Various methods have been proposed in the literature to correct the errors arising from nonuniform vertical profiles of reflectivity (VPR). All these methods consist in estimating the shape of the VPR and to use it for extrapolating the radar reflectivities measured at high altitude towards ground level. These methods require an assumption on the spatial homogeneity of the VPR over appropriate subdomains during a considered time step. This assumption of spatial homogeneity must therefore ideally be verified in order to apply any correction. In this paper we will analyze the mean and the spatial and temporal variability of the VPR over Belgium for the years 2005 and 2006. The data are measured by the Wideumont radar in Belgium. It is a C-band Doppler radar that performs a 5- elevation scan from 0.3° to 6.0° every 5 minutes and a 10-elevation scan from 0.5° to 17.5° every 15 minutes. Some relevant parameters of the 10-elevation scan are given in Delobbe and Holleman (2006). The final objective of this study is to characterize the spatial and temporal variability of VPRs for different types of meteorological situations and to determine consistent spatial and temporal scales for VPR identification and correction. We will first describe an adaptation for Belgium of the Steiner algorithm aimed at separating convective from stratiform precipitation. Some results will be presented. We will also present the yearly mean VPR obtained from one Belgian radar. Two types of climatological VPR can be calculated: one for the stratiform and one for the convective zones. Then we will develop the theory related to variograms applied on VPRs. We will restrict our analysis to VPRs measured inside stratiform zones. Finally results concerning the spatial and temporal decorrelation distances between VPRs will be presented.