Keywords

Profiler, Radar, Remote sensing

Abstract

Vertical pointing Doppler radar profilers are used to explore the vertical structure of precipitation cloud systems and to provide validation information for use in weather research. In this thesis, a theoretical radar rain-backscatter model was developed to simulate profiler Doppler spectra as a function of assumed rain parameters, of which the raindrop size distribution (DSD) is the fundamental quantity used to describe the characteristics of rain. Also, profiler observations during stratiform rain are analyzed to retrieve the corresponding rain DSD’s. In particular, a gamma distribution model is introduced, which uses Rayleigh scattering portion of the Doppler velocity spectrum to estimate the raindrop size distribution. This theoretical scattering model was validated by simulating atmospheric profiles of precipitation Doppler spectra and three moments (reflectivity, mean Doppler velocity and spectral width) and then comparing these with the corresponding measurements from an S-band radar profiler during a NASA conducted Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) field experiment in Central Florida in 1998. Also, the results of my analysis yielding precipitation retrievals are validated with an independent, simultaneous Joss-Waldvogel Disdrometer rain DSD observations that were collocated with the radar profiler.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2004

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Jones, W. Linwood

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Degree Program

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0000127

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0000127

Language

English

Release Date

August 2004

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Engineering and Computer Science; Engineering and Computer Science -- Dissertations, Academic

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