Simultaneous cloud, precipitation, and vertical motions with dual-frequency Doppler spectra: getting ready for the new radars

Description

Understanding the processing of water within the climate system is central to atmospheric prediction on most space and time scales. Documenting from observations the properties of cloud and precipitation as they exist within vertical motion regimes is a key element in developing this understanding. Up to now, it has been difficult to use ARM data to simultaneously document these key parameters. In response to this need, the Atmospheric System Research (ASR) program will field an unprecedented suite of radars at the ARM Climate Research Facility sites over the next several years. The centerpieces of this new suite of radars will be dual-frequency millimeter wavelength systems that will record full Doppler spectra when pointing vertically. We explore the capacity for these dual-frequency systems to provide simultaneous information regarding cloud and precipitation microphysics, and vertical motion statistics using both theoretically derived synthetic data as well as existing measurements.