Dual-polarization weather radar data system and method
The present invention essentially comprises a system, method, computer program and combinations thereof to utilize dual-polarization generated data generally associated with weather and non-weather events for mapping data, producing geo-referenced data, producing mosaics, generation of precipitation masks, non-precipitation mask, and classification masks in general, production of vertical cross sections and predetermined fly throughs, producing short term forecasting, prediction of specific weather phenomenon, correcting or adjusting rain gauge data as well as quantitative precipitation estimation, and combining other meteorological data to correct or adjust estimated rainfall accumulation gathered by dual-polarization radar.
1. A method for generating an actual precipitation accumulation comprising the steps:
generating a horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and a vertical polarized radio wave pulse;
transmitting said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said vertical polarized radio wave pulse toward a precipitation event;
receiving returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event;
measuring the power of said returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event;
comparing said power of said returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said power of said returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event;
generating a first precipitation mask from said comparing of said power of said returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said power of said returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event at a first time period;
generating a second precipitation mask from said comparing of said power of said returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said power of said returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event at a second time period;
comparing a difference between said first precipitation mask at said first time period and said second precipitation mask from said second time period; and
generating an estimated precipitation accumulation from said difference between said first precipitation mask at said first time period and said second precipitation mask from said second time period;
providing at least one physical gauge for measuring a physical precipitation accumulation from said precipitation event;
determining a measured physical precipitation accumulation in said at least one physical gauge from said precipitation event; and
adjusting said estimated precipitation accumulation with said measured physical precipitation accumulation for said generating of said actual precipitation accumulation.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said precipitation event is rain.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said precipitation event is snow.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said precipitation event is ice.