Evaluation of and integrated procedure for dual polarisation radar data processing

Data acquired by means of a meteorological radar sensor are often corrupted by errors limiting accuracy of quantitative precipitation estimates. This can be due to by the presence of ground intercepted by the radar beam, which causes different errors affecting the estimation of rainfall rate and other significant rainfall parameters: indeed ground clutter superimposed to rainfall data and the possible presence of ground relieves shadowing the antenna beam can often occur. A previous evaluation demonstrated that ground clutter can positively be detected by resorting to multiparameter classification of the acquired echoes. In the C-band range of frequencies. which we refer to in this paper radar acquisitions are also strongly affected by attenuation due to propagation of the electromagnetic wave through the storm. This paper presents an automatic procedure, based on the polarimetric features of the acquired radar data, for detection and correction of such anomalous conditions; its performance are evaluated through its application to data acquired through a C-band radar, located in the neighborhood of Florence, within a central area of Tuscany ( Italy). Evaluation of this procedure efficiency is made through comparison between rainfall rate estimate derived from radar data and that obtained through raingauges. properly Selected among those located over the coverage area of the radar system.