Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-691
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-691
14 Mar 2025
 | 14 Mar 2025

Augmenting the German weather radar network with vertically pointing cloud radars: implications of resolution and attenuation

Christian Heske, Florian Ewald, and Silke Groß

Abstract. A beam-aware columnar vertical profile (BA-CVP) methodology that incorporates data of the national German operational radar network with the aim of augmenting vertically pointing cloud radars is introduced. The method uses polarimetric radar data collected in plan position indicator (PPI) scans of multiple operational radars and considers the contributions of each operational radar in a beam-aware manner. The results of the method are paired with measurements of a vertically pointing cloud radar located in range of the operational radars and compared to measurements of dedicated scanning radars collected in range height indicator (RHI) scans for two different case studies. The combination of side-looking operational radars in the BA-CVP format with a vertically pointing cloud radar allows the simultaneous exploitation of polarimetric multi-frequency observations including radar variables like the differential reflectivity, the dual-wavelength ratio, Doppler fall speed and linear depolarisation ratio measurements to study the microphysical properties of hydrometeors while not having to rely on the availability of dedicated scanning radars. The extracted BA-CVPs based on operational data deliver good results with respect to resolving finer details in radar reflectivity and differential reflectivity when compared to measurements of dedicated radars. Usage of differential phase measurements is discussed as marker for high hydrometeor attenuation affecting the measurements of radars far from the point of interest. For future use of this method, the coverage of the national German operational radar network is studied and recommendations for locations with potential for additional vertically pointing cloud radars are pointed out.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

08 Oct 2025
Augmenting the German weather radar network with vertically pointing cloud radars: implications of resolution and attenuation
Christian Heske, Florian Ewald, and Silke Groß
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 5177–5198, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5177-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5177-2025, 2025
Short summary
Christian Heske, Florian Ewald, and Silke Groß

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-691', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Apr 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Christian Heske, 27 May 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-691', Anonymous Referee #2, 18 Apr 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Christian Heske, 27 May 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-691', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Apr 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Christian Heske, 27 May 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-691', Anonymous Referee #2, 18 Apr 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Christian Heske, 27 May 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Christian Heske on behalf of the Authors (27 May 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (04 Jun 2025) by Raquel Evaristo
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (09 Jun 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (20 Jun 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (23 Jun 2025) by Raquel Evaristo
AR by Christian Heske on behalf of the Authors (11 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (23 Jul 2025) by Raquel Evaristo
AR by Christian Heske on behalf of the Authors (29 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

08 Oct 2025
Augmenting the German weather radar network with vertically pointing cloud radars: implications of resolution and attenuation
Christian Heske, Florian Ewald, and Silke Groß
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 5177–5198, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5177-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5177-2025, 2025
Short summary
Christian Heske, Florian Ewald, and Silke Groß
Christian Heske, Florian Ewald, and Silke Groß

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Short summary
This study proposes a new technique to augment polarimetric radar measurements of the national German operational radar network with vertically looking cloud radars. The method is tested in two different case studies by comparison to dedicated scanning radars revealing promising results. Future usage of the method is motivated by analyzing the coverage of the operational radar network finding advantageous locations with good radar coverage.
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