A three millimeter airborne radar for high resolution polarimetric cloud measurements

The Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory of the University of Massachusetts has fabricated a high power 95 GHz (three millimeter wavelength) polarimetric airborne radar that is being used in a cooperative experiment with the University of Wyoming to remotely study clouds. In November 1992 a series of aircraft experiments was conducted which observed a wide range of cloud particle types and precipitation processes along with in-situ measurements of the weather conditions and particle characteristics. This paper reviews polarimetric radar technology used in the experiment and presents results that demonstrate the radar's ability to detect and display fine scale variations in particle phase, and cloud structure