| 11 Feb 2025
Improved hydrometeor detection near the Earth’s surface by a conically scanning spaceborne W-band radar
Abstract. The Earth’s strong radar surface return limits the detection of clouds and precipitation in the lowest part of the atmosphere by nadir-pointing spaceborne radars such as CloudSat and EarthCARE. The strength of the Earth’s surface radar return is significantly reduced at non-zero incidence angles. The WIVERN 94 GHz radar, currently undergoing Phase A studies by ESA, employs a 3-meter antenna and conical radar sampling at high incidence angles. Here, the benefits of the narrow field of view and the reduction in the Earth’s surface return for studying clouds and precipitation in the lowest kilometers of the atmosphere are quantified. The WIVERN radar is expected to improve the signal (hydrometeors) to clutter (surface return) ratio over ice-free ocean surfaces and marginally worsen it over land and sea ice. The impact of these findings on the detection of light rainfall and snowfall near the Earth’s surface is discussed.
Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of Atmospheric Measurement Techniques.
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