Microwave Moisture Sounder Feasibility Study. Phase 2. Retrieval Optimization
Abstract
This report documents the results of our two-year Phase II effort to investigate the application of data from the proposed DMSP microwave moisture sounder (SSM/T-2) to the inference of water vapor profiles, temperature profiles, cloud, precipitation, and the properties of the underlying surface. The goal of this research is to provide a unified retrieval scheme capable of processing microwave and millimeter wave sensor (i.e., sounder and imager) data which extends the adopted operational algorithm based on a purely statistically based retrieval of temperature profiles from the SSM/T-1, moisture profiles from the SSM/T-2, and surface and atmospheric parameters such as precipitation and integrated cloud liquid water from the SSM/I. The approach uses two concepts to increase retrieval accuracy. First, physical considerations based on the application of the radiative transfer equation are used to quality control the statistically derived first guess retrievals. Second, data sources from colocated microwave mission sensors (i.e., the SSM/T-1, SSM/T-2, and SSM/I) are combined when necessary to more completely characterize the spectral dependence of the observed brightness temperatures on the meteorological properties of the surface and atmosphere. By combining data from all available sensors, the desired meteorological parameters can be more accurately determined. Based on our evaluation of cloud effects on millimeter wave brightness temperatures and water vapor retrievals (Isaacs and Deblonde, 1987), we have suggested use of the visible and infrared Operational Linescan System (OLS) to provide information on cloud presence.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 14, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA196495
Entities
People
- A. M. Vogelmann
- B. L. Lindner
- C. Grassotti
- G. Deblonde
- R. D. Worsham
- R. G. Isaacs
- Y. Q. Jin
Organizations
- Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc