Dual-frequency measurement of rain using millimetre-wave radars: Initial results

This paper presents initial results from an investigation into the feasibility of measuring rain using a pair of horizontally-pointed FMCW radars operating at 38 and 94 GHz. Such a system could potentially offer data complementary to that provided by existing networks of meteorological radars. It may find application where higher resolutions are required, or where a small, portable, low-power system is desirable. The technique used is a variation on the well known dual-frequency extinction technique. Radar-measured rainfall rates and drop-size distributions are compared with data gathered from a disdrometer.