Abstract:Based on the S-band dual-polarization radar data from Qingpu (Shanghai), Nantong (Jiangsu), Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou and Ningbo (Zhejiang), the applicability evaluation of three volume coverage patterns (VCP21D, VCP11D and VCP216D) is assessed under general precipitation, severe convective and typhoon conditions. The evaluation is based on three methods, that is, the subjective identification of characteristic tracer factors, the interpolation of reflectivity factor isosurfaces, and the comparison of dual-radar wind field retrieval. The results indicate that the precipitation mode (VCP21D) and the convective modes (VCP11D and VCP216D） can accurately identify the 0℃ layer bright band characteristic. VCP21D, compared to VCP216D, shows better stability in recognizing the melting layer height, with a smaller standard deviation and a better match to actual conditions. The convective modes VCP11D and VCP216D can significantly enhance vertical observational resolution relative to the precipitation mode VCP21D. This improvement is crucial for detecting key severe weather phenomena, such as ZDR columns and mesoscale cyclones. Meanwhile, compared to VCP11D, the additional 1.0° elevation angle in VCP216D is particularly effective in capturing mesoscale features such as low-level gust fronts and sea breeze fronts. Also, this additional scan can eliminate the impact from ground clutter echoes for data quality improvement. In the comparison of isosurface interpolations the data from VCP11D and VCP216D are more detailed than that from VCP21D at the 5 km altitude. In the comparison of wind field retrieval, the availability and accuracy of the retrieved data, from the dual-radar wind field retrieval results of convective modes VCP11D and VCP216D are more significantly improved compared to those of the precipitation mode VCP21D.