Observation of Precipitation with an Airborne Radar

Abstract

A radar set with its beam directed downwards has been mounted in an aircraft and used for observation of natural and artificially induced precipitation. It provides information on where the precipitation originates within a cloud and the way in which it grows. A measure is obtained of the area and duration of precipitation reaching the ground, and an estimate of the precipitation rate. As an example of the use of this equipment, an account is given of a typical experiment in which precipitation was artificially induced by seeding a cloud with dry ice.