Articles | Volume 18, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-4417-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-4417-2025
Model description paper
 | 
22 Jul 2025
Model description paper |  | 22 Jul 2025

SynRad v1.0: a radar forward operator to simulate synthetic weather radar observations from volcanic ash clouds

Vishnu Nair, Anujah Mohanathan, Michael Herzog, David G. Macfarlane, and Duncan A. Robertson

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This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP).
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Cited articles

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A numerical model that simulates the measurement processes behind the ground-based radars used to detect volcanic ash clouds is introduced. Using weather radars to detect volcanic clouds is not ideal, as fine ash particles are smaller than raindrops and remain undetected. We evaluate the performance of weather radars to study ash clouds and to identify optimal frequencies that balance the trade-off between a higher return signal and the higher path attenuation that comes at these higher frequencies.
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