Comparison of linear and logarithmic receiver signals from polarimetric weather radar echoes and their temporal decorrelation properties

Abstract. Usually common polarimetric weather radar DSP-products (e.g.: reflectivity, differential reflectivity, linear depolarisation ratio - for both - co-polar and cross-polar signal components) are based on the logarithmic receiver output, because of the large dynamic range provided by the logarithmic receiver. In this paper for the first time we also use the linear receiver output to calculate common weather radar DSP-Products. Using the raw time series radar data recorded with the coherent polarimetric C-band weather radar of the DLR (''Poldirad'', Wessling, Germany) it is possible to do a comparison between processed weather radar echoes from the linear receiver and the logarithmic receiver. After the comparison showed very good results, we continued the work with the linear receiver data, especially on the topic named temporal decorrelation properties of the linear receiver data. This paper includes the first results obtained from two observables that belong to our working topic. The first observable is the ''Time Decorrelation Factor-TDF'' and the second one is the ''Decorrelation Time DTτ''The results have been summarised in the form of empirical relationships, plots and the least mean square (LMS) method of curve fitting was used to give the mathematical relationship for the observables TDF and DTτ. Generally, the paper will also reflect on the statistical properties of radar echoes measured with linear receivers. The usage of the linear receiver data opens a wide field of new applications and products for the work with polarimetric weather radar data, because the linear receiver data also provides phase information which a logarithmic receiver does not.