scholarly journals Surface and atmospheric contributions to passive microwave brightness temperatures for falling snow events

2011 ◽  
Vol 116 (D2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail Skofronick-Jackson ◽  
Benjamin T. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Brightness Temperatures

scholarly journals Effect of Structural Uncertainty in Passive Microwave Soil Moisture Retrieval Algorithm

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1225
Author(s):  
Lanka Karthikeyan ◽  
Ming Pan ◽  
Dasika Nagesh Kumar ◽  
Eric F. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Structural Uncertainty ◽  
Three Solutions ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
Retrieval Algorithms

Passive microwave sensors use a radiative transfer model (RTM) to retrieve soil moisture (SM) using brightness temperatures (TB) at low microwave frequencies. Vegetation optical depth (VOD) is a key input to the RTM. Retrieval algorithms can analytically invert the RTM using dual-polarized TB measurements to retrieve the VOD and SM concurrently. Algorithms in this regard typically use the τ-ω types of models, which consist of two third-order polynomial equations and, thus, can have multiple solutions. Through this work, we find that uncertainty occurs due to the structural indeterminacy that is inherent in all τ-ω types of models in passive microwave SM retrieval algorithms. In the process, a new analytical solution for concurrent VOD and SM retrieval is presented, along with two widely used existing analytical solutions. All three solutions are applied to a fixed framework of RTM to retrieve VOD and SM on a global scale, using X-band Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) TB data. Results indicate that, with structural uncertainty, there ensues a noticeable impact on the VOD and SM retrievals. In an era where the sensitivity of retrieval algorithms is still being researched, we believe the structural indeterminacy of RTM identified here would contribute to uncertainty in the soil moisture retrievals.

scholarly journals Passive microwave-derived spatial and temporal variations of summer melt on the Greenland ice sheet

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 233-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Mote ◽  
Mark R. Anderson ◽  
Karl C. Kuivinen ◽  
Clinton M. Rowe
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
Surface Melt ◽  
Major Surface

Passive microwave-brightness temperatures over the Greenland ice sheet are examined during the melt season in order to develop a technique for determining surface-melt occurrences. Time series of Special Sensor Microwave/ Imager (SSM/I) data are examined for three locations on the ice sheet, two of which are known to experience melt. These two sites demonstrate a rapid increase in brightness temperatures in late spring to early summer, a prolonged period of elevated brightness temperatures during the summer, and a rapid decrease in brightness temperatures during late summer. This increase in brightness temperatures is associated with surface snow melting. An objective technique is developed to extract melt occurrences from the brightness-temperature time series. Of the two sites with summer melt, the site at the lower elevation had a longer period between the initial and final melt days and had more total days classified as melt during 1988 and 1989. The technique is then applied to the entire Greenland ice sheet for the first major surface-melt event of 1989. The melt-zone signal is mapped from late May to early June to demonstrate the advance and subsequent retreat of one “melt wave”. The use of such a technique to determine melt duration and extent for multiple years may provide an indication of climate change.

scholarly journals Normalized Convective Characteristics of Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification Events in the North Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific

2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (4) ◽  
pp. 1133-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Fischer ◽  
Brian H. Tang ◽  
Kristen L. Corbosiero ◽  
Christopher M. Rozoff
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Forecast Skill ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Intensity Change ◽  
Rapid Intensification ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic

The relationship between tropical cyclone (TC) convective characteristics and TC intensity change is explored using infrared and passive microwave satellite imagery of TCs in the North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins from 1989 to 2016. TC intensity change episodes were placed into one of four groups: rapid intensification (RI), slow intensification (SI), neutral (N), and weakening (W). To account for differences in the distributions of TC intensity among the intensity change groups, a normalization technique is introduced, which allows for the analysis of anomalous TC convective characteristics and their relationship to TC intensity change. A composite analysis of normalized convective parameters shows anomalously cold infrared and 85-GHz brightness temperatures, as well as anomalously warm 37-GHz brightness temperatures, in the upshear quadrants of the TC are associated with increased rates of TC intensification, including RI. For RI episodes in the North Atlantic basin, an increase in anomalous liquid hydrometeor content precedes anomalous ice hydrometeor content by approximately 12 h, suggesting convection deep enough to produce robust ice scattering is a symptom of, rather than a precursor to, RI. In the eastern North Pacific basin, the amount of anomalous liquid and ice hydrometeors increases in tandem near the onset of RI. Normalized infrared and passive microwave brightness temperatures can be utilized to skillfully predict episodes of RI, as the forecast skill of RI episodes using solely normalized convective parameters is comparable to the forecast skill of RI episodes by current operational statistical models.

scholarly journals A 1D-Var Approach to Retrieve Clear-Sky Wet Tropospheric Correction from Current and Future Altimetry Missions

