Rain-Profiling Algorithm for the TRMM Precipitation Radar

TLDR

The paper presents the TRMM standard algorithm for estimating vertical profiles of attenuation‑corrected radar reflectivity and rainfall rate, emphasizing its critical steps. The algorithm applies a hybrid attenuation correction, selects a vertical‑varying drop‑size distribution model, and corrects for nonuniform beam filling, using a new optimum weighting function and a consistency criterion between model‑derived and surface‑reference attenuation estimates. The study finds that drop‑size distribution models consistent for convective rain over ocean are inconsistent over land, revealing a land‑ocean difference in convective rain particle sizes.

Abstract

This paper describes the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) standard algorithm that estimates the vertical profiles of attenuation-corrected radar reflectivity factor and rainfall rate. In particular, this paper focuses on the critical steps in the algorithm. These steps are attenuation correction, selection of the default drop size distribution model including vertical variations, and correction for the nonuniform beam-filling effect. The attenuation correction is based on a hybrid of the Hitschfeld–Bordan method and a surface reference method. A new algorithm to obtain an optimum weighting function is described. The nonuniform beam-filling problem is analyzed as a two-dimensional problem. The default drop size distribution model is selected according to the criterion that the attenuation estimates derived from the model and the independent estimates from the surface reference with the nonuniform beam-filling correction are consistent for rain over ocean. It is found that the drop size distribution models that are consistent for convective rain over ocean are not consistent over land, indicating a change in the size distributions associated with convective rain over land and ocean, respectively.