Shape Slope Parameter Distribution Mod- Elling of Electromagnetic Scattering by Rain Drops

Gamma model parameters using 2nd, 3rd and 4th moments are calculated from the drop size data of Singapore. The gamma model is simplified into two parameter model by finding a relation between the shape and slope parameters, μ and Λ. Due to the poor correlation found between μ and Λ, the drop size data is filtered based on their rain rates before a good correlation between the two parameters can be found. The μ-Λ relations are then fitted for the different ranges of rain rate filtering. Scatter plots of μ and Λ are plotted with constant median volume diameter (D0) lines. The μ-Λ relations for the different rain types for the tropical island of Singapore are proposed and compared with the μ-Λ relations from three other countries of different climatic zones. T-Matrix calculations are performed to find the polarimetric variables at S-band by using the gamma DSD calculated from the Singapore’s drop size data. The calculated differential reflectivity and horizontal reflectivity are used along with the best μ-Λ relations to find the gamma model parameters. The retrieved rain rate using polarimetric variables is compared with the distrometer’s measured rain rate. Results show a good agreement between the retrieved rain rate and the measured rain rate. Therefore, the proposed shape slope relationship is found to be suitable for rain rate retrieval. Received 21 July 2010, Accepted 27 August 2010, Scheduled 7 September 2010 Corresponding author: L. S. Kumar ([email protected]). 192 Kumar, Lee, and Ong