Vertical profile classification algorithm for GPM

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission was successfully launched on February 27, 2014. It is the next satellite mission to obtain global precipitation measurements following success of TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission). The GPM core satellite is equipped with a dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) operating at Ku- (13.6 GHz) and Ka- (35.5 GHz) band. DPR on aboard the GPM core satellite is expected to improve our knowledge of precipitation processes relative to the single-frequency (Ku-band) radar used in TRMM by providing greater dynamic range, more detailed information on microphysics, and better accuracies in rainfall and liquid water content retrievals. New Ka-band channel observation of DPR will help to improve the detection thresholds for light rain and snow relative to TRMM PR [1]. The dual-frequency signals allow us to distinguish regions of liquid, frozen, and mixed-phase precipitation. In this paper, we summarize the vertical profile classification algorithm for GPM DPR with the focus on dual-frequency classification method.