Gate Contents and Precipitation Patterns

Local (Bin-to-Bin) Classification

These algorithms analyze the echo features in each volume element of observation (gate bin) to estimate the bulk contents of the volume element.

Typically, each gate bin is declared to consist of scatterers of a given type (a class of hydrometeors or of other scatterers). The algorithm may use features of data in the next surroundings of the gate. Even broader information can be used as a specific constraint. In the first order, each bin assignment is deduced from the data features of that particular bin.

Most HydroClass classification methods belong to the local bin-to-bin category.

Spatially Distributed Objects (Weather Pattern)

The type precipitation is sometimes best described as a weather event (pattern), characterized as an extended object in the atmosphere.

A weather event derives its features from large scale spatial (and temporal) distributions. Bin-to-bin consideration ignore these aspects of data. Precipitation patterns are evident to a trained radar meteorologist, and deterministic algorithms exist to identify specified event types.

A classic example is the division into stratiform and convective precipitation. HydroClass supports this type of methodology, too.