Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

An Improved Microwave Radiative Transfer Model for Tropical Oceanic Precipitation

Jeffrey R. Tesmer Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Monterey, California

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Thomas T. Wilheit Department of Meteorology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

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Print Publication:
01 May 1998
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1998)055<1674:AIMRTM>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
1674–1689
Restricted access

Abstract

In preparation for the launch of TRMM, new algorithms must be created that take advantage of the combined data from radar and microwave radiometers that will be on board the satellite. A microwave radiative transfer algorithm with a one-dimensional cloud model is created that incorporates data from radar and radiometers using data obtained from TCM-90 and TOGA COARE flown over the western Pacific in 1990 and 1993, respectively.

A hybrid cloud model (HCM) was developed using observations from TOGA COARE, TCM-90, and other field projects. The HCM is a physically based model that is not “tuned” by limited “ground truth.” Therefore, the HCM incorporated new microphysical data based on observations of clouds. Cloud observations changed the HCM in four ways. First, stratiform clouds with low rain rates were shown to have a low cloud liquid water content (<0.1 g m−3). Second, radar data showed a linear decrease in the logarithm of the backscatter of ice particles above the freezing level. Third, tropical clouds contained more small drops and fewer large drops than predicted by the Marshall–Palmer drop size distribution. Last, the angular distribution of reflected radiation from ocean surface appears to be specular.

The HCM is compared to the Wilheit et al. model (WILM). The HCM differs from the WILM at low rain rates by as much as 10 K. At high rain rates, the HCM and the WILM produce similar brightness temperatures. However, this result is fortuitous because both models have substantially different thermodynamics and microphysics incorporated into them. Next, the brightness temperatures generated by the HCM are compared to observations from TOGA COARE. It is found that the brightness temperatures produced by the HCM closely agree with the observations. This study shows that a plane-parallel microwave radiative transfer algorithm coupled with a cloud model based on microphysical observations can accurately simulate rainfall observed in the Tropics.

Corresponding author address: Jeffrey R. Tesmer, FNMOC, Code 73, 7 Grace Hopper Road, Stop 1, Monterey, CA 93943.

Email: Tesmerj@fnoc.navy.mil

Abstract

In preparation for the launch of TRMM, new algorithms must be created that take advantage of the combined data from radar and microwave radiometers that will be on board the satellite. A microwave radiative transfer algorithm with a one-dimensional cloud model is created that incorporates data from radar and radiometers using data obtained from TCM-90 and TOGA COARE flown over the western Pacific in 1990 and 1993, respectively.

A hybrid cloud model (HCM) was developed using observations from TOGA COARE, TCM-90, and other field projects. The HCM is a physically based model that is not “tuned” by limited “ground truth.” Therefore, the HCM incorporated new microphysical data based on observations of clouds. Cloud observations changed the HCM in four ways. First, stratiform clouds with low rain rates were shown to have a low cloud liquid water content (<0.1 g m−3). Second, radar data showed a linear decrease in the logarithm of the backscatter of ice particles above the freezing level. Third, tropical clouds contained more small drops and fewer large drops than predicted by the Marshall–Palmer drop size distribution. Last, the angular distribution of reflected radiation from ocean surface appears to be specular.

The HCM is compared to the Wilheit et al. model (WILM). The HCM differs from the WILM at low rain rates by as much as 10 K. At high rain rates, the HCM and the WILM produce similar brightness temperatures. However, this result is fortuitous because both models have substantially different thermodynamics and microphysics incorporated into them. Next, the brightness temperatures generated by the HCM are compared to observations from TOGA COARE. It is found that the brightness temperatures produced by the HCM closely agree with the observations. This study shows that a plane-parallel microwave radiative transfer algorithm coupled with a cloud model based on microphysical observations can accurately simulate rainfall observed in the Tropics.

Corresponding author address: Jeffrey R. Tesmer, FNMOC, Code 73, 7 Grace Hopper Road, Stop 1, Monterey, CA 93943.

Email: Tesmerj@fnoc.navy.mil

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