Unimplemented Features

The melting layer height is one of the variables used in the hydrometeor classification fuzzy method. The main literature reference introduces a radar based estimate for a variable melting layer heights in convective storms. In essence, the estimate is based on vertical gradient profiles of differential reflectivity. Other approaches have been proposed for stratiform cases and they also use vertical profiles and/or gradients in reflectivity, differential reflectivity, and/or polarization cross-correlation coefficient, as prime signatures of melting layer.

Observing vertical profiles and/or gradients, unambiguously, requires dedicated scan strategies such as RHI scans, or alternatively several horizontal sweeps at varied elevations in a well designed volume scan. Such requirements contradict a HydroClass design goal of independence on scan strategy. Subsequently, the melting layer height is left as an open method in HydroClass, and the information is fed in as an external input variable.

Methods are available for feeding in the values at momentary basis, see Running HydroClass.