S-PolKa Users' Guide

S-Polka FRAWST, Marshall Field Site, Colorado
Jan 2007 - March 2007

1. Introduction
   • Project goals
     • Winter precipitation study
     • Winter refractivity measuremnets
     • radar-lidar comparisons
   • The role of S-PolKa
     • Comparison of S-band dual-polarimetric radar data to 2-D video disdrometer observations
     • Quantitative comparisons with REAL cloud data
     • Refractivity measurements in winter weather

2. Siting
   • Location

3. Dataset Description
   • Parameters Available
   • Requesting Data
   • Post-processing corrections
     • S-band ZDR correction (based on vertical pointing and cross-correlation calibrations)
       • Not final value. Current, temporary data set processed with ZDR correction value -0.07 dB
     • Range correction: S-band data moved one gate, or 150 m, further in range (verified by tower measurements)

   • Practical Notes on Using the Data
     • Quicklook image products
       • S-Pol DZ/VE scan image archive
     • Ka-band performance report

   • S-Pol Description
     • Physical layout
     • Receiver configuration
     • Parameter Calculations/Derivations
     • Internal computer network and data flow

   • Data Verification Issues
     • Ranging and Pointing
     • S/Ka beam alignment
       • Solar scans used to fine tune dish alignment. Example
     • Differential Reflectivity, Zdr
     • S-band Reflectivity
     • Ka-band noise power estimates and corrections
     • Ka-band Reflectivity
     • System sensitivity
     • Linear Depolarization Ratio, LDR
     • Radial Velocity
     • Miscellaneous

Appendices

1. Operators' Log
2. S-Pol Calibration History