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Classification of Tropical Oceanic Precipitation Using High Altitude Aircraft Microwave and Electric Field MeasurementsA physically intuitive and computationally simple precipitation mapping algorithm has been developed for use with the airborne Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR). The algorithm is based on microwave emission and scattering properties of precipitation. Specifically, emission by liquid water allows increasing brightness temperatures at low frequencies to be interpreted as increasing rain rates. Scattering by large hydrometeors (particularly graupel and hail) causes relative minima in the brightness temperatures, with progressively larger hydrometeors scattering progressively longer wavelengths. The vigor of convection is therefore ascertained according to which wavelengths are being significantly scattered. The combination of emission and scattering information from four microwave channels is used to assign a precipitation category, which is related to the liquid rain rate, the vertical extent of precipitation, and the vigor of convection. The qualitative precipitation categories output by the passive microwave algorithm have been verified using coincident radar (ER-2 Doppler Radar - EDOP) and electric field measurements (Lightning Instrument Package - LIP). These coincident measurements can subsequently be used to quantify rain rates, hydrometeor contents, and vertical profiles that are typical for each precipitation category. This algorithm has been developed using an airborne platform. Comparisons are being made with other airborne, satellite, and ground-based radar and radiometer data. This technique shows promise both as a research tool and potentially as a real-time analysis tool, which could be applied to either traditional or uninhabited aerial vehicles.
Document ID
20040076963
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Cecil, Daniel J.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
LaFontaine, Frank J.
(Raytheon Information Technology and Scientific Services Huntsville, AL, United States)
Hood, Robbie E.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Blakeslee, Richard
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Mach, Douglas
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Heymsfield, Gerald
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: 26th AMS Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology
Location: Miami, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: May 3, 2004
End Date: May 7, 2004
Sponsors: American Meteorological Society
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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