Separation of simultaneous rain and ice depolarization

In the case of depolarization due to rain or to ice crystals, the differential attenuation, the differential phase shift, and the canting angle of the depolarizing medium can all be calculated independently from dual polarized measurement results. However, this is not possible when rain and ice are causing depolarization at the same time. This paper presents a calculation method which makes it possible to derive during simultaneous rain and ice depolarization some of the characterising parameters of each part separately. The method makes use of an a priori known relation between the differential attenuation and the differential phase shift of rain and of ice. The calculation method is tested on measured depolarization events, and yields good results.