Patent ID: 7688249

Claim:
A method for determining types of precipitation in the atmosphere, including the steps of: transmitting output signals, wherein said output signals have a transmitting frequency spectrum; detecting reflection signals formed by scattering of said output signals at precipitation particles at least two altitude levels, wherein said reflection signals have a reflection frequency spectrum; analyzing characteristics of said reflection signals, wherein during such analyzing step, a characteristic shape or course of a function curve of a difference frequency spectrum formed from said transmitting frequency spectrum and said reflection frequency spectrum is analyzed, resolved by altitude levels, taking into consideration at least one parameter that is determined based on a maximum value of a receive power and on a value for a difference frequency at maximum intensity of said difference frequency spectrum, a width of said difference frequency spectrum, a quotient formed from a maximum value and a width of the difference frequency spectrum, and a difference frequency between a maximum value and a value in the center of said difference frequency spectrum; and executing a precipitation classification of precipitation present in the atmosphere based on said characteristic shape or course of the function curve of the difference frequency spectrum formed from said transmitting frequency spectrum and said reflection frequency spectrum, resolved by altitude levels.