MICROWAVE DIELECTRIC-PROPERTIES OF SNOW - MODELING AND MEASUREMENTS

We investigated the dielectric loss tangent of dry snow in the 30-40 GHz range as a function of crystal size and frequency. Measurements were carried out with an open resonator method of semiconfocal type. To validate a strong fluctuation model [Stogryn, 1986], measurements and simulated results are compared. As predicted by the model, the loss tangent increases with the frequency and the crystal size. The comparison is satisfactory for snow crystal sizes below 1 mm. Above 1 mm, more measurements are needed.