For example, we consider the shape of the rain drop as spherical and do mathematical calculations to study interaction of electromagnetic radiation. For snow, the shape of the crystal was determined by the temperature and supersaturation during formation. How can we measure the supersaturation?
Also, the size of the snow affects the transmission of microwaves. How do you determine the shape and size of the snow while falling ?
This question is hard. Folks at University of Utah (Tim Garrett et al) have developed a multi-angle snowflake camera that takes pictures of falling snow. Most of the flakes are rimed. See http://www.inscc.utah.edu/~tgarrett/Snowflakes/MASC.html. At this time, the microwave precipitation measurements do not deal well with snow.
There's an earlier post on ResearchGate on measurement of supersaturation in clouds: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255653422_Supersaturation_of_Water_Vapor_in_Clouds
Article Supersaturation of Water Vapor in Clouds
I have worked quite a lot with particle sizing equipment. Many years of studies have lead me to the use of photooptical devices:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00348-010-0918-9
It was already used in sprays or crystal dust... so it should also work with snow
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