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The Anisotropy of Precipitation Media

Abstract

A FALLING raindrop may be considered to be an oblate spheroid with its minor axis vertical. A region of precipitation containing many such particles is in effect an array of particles of preferred orientation and will therefore be anisotropic. We have set out to determine the consequences of this effect on radar observations of rain and snow at a radar wavelength of 1.82 cm. Observations of hail at a wavelength of 10.4 cm may also show this effect.

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MCCORMICK, G., HENDRY, A. & BARGE, B. The Anisotropy of Precipitation Media. Nature 238, 214–216 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/238214a0

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