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Title: Microwave signatures of ice hydrometeors from ground-based observations above Summit, Greenland

Abstract

Multi-instrument, ground-based measurements provide unique and comprehensive data sets of the atmosphere for a specific location over long periods of time and resulting data compliment past and existing global satellite observations. Our paper explores the effect of ice hydrometeors on ground-based, high-frequency passive microwave measurements and attempts to isolate an ice signature for summer seasons at Summit, Greenland, from 2010 to 2013. Furthermore, data from a combination of passive microwave, cloud radar, radiosonde, and ceilometer were examined to isolate the ice signature at microwave wavelengths. By limiting the study to a cloud liquid water path of 40 g m-2 or less, the cloud radar can identify cases where the precipitation was dominated by ice. These cases were examined using liquid water and gas microwave absorption models, and brightness temperatures were calculated for the high-frequency microwave channels: 90, 150, and 225GHz. By comparing the measured brightness temperatures from the microwave radiometers and the calculated brightness temperature using only gas and liquid contributions, any residual brightness temperature difference is due to emission and scattering of microwave radiation from the ice hydrometeors in the column. The ice signature in the 90, 150, and 225 GHz channels for the Summit Station summer months wasmore » isolated. Then, this measured ice signature was compared to an equivalent brightness temperature difference calculated with a radiative transfer model including microwave single-scattering properties for several ice habits. Furthermore, initial model results compare well against the 4 years of summer season isolated ice signature in the high-frequency microwave channels.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [4]
  1. Space Science and Engineering Center, Madison, WI (United States)
  2. Space Science and Engineering Center, Madison, WI (United States); Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN (United States)
  3. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Cooperative Inst. for Research in Environmental Science
  4. National Sever Storms Lab., Norman, OK (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Space Science and Engineering Center
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; National Science Foundation (NSF); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
OSTI Identifier:
1375405
Grant/Contract Number:  
PLR1304544; PLR1355654; PLR1303879; NNX12AQ76G; NNX13AG47G
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 16; Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 1680-7324
Publisher:
European Geosciences Union
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Citation Formats

Pettersen, Claire, Bennartz, Ralf, Kulie, Mark S., Merrelli, Aronne J., Shupe, Matthew D., and Turner, David D. Microwave signatures of ice hydrometeors from ground-based observations above Summit, Greenland. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.5194/acp-16-4743-2016.
Pettersen, Claire, Bennartz, Ralf, Kulie, Mark S., Merrelli, Aronne J., Shupe, Matthew D., & Turner, David D. Microwave signatures of ice hydrometeors from ground-based observations above Summit, Greenland. United States. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4743-2016
Pettersen, Claire, Bennartz, Ralf, Kulie, Mark S., Merrelli, Aronne J., Shupe, Matthew D., and Turner, David D. 2016. "Microwave signatures of ice hydrometeors from ground-based observations above Summit, Greenland". United States. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-4743-2016. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1375405.
@article{osti_1375405,
title = {Microwave signatures of ice hydrometeors from ground-based observations above Summit, Greenland},
author = {Pettersen, Claire and Bennartz, Ralf and Kulie, Mark S. and Merrelli, Aronne J. and Shupe, Matthew D. and Turner, David D.},
abstractNote = {Multi-instrument, ground-based measurements provide unique and comprehensive data sets of the atmosphere for a specific location over long periods of time and resulting data compliment past and existing global satellite observations. Our paper explores the effect of ice hydrometeors on ground-based, high-frequency passive microwave measurements and attempts to isolate an ice signature for summer seasons at Summit, Greenland, from 2010 to 2013. Furthermore, data from a combination of passive microwave, cloud radar, radiosonde, and ceilometer were examined to isolate the ice signature at microwave wavelengths. By limiting the study to a cloud liquid water path of 40 g m-2 or less, the cloud radar can identify cases where the precipitation was dominated by ice. These cases were examined using liquid water and gas microwave absorption models, and brightness temperatures were calculated for the high-frequency microwave channels: 90, 150, and 225GHz. By comparing the measured brightness temperatures from the microwave radiometers and the calculated brightness temperature using only gas and liquid contributions, any residual brightness temperature difference is due to emission and scattering of microwave radiation from the ice hydrometeors in the column. The ice signature in the 90, 150, and 225 GHz channels for the Summit Station summer months was isolated. Then, this measured ice signature was compared to an equivalent brightness temperature difference calculated with a radiative transfer model including microwave single-scattering properties for several ice habits. Furthermore, initial model results compare well against the 4 years of summer season isolated ice signature in the high-frequency microwave channels.},
doi = {10.5194/acp-16-4743-2016},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1375405}, journal = {Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (Online)},
issn = {1680-7324},
number = 7,
volume = 16,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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Cited by: 7 works
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Works referenced in this record:

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Measurements of Tropospheric Ice Clouds with a Ground-based CMB Polarization Experiment, POLARBEAR
journal, January 2019


Precipitation regimes over central Greenland inferred from 5 years of ICECAPS observations
journal, January 2018


Improved cloud-phase determination of low-level liquid and mixed-phase clouds by enhanced polarimetric lidar
journal, January 2018


Precipitation regimes over central Greenland inferred from 5 years of ICECAPS observations
journal, November 2017


Measurements of tropospheric ice clouds with a ground-based CMB polarization experiment, POLARBEAR
text, January 2018


Surface energy budget responses to radiative forcing at Summit, Greenland
journal, January 2017