Large rain drops in the bright band

Results of a measurement of rain drop sizes based on radio attenuation in the bright-band region is presented which supports a model of melting snow flakes having the same characteristics as rain drops with very large diameters. Slant-path attenuations at frequencies of 15 and 35 GHz were obtained during eight rainstorms with various rainfall intensities. The 35 to 15 GHz attenuation ratios were found to be inconsistent with ground-level raindrop size distributions and to instead suggest that somewhere along the slant path there is a significant contribution to the attenuation which results from precipitation with the characteristics of rain drops of effective drop diameters on the order of 10-20 mm.