ZDR Calibration of X-band Weather Radar Using Dry Snow

Abstract

In this study we seek to evaluate the dry snow method of Z_DR calibration using dry snow as a target for X-band radars in comparison to vertical calibration scans. Numerous dates in the 2021 year were analyzed using the X-band Teaching and Research Radar (XTRRA) located on the Purdue University campus utilizing both vertical scans and azimuthal scans of dry snow. It was found that dry snow is still a potentially viable X-band calibration but several caveats, such as significant impacts from the protective dome around the radar, need to be addressed in order to make these results more robust.