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hermozo ◽  
Laurence Eymard ◽  
Fatima Karbou ◽  
Bruno Picard ◽  
Mickael Pardé
Keyword(s):  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Microwave Radiometer ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
Atmospheric Stratification ◽  
Atmospheric Path ◽  
Occultation Data

AbstractStatistical methods are usually used to provide estimations of the wet tropospheric correction (WTC), necessary to correct altimetry measurements for atmospheric path delays, using brightness temperatures measured at two or three low frequencies from a passive microwave radiometer on board the altimeter mission. Despite their overall accuracy over oceanic surfaces, uncertainties still remain in specific regions of complex atmospheric stratification. Thus, there is still a need to improve the methods currently used by taking into account the frequency-dependent information content of the observations and the atmospheric and surface variations in the surroundings of the observations. In this article we focus on the assimilation of relevant passive microwave observations to retrieve the WTC over ocean using different altimeter mission contexts (current and future, providing brightness temperature measurements at higher frequencies in addition to classical low frequencies). Data assimilation is performed using a one-dimensional variational data assimilation (1D-Var) method. The behavior of the 1D-Var is evaluated by verifying its physical consistency when using pseudo- and real observations. Several observing-system simulation experiments are run and their results are analyzed to evaluate global and regional WTC retrievals. Comparisons of 1D-Var-based TWC retrieval and reference products from classical WTC retrieval algorithms or radio-occultation data are also performed to assess the 1D-Var performances.

scholarly journals Determination of a melt-onset date for Arctic sea-ice regions using passive-microwave data

1997 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 382-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Arctic Sea Ice ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Horizontal Channel ◽  
Onset Date ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Brightness Temperatures

Although the formation and melt of sea ice are primarily functions of the annual radiation cycle, atmospheric sensible-heat forcing does serve to delay or advance the timing of such events. Additionally, if atmospheric conditions in the Arctic were to vary due to climate change it may have significant influence on ice conditions. Therefore, this paper investigates a methodology to determine melt-onset dale distribution, both spatially and temporally, in the Arctic Ocean and surrounding sea-ice covered regions.Melt determination is made by a threshold technique using the spectral signatures of the horizontal brightness temperatures (19 GHz horizontal channel minus the 37 GHz horizontal channel) obtained from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) passive-microwave sensor. Passive-microwave observations are used to identify melt because of the large increase in emissivity that occurs when liquid water is present. Emissivity variations are observed in the brightness temperatures due to the different scattering, absorption and penetration depths of the snowpack from the available satellite channels during melt. Monitoring the variations in the brightness temperatures allows the determination of melt-onset dates.Analysis of daily brightness temperature data allows spatial variations in the date of the snow inch onset for sea ice to be detected. Since the data are gridded on a daily basis, a climatology of daily melt-onset dates can be produced for the Arctic region. From this climatology, progression of melt can be obtained and compared inter-annually.

scholarly journals Comparison of Sea-ice Type Identification Between Airborne Dual Frequency Passive Microwave Radiometry and Standard Laser/Infrared Techniques

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (73) ◽  
pp. 225-239
Author(s):  
S. G. Tooma ◽  
R. A. Mennella ◽  
J. P. Hollinger ◽  
R. D. Ketchum
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Single Frequency ◽  
Naval Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Dual Frequency ◽  
Brightness Temperatures

AbstractDuring December 1973, the Naval Oceanographie Offirc (NAVOCKANO) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) conducted a joint remote-sensing experiment over the sea-ice fields off Scoresby Sound on the east coast of Greenland using NAVOCEANO’s RP3-A Birdseye aircraft, laser profiler, and infrared scanner, and NRL’s 19.34 and 31.0 GHz nadir-looking radiometers. The objectives of this mission were: (1) to develop skills for interpreting sea-ice passive microwave data. (2) to expand, if possible, the two-category capability (multi-year ice and first-year ice) of passive microwave sensors over sea ice, (3) to compare two frequencies (19 and 31 GHz) to determine which may be more useful in a scanning radiometer now under development at NRL, and (4) to determine the value of multi-frequency as compared to single-frequency study of sea ice.Since, because of darkness and remoteness, no photography or in situ ground truth were possible for this mission, it was necessary to rely on the interpretations of the laser and infrared (IR) data to evaluate the performance of the microwave radiometers. Fortunately, excellent laser and IR data were collected, and a confident description of the ice overflown was possible.Five ice conditions: (1) open water/new ice, (2) smooth first-year ice, (3) ridged first-year ice, (4) multi-year ice, and (5) a higher brightness temperature form of multi-year ice interpreted as second-year ice were identifiable, regardless of weather conditions, by comparing the average of the two microwave brightness temperatures at the two frequencies with their difference.

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