wradlib.georef.misc.bin_altitude

wradlib.georef.misc.bin_altitude(r, theta, sitealt, re, ke=1.3333333333333333)

Calculates the height of a radar bin taking the refractivity of the atmosphere into account.

Based on [Doviak et al., 1993] the bin altitude is calculated as

\[h = \sqrt{r^2 + (k_e r_e)^2 + 2 r k_e r_e \sin\theta} - k_e r_e\]

Parameters:

• r (numpy.ndarray) – Array of ranges [m]
• theta (scalar or numpy.ndarray broadcastable to the shape) – of r elevation angles in degrees with 0° at horizontal and +90° pointing vertically upwards from the radar
• sitealt (float) – Altitude in [m] a.s.l. of the referencing radar site
• re (float) – earth’s radius [m]
• ke (float) – adjustment factor to account for the refractivity gradient that affects radar beam propagation. In principle this is wavelength- dependent. The default of 4/3 is a good approximation for most weather radar wavelengths

Returns:

altitude (numpy.ndarray) – Array of heights of the radar bins in [m]