Meteorological passive-active radar observations

The results of passive-active radar investigations of atmospheric objects, including determination of the microphysical characteristics of clouds and precipitation (cloud water content and precipitation intensity) and the characteristics of lightning activity in thunderstorm-hazardous cloudiness, are presented. The possibilities of both active and passive methods have been discussed. It is shown that their combined application makes it possible to acquire data on the cloud water content at different stages of their evolution and detect dangerous weather phenomena related to clouds (thunderstorms, hail, and showers). These data can be employed in supershort-term forecasts of such phenomena. The principles of constructing passive-active meteorological radar systems have been analyzed.