Heights of the 0°C Isotherm and the Bright Band in Madrid: Comparison and Variability

Abstract

Rain attenuation prediction models may require rain height data that can be obtained from the 0°C isotherm height as proposed in ITU-R Recommendations and also from radiosonde measurements. Statistical results on the variability of the 0°C isotherm in all conditions and in rainy conditions are presented in this paper for ten years of radiosonde data. Concurrent with these data, nine years of rainfall measurements performed with a vertical Doppler radar (MRR-2) have allowed comparing the height of the 0°C isotherm with the height of the bottom of the bright band considering simultaneous events. The variability of both heights and of their difference has been investigated as well.