This study presents a first analysis of precipitation and related
microphysical processes observed by three polarimetric X-band Doppler radars
(BoXPol, JuXPol and KiXPol) in conjunction with a ground-based network of
disdrometers, rain gauges and vertically pointing micro rain radars (MRRs)
during the High Definition Clouds and Precipitation for advancing Climate
Prediction (HD(CP)2) Observational Prototype Experiment (HOPE) during
April and May 2013 in Germany. While JuXPol and KiXPol were continuously
observing the central HOPE area near Forschungszentrum Jülich at a close
distance, BoXPol observed the area from a distance of about 48.5 km. MRRs
were deployed in the central HOPE area and one MRR close to BoXPol in Bonn,
Germany. Seven disdrometers and three rain gauges providing point
precipitation observations were deployed at five locations within a
5 km × 5 km region, while three other disdrometers were
collocated with the MRR in Bonn. The daily rainfall accumulation at each
rain gauge/disdrometer location estimated from the three X-band polarimetric
radar observations showed very good agreement. Accompanying microphysical
processes during the evolution of precipitation systems were well captured
by the polarimetric X-band radars and corroborated by independent
observations from the other ground-based instruments