Measurements of ice depolarization at 28.56 GHz using the COMSTAR beacon simultaneously with a 16.5 GHz polarization diversity radar

Ice depolarization measurements concurrently conducted with a 16.5 GHz polarization diversity radar and the 28.56 GHz COMSTAR beacon have provided data on not only such polarization parameters as degree of preferred orientation and cancellation ratio, but also differential propagation parameters. Different kinds of hydrometeors have been identified, and instances of ice depolarization in both the presence and absence of rain have been observed. The beacon receiver measures differential antenuation and phase shift between two linear orthogonal components of the received signal, as well as the copolar attenuation.