Application of Dual-Polarization Radar Melting-Layer Detection Algorithm

Abstract A polarimetric melting-layer detection algorithm developed for an S-band radar has been modified for use by the King City C-band radar in southern Ontario, Canada. The technique ingests radar scan volume data to determine the melting-layer top and bottom and to diagnose temporal and spatial variations of the melting-layer heights. The thickness of the melting layer is also derived from the algorithm. Detailed case studies of two frontal systems over this region are described, comparing the radar-derived melting-layer height with aircraft measurement of the height of the 0°C isotherm. The analysis demonstrated the ability to detect rapidly changing melting-layer heights during frontal passages in the region. A range of melting-layer heights for a 3-yr period was investigated and produced detections from close to the ground up to about 5.0 km. Comparison of algorithm results to output from a numerical weather prediction model over the 3-yr period showed good agreement. The correlation coefficient o...