On rainfall type classification to improve rain attenuation prediction

Abstract

In this contribution the one year period of the rain rate measurement in the Czech Republic was analyzed. The measurement was located at the experimental site of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics in the town of Hradec Králové. The measurement was performed by a tipping-bucket rain gauge of high resolution of 0.03 mm of rain amount per one tip and by 2D-videodistrometer from Joaneum Research. This study is focused on rain type classification from which the more precise rain attenuation on microwave link can be predicted. Beside description of simple methods using cheap rain amount and rain rate measurement three methods of sophisticated classification (Tokay-Short, Testud and Waldvogel methods) are described and compared using one year Czech distrometer data.