abstract. Accurate estimation of the melting level (ML) is essential in radar rainfall to mitigate bright band enhancement, classify hydrometeors, correct for rain attenuation and calibrate measurements. This paper presents a novel robust ML-detection algorithm based on either vertical profiles (VPs) or quasi-vertical (QVPs) built from operational polarimetric weather scans. The depends only data collected by itself, it combination several measurements generate an enhanced profile with strong gradients related layer. applied 1 year events that occurred over southeast England, results were validated using radiosonde data. After evaluating all possible combinations measurements, achieves best ML detection when combining VPs ZH, ?HV gradient velocity (gradV), whereas, QVPs, ZDR produces results, regardless type event. root mean square error compared ?200 m ?250 QVPs.