Rigorous approach to polarimetric radar modeling of hydrometeor orientation distributions

A Mueller-matrix-based approach is described for calculating polarimetric radar parameters such as reflectively, differential reflectively, linear depolarization ratio, propagation differential phase, and backscatter differential phase. Particle scattering is calculated using the T matrix, which is ideally suited for spheroids in the Mie region. The T matrix, is calculated once for a given wavelength, particle size, shape, and dielectric constant, making full use of symmetry through use of a body coordinate system attached to the particle. For various orientations of the particle symmetry axis and for various radar elevation angles, a separate laboratory coordinate system is used. -from Authors