Prediction of propagation effects and rain-intensity using radar determined three-parameter raindrop-size distribution

Addresses the variation of the raindrop size distribution (RDSD) through space. The importance of this feature lies in that it is one of the central quantities which a multiparameter weather radar determines in order to generate propagation and hydrological predictions. For a more precise estimation of propagation effects and rain intensity by polarimetric radars, it is important that the radar technique enables an independent estimate of the `third parameter μ"\´ (RDSP shape) as well. Such an extension of the dual-polar technique, which uses accumulated differential propagation phase, derived from complex correlations, as the extra radar observable to effect a direct radar estimate of the μ parameter, is reported