Working group Remote Sensing

The working group focusses on the full understanding and exploitation of polarimetric weather radar measurements for quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE), nowcasting (QPN), detailled evaluation of numerical models in radar-observation and retrieval space, parameterization improvement/development for a better representation of cloud and precipitation processes in numerical weather prediction models, and also for (polarimeric) data assimilation. Strong collaborations with the German Weather Service enable the implementation of developments in operational applications. Even though a focus is on ground-based weather radars, synergistic measurements are in multifold use, e.g. commercial microwave links to improve radar-based QPE, statellite overpasses for radar calibration, satellite-based retrievals to consider convective initiation and enhance the lead-time of radar-based nowcasting, multi-frequency cloud radars to complement process understanding, and airborne in-situ measurements to evaluate polarimetric retrievals.

Research focus

Detailled information content of polarimetric measurements
Holistic view of cloud and precipitation processes from multiple sensors
Quantitiative precipitation estimation
Observation-based nowcasting exploiting polarimetric process signatures

Polarimetric (ice) microphysical retrievals
Combined analyses of dynamics and polarimetry
Combined analyses of Doppler spectra and polarimetry
Direct and indirect (polarimetric) radar data assimilation

Main focus teaching

Literature seminar on remote sensing including presentation techniques
Introduction in radar polarimetry with excercises (basic information content of
polarimetric variables and processing)