Insights into microwave radiative transfer in rain from TRMM-1 observations

Wilheit, T. T.; Tesmer, J. R.; Wang, S. H.; Meneghini, R.; Racette, P.; Wang, J. R.; Kummagai, H.; Maves, B. A.

The interpretation of microwave radiometer data in terms of rainfall intensity over the ocean is based on radiative transfer (RT) models. The nadir-viewing brightness temperature expected at 18 GHz is calculated as a function of rainfall intensity for two assumed freezing levels, 4 and 5 km. The tropical rainfall measurement mission (TRMM-1) observations provide an opportunity to examine the assumptions of the RT model. Often in convective rainfall, scattering of microwave radiation by the ice aloft causes extremely low microwave brightness temperatures. The TRMM-1 observations support the assumption that scattering by ice is only a minor factor at frequencies below about 20 GHz over an ocean background.

Document ID

19930064024

Document Type

Conference Paper

Authors

Wilheit, T. T. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)

Tesmer, J. R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)

Wang, S. H. (Texas A & M Univ. College Station, United States)

Meneghini, R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)

Racette, P. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)

Wang, J. R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)

Kummagai, H. (Communications Research Lab. Koganei, Japan)

Maves, B. A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)

Date Acquired

August 16, 2013

Publication Date

January 1, 1992

Publication Information

Publication: In: IGARSS '92; Proceedings of the 12th Annual International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Houston, TX, May 26-29, 1992. Vol. 2 (A93-47551 20-43)

Subject Category

Funding Number(s)

Distribution Limits

Public

Other

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

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