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High Frequency Microwave Observations of Frozen Hydrometeors

High Frequency Microwave Observations of Frozen Hydrometeors. Gail Skofronick Jackson University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Goddard Earth Science and Technology Center Goddard, Code 975, gailsjackson@ieee.org James A. Weinman, James R. Wang NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 975

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High Frequency Microwave Observations of Frozen Hydrometeors

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  1. High Frequency Microwave Observations of Frozen Hydrometeors Gail Skofronick Jackson University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Goddard Earth Science and Technology Center Goddard, Code 975, gailsjackson@ieee.org James A. Weinman, James R. Wang NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 975 Dong-Eon Chang Center for Earth Observing and Space Research George Mason University Fairfax, VA Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  2. Challenges of GPM • Measure extratropical precipitation, much of which is light rain and snow.This is especially critical to support land hydrology. • Improve sampling of all types of precipitation, including snow. Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  3. Motivation • What information regarding frozen hydrometeors and snowfall in the atmosphere can be obtained from high frequency microwave measurements? • Improve understanding of hydrometeor-radiometer-radar relationships • Heritage: Early work by A. T. C. Chang and J. R. Wang, (1992) using the Airborne Advanced Microwave Moisture Sounder (AMMS). Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  4. Snowfall Obs. Over LandNew England experienced a significant blizzard on 3/6/01. The 85.5 GHz PCT responds mainly to snow on the ground that extends over Canada whereas the low 183+7 AMSU-B brightness temperatures coincide with reported snowfall at the time. SSM/I 85 GHz AMSU-B 183±7 GHz Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  5. Not Just A Surface Feature(Left) repeat of 183+7 GHz AMSU-B data at 2301UTC on 3/5/01 and (Right) data from the same sensor at 1302 UTC on 3/6/0. Note that the low brightness temperatures (snowfall?) have moved eastward off shore. AMSU-B 183±7 GHz 14 Hours later Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  6. Not Just a Surface Feature:WSI Radar Mosaic Note reduction of snowfall over VT. 05 March 2001 2300 06 March 2001 1300 Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  7. MM5 Precipitation Distribution vs AMSU-B AMSU-B 183±7 GHz MM5 Precipitation Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  8. Content and Weighting Fcns from MM5 Model of 3/6/01 Blizzard • Unlike the cloud-free case, these weighting functions are themselves function of the cloud distribution • Note order of magnitude increase in weighting function at high frequencies Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  9. 183 + 1 GHz AMSU-B 183 + 3 GHz AMSU-B Height Slicing using Water Vapor AbsorptionNote the absence of low brightness temperature concentrations over New England (left) and their presence (right). Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  10. CAMEX-3 Observations EDOP (ER-2 Doppler Radar) Qualitative Profile Retrievals MIR (Millimeter-wave Imaging Radiometer) 89 - 340 GHz AMPR (Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer) 10 – 85 GHz Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  11. Microwave Weighting Functions for a Cirrus Anvil CaseNote that unlike the cloud-free case, these weighting functions are themselves a function of the cloud distribution Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  12. Retrieval Results for Two Anvil Profiles using SelectedChannel Sets Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

  13. Conclusions/Summary • HF microwave channels reveal ice and snow features missed at TMI frequencies. • Snowfall appears observable from HF where water vapor absorption obscures the ground and may reveal ice profiles. Skofronick-Jackson, Weinman, Wang, Chang

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