We have compared the various raindrop-size distributions (DSD) with the recent experimental data collected by the distrometer. It is shown that the Weibull distribution is the best fit to the experimental data for drizzle, widespread and thunderstorm rain cases. By using this Weibull DSD, we obtained a new expression of the radar reflectivity factor (Z) and the rainfall rate (R) relation, that is Z=285R1.48, which gives few errors comparing to some measurements in TRMM frequency of 14GHZ.

A maximum diameter (Dmax) of raindrop should be assumed when rainfall rate (R) is estimates from the differential reflectivity (ZDR) and the horizontal reflectivity (ZH) measured with dual-polarization radar. If the assumed Dmax is different from actual Dmax, the estimated R contains errors. Using distrometer data, it was found that ZDR correlates with Dmax, and it was verified that when Dmax is adaptively determined by an empirical relationship between ZDR and Dmax, errors in estimated R can be reduced.

A computer-based system for the automatic determination of the physical parameters of rainfall was developed. The measuring device consists of a light source and two TV cameras. Images of raindrops that fell through the slit were observed on a frosted glass plate as shadow images which were photographed simultaneously by two TV cameras with different shutter speeds and analyzed. The data indicated that the shape of raindrops were spheroid in case of small diameter but were slightly deformed into an oblate spheroid in case of larger diameter, and the fall velocity tends to increase with increasing size of raindrops. Rainfall rates calculated from the shape and velocity were compared with those measured directly and found to agree.

Observations of rain depolarization characteristics were conducted using the CS-2 and CS-3 beacon signals (19.45GHz, circular polarization, elevation angle=49.5) during seven years of 1986-1992 at Neyagawa, Osaka. The mean cross-polar phase relative to the co-polar phase of each rainfall event is distributed in a comparatively wide range from -100 to -150. This large variation is suggested to be caused by the difference of raindrop size distribution (DSD) in addition to that of rain intensity. The effects of DSD are examined by rain attenuation statistics for specific months, together with direct measurements of raindrop diameters on the ground for several rainfall events. Compared with representative DSD models, the effects of the Joss-drizzle type with relatively small raindrops primarily appear in "Baiu (Tsuyu)" period, while the effects of the Marshall-Palmer type which represents a standard type are enhanced in "Shurin (Akisame)" period. On the other hand, the effects of the Joss-thunderstorm type with comparatively large raindrops do not indicate a very clear seasonal variation. Possible improvements of XPD performed by differential phase shifters are generally found to be lower than 10dB for the rain depolarization due to the effect of residual differential attenuation after the cancellation of differential phase shift. Such XPD improvements are, however, very sensitive to the type of DSD, and it is suggested that the improvements are at least greater than 6dB for the Joss-drizzle type, whereas they are less than 6dB for the Marshall-Palmer and Joss-thunderstorm types. The effects of the XPD improvements are thus related to rainfall types, i.e., the type of DSD, and the improvements are considerably dependent upon the seasons in which each rainfall type frequently appears.