Hydrometeor Classification Algorithm for Medium Latitudes with a C-band Polarimetric Radar

Abstract

This paper presents the result of the study of hydrometeors in Colombia`s latitudes with a C-band polarimetric radar Colombia’s Civil Aeronautics. Initially, activities related to decoding and statistical analysis of the different polarimetric variables of the data obtained from the radar were added. Subsequently, the conceptual model of the classifier was designed by identifying and characterizing the classes of hydrometeors present in Colombian latitudes. Likewise, the polar variables to be included in the classification model were defined and analyzed by the analytic hierarchy method. This method was used to determine the weight of each variable in the search of each type of hydrometeor present in the region under study. Finally, a supervised classification model was created with fuzzy logic that, based on the readings of the polarimetric radar outputs, the type of hydrometeor presents in each cell explored by the radar beam. The presented classification model was proved and evaluated with a set of real data and with another simulated one, obtaining 90% of successful results.