Improving weather radar precipitation estimates by combining two types of radars

• A data blending method for combining C- and X-band LAWR measurement is proposed.
• The combination improves the temporal resolution of the C-band radar and extends the range of the LAWR.
• The blended radar data product performs better than the individual radar measurements.

This paper presents a demonstration of how Local Area Weather Radar (LAWR) X-band measurements can be combined with meteorological C-band measurements into a single radar product. For this purpose, a blending method has been developed which combines the strengths of the two radar systems. Combining the two radar types achieves a radar product with both long range and high temporal resolution. It is validated that the blended radar product performs better than the individual radars based on ground observations from laser disdrometers. However, the data combination is challenged by lower performance of the LAWR. Although both radars benefit from the data combination, it is also found that advection based temporal interpolation is a more favourable method for increasing the temporal resolution of meteorological C-band measurements.