Simultaneous ocean cross-section and rainfall measurements from space with a nadir pointing radarA modified version of the surface-target-attenuation radar described by Meneghini et al. (1983) is proposed which permits simultaneous measurement of ocean radar cross sections and path-average rain rates using a nadir-pointing satellite-borne microwave radar. The basic concept is explained and illustrated; the equations describing the data reduction are derived; some preliminary numerical computations based on a 7.5-m-diameter 10-kW 1.33-microsec-pulse radar operating at 1.87 cm from an altitude of 500 km are performed; and the major error sources (mismatches between rain scattering volumes and additional multipath contributions) and limitations (nadir pointing) are discussed. It is suggested that the system could provide a nadir calibration for wide-swath observing systems such as scanning microwave radiometers.
Document ID
19850046637
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Atlas, D. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Meneghini, R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences, Greenbelt, MD, United States)