Authors

I. S. Adams; P. Gaiser;W. L. Jones

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Radio Sci.

Keywords

MICROWAVE RADIATIVE-TRANSFER; WINDSAT; ATMOSPHERE; MILLIMETER; MATRIX; MODEL; RAIN; Astronomy & Astrophysics; Geochemistry & Geophysics; Meteorology &; Atmospheric Sciences; Remote Sensing; Telecommunications

Abstract

The large absorption and scattering cross sections of liquid and frozen hydrometeors, respectively, introduce appreciable signatures to measured polarized brightness temperatures, degrading the retrieval of other geophysical parameters such as near-surface ocean winds. In particular, the retrieval of wind direction requires precise knowledge of polarization. This study investigates the fully polarized atmospheric contribution of precipitation and compares these effects with the current sensitivities of passive wind vector retrieval algorithms. A realistic microphysical cloud model supplies atmospheric parameters, including hydrometeor water contents, which are input into a vector radiative transfer model. Scattering is handled using a reverse Monte Carlo method. Radiances are simulated for three frequencies of interest to microwave polarimetry, 10.7, 18.7, and 37.0 GHz, for the four elements of the Stokes vector. The simulations show that the dichroic nature of precipitating media has a significant impact on passive wind vector retrievals.

Journal Title

Radio Science

Volume

43

Issue/Number

5

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

15

WOS Identifier

WOS:000259806200001

ISSN

0048-6604

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