Dielectric constants for melting hydrometeors as derived from a numerical method

Using a conjugate gradient numerical method, calculations of the radar scattering coefficients for mixed phase hydrometeors were made. For the uniform ice-water mixtures considered, an effective dielectric constant was derived and compared with the predictions from the Maxwell Garnett formula. The flexibility of the numerical method with respect to the spatial distribution of the component materials offers the potential to model the scattering characteristics of complex, mixed-phase hydrometeors.