Polarimetric X-band radar (BoXPol) data monitored in Bonn, Germany, since 2009 to 2023

The data set comprises volume scans including 10 elevation angles between 0.5° and 28°, as well as a birdbath (90°) scan (available since 2013) and a range-height indicator (RHI) scan pointing towards its twin X-band radar, JuXPol, located in Jülich. The azimuthal resolution is 1°, while the radial resolution ranges from 25 m to 200 m. Volume scans have a temporal resolution of 5 min and are provided in daily files for each elevation angle.

The following polarimetric variables are provided: Uncorrected/corrected horizontal/vertical reflectivity factor (ZH/ZV), differential reflectivity (ZDR), copolar cross-correlation coefficient (RHOHV), differential phase shift (PHIDP), specific differential phase (KDP), horizontal/vertical radial velocities (VRADH/VRADV) and horizontal/vertical spectral width of the radial velocity (WRADH/WRADV). Depending on the year, additional variables, such as a clutter map (CMAP) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), are also available.

More detailed information about BoXPol can be found in, e.g. Scharbach et al. (2026), Pejcic et al. (2022) and Diederich et al. (2015). The dataset has demonstrated considerable scientific value over the years and has been used in quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE), (ice-)microphysical retrievals and process studies, investigations of microphysical precipitation formation in the regional climate of Western Germany, hydrometeor classification (HC), and the evaluation and improvement of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models.