Numerical scattering simulations for interpreting simultaneous observations of clouds by a W-band spaceborne and a C-band ground radar

The spaceborne W-band (94 GHz) Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) onboard the CloudSat (CS) satellite, which was launched in 2006, is providing valuable information about global cloud properties. This work aims at interpreting collocated time/space observations from CPR on CS and a ground C-band (5.6 GHz) Radar (GR), with the help of numerical simulations of electromagnetic scattering returns from populations of monodisperse spheres of ice and liquid water. Two cloud systems over Apulia region are investigated. CPR and GR images have been geo-referenced, then combined and displayed for analysis. The numerical simulations of the two radar reflectivities are used as a tool in the inversion procedure, aiming at identifying the hydrometeors, in their phase and size distribution, in the cloud volume simultaneously observed by the two radars. The possible vertical profiles of hydrometeors are presented.