Library of rough hailstone backscattering coefficients at 2.8 GHz

Abstract

Abstract The rough hailstone scattering library is created to fill the need for results of non-spheroidal hailstone backscattering characteristics. The listed backscattering coefficients at the S-band (2.8 GHZ) are specifically tailored for computing the polarimetric variables. The National Weather Service’s radar operates in this band; hence the library is pertinent to those studying hail in the USA. The library contains several axis ratios and a range of hail sizes from 5 mm to 100 mm. Moreover, hailstone surface roughness is expressed as a percentage of the equatorial diameter. Our computational electromagnetic approach to modeling hailstones is compared with typically employed simpler methods. The polarimetric variables calculated using our models can be compared to observations. Furthermore, we illustrate the potency of the CEM approach to hydrometeors with extreme axis ratios for which simpler methods (i.e., the T-matrix) fail.