Precipitation probes intercomparison

Two versions of precipitation probes were mounted on a C-130 E aircraft. Correlation flights, simultaneous aircraft, and radar measurements were made over Kwajalein in September and October, 1974. The two probes differed primarily in their resolution and the maximum measurable crystal size. The narrow-arm version of the probes had a 150 micrometer size resolution and was able to measure crystals up to 1.85 mm in size. The second probe compared was a wide-arm version (separation between the optics in the arms was 26.3 cm) with a 300 micrometer resolution and a 4.50 mm maximum measurable size. Systematic discrepancies in size spectra measurements between the two probes were found. Two corrections could be developed to reduce the discrepancies.