Aircraft observations of the vertical structure of stratiform precipitation relevant to microwave radiative transfer
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (United States)
- Phillips Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (United States)
- NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC (United States)
- Texas A M Univ., College Station (United States)
The retrieval of rainfall intensity over the oceans from passive microwave observations is based on a radiative transfer model. direct rainfall observations of oceanic rainfall are virtually nonexistent making validation of the retrievals extremely difficult. Observations of the model assumptions provide an alternative approach for improving and developing confidence in the rainfall retrievals. In the winter of 1983, the NASA CV-990 aircraft was equipped with a payload suitable for examining several of the model assumptions. The payload included microwave and infrared radiometers, mirror hygrometers, temperature probes, and PMS probes. On two occasions the aircraft ascended on a spiral track through stratiform precipitation providing an opportunity to study the atmospheric parameters. The assumptions concerning liquid hydrometeors, water vapor, lapse rate, and nonprecipitating clouds were studied. Model assumptions seem to be supported by these observations. 23 refs., 7 figs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6069618
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Meteorology; (United States), Vol. 32:6; ISSN 0894-8763
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
MICROWAVE RADIATION
ENERGY TRANSFER
RAIN
REMOTE SENSING
STRATIFICATION
AIRCRAFT
CLOUDS
INFRARED SPECTROMETERS
METEOROLOGY
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
SATELLITES
WATER VAPOR
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
GASES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
RADIATIONS
SPECTROMETERS
VAPORS
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