A microwave backscattering model for hail-rain mixture precipitation

A rain column model is used analyze back scattering from precipitation in the presence of hail. Backscattering from the entire precipitation column comprising hail and rain that accounts for multiple-scattering and boundary interactions are determined by solving the vector radiative transfer (VRT) equations. Precipitation column is partitioned into sublayers and Mie scattering calculation is used to determine phase matrix for differential layers consist of hail stones and rain drops. The raindrops and hail stones are represented by using spherical shaped scatterers. Microphysical properties of rain and hail such as shape, composition and size distribution are considered in the model. Results from model analyses agree well with published measurement results.