Precipitation analysis using the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit in support of nowcasting applications

Bennartz, Ralf; Thoss, Anke; Dybbroe, Adam; Michelson, Daniel

doi:10.1017/s1350482702002037

Cited by 61 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…A set of algorithms to identify precipitation and classify it according to its intensity for nowcasting applications was introduced by Bennartz et al [44]. Since the method is designed to work over different surface types, it relies mainly on the scattering signal of precipitation sized ice particles received at high frequencies.…”

Section: Passive Microwave Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Measurement of Snowfall from Space

2011

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Snowfall detection and measurement represent highly difficult problems in modern hydrometeorology. Ground measurements are complicated due to detection technology limitations, snow drift and accumulation issues, and error definition. The snowfall detection from space is in turn affected by all detection limitations that characterize the measurement of rainfall with the addition of several complications, such as the indirect character of remote sensing precipitation estimation, the presence of frozen or snow-covered terrain, and the unknown vertical distribution of hydrometeors in the cloud column. Several methods for the retrieval of snowfall intensity from satellite have been proposed in recent times using passive and active sensors. No satisfactory answer to the general problem of quantitative snowfall intensity determination has been found to date, but several studies contribute to delineate a working framework for the future operational retrieval algorithms.

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Section: Passive Microwave Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Measurement of Snowfall from Space

2011

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“…It makes the reconstruction of the whole rain field objectively less accurate. In addition, the situation is further complicated due to the fact that MW remote-sensing is more efficient in observing high precipitation (Bennartz et al, 2006). This explains the low correlation observed between low precipitation and low lightning occurrences.…”

Section: Analysis Of 1 October 2009 Case Study Over Sicilymentioning

confidence: 99%

Lightning-based propagation of convective rain fields

Dietrich

Casella

Paola

et al. 2011

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. This paper describes a new multi-sensor approach for continuously monitoring convective rain cells. It exploits lightning data from surface networks to propagate rain fields estimated from multi-frequency brightness temperature measurements taken by the AMSU/MHS microwave radiometers onboard NOAA/EUMETSAT low Earth orbiting operational satellites. Specifically, the method allows inferring the development (movement, morphology and intensity) of convective rain cells from the spatial and temporal distribution of lightning strokes following any observation by a satellite-borne microwave radiometer. Obviously, this is particularly attractive for real-time operational purposes, due to the sporadic nature of the low Earth orbiting satellite measurements and the continuous availability of ground-based lightning measurements -as is the case in most of the Mediterranean region. A preliminary assessment of the lightning-based rainfall propagation algorithm has been successfully made by using two pairs of consecutive AMSU observations, in conjunction with lightning measurements from the ZEUS network, for two convective events. Specifically, we show that the evolving rain fields, which are estimated by applying the algorithm to the satellite-based rainfall estimates for the first AMSU overpass, show an overall agreement with the satellite-based rainfall estimates for the second AMSU overpass.

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“…Besides, it is interesting observe that the signal depression is enhanced at 150 GHz (comparable with measurement at 190 GHz) where the signal extinction is quantifiable over 100 K with respect to the channel's nominal value. In the practical use of satellite remote sensing, the properties of this frequency combined to those of other channels such as the 89 GHz and 190 GHz are often exploited to discern ice signature in the clouds and possibly correlate probability information related to the conversion of melting ice into rainfall at the ground (Bennartz et al, 2002;Laviola & Levizzani, 2008). Referring to Fig.…”

Section: Advanced Microwave and Millimeter Wave Technologies: Semiconmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The proposed case studies exemplify different situations in which rainfall was retrieved and classified by means of the two 183-WSL convective/stratiform modules (183-WSLC/S). In the first case the values of the scattering index (SI) introduced by Bennartz et al (2002) to build four rain intensity classes were used for comparison. As expected, the agreement between the SI and the 183-WSLC (convective) is higher than the one between the SI and the 183-WSLS (stratiform).…”

Section: The 183-wsl Algorithm: Retrieval Design and Performancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Passive Microwave Remote Sensing of Rain from Satellite Sensors

Laviola¹,

Levizzani²

2010

Advanced Microwave and Millimeter Wave Technologies Semiconductor Devices Circuits and Systems

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The purpose of this chapter is to offer an accurate treatment of relevant aspects of satellite remote sensing of precipitation using passive microwave (PMW) radiometers. Microwave observations of the Earth's system differ substantially from those based on optical and infrared wavelengths. Visible (VIS) and infrared (IR) instruments essentially sense the cloud top properties by measuring reflected or emitted radiation. Microwave frequencies, on the contrary, possess greater penetrating capabilities than optical radiation and can thus be exploited to investigate cloud internal properties by retrieving the interaction of hydrometeors with the radiation field. This fact is particularly true in the remote sensing of precipitation, where the impact of the volume of raindrops on the radiative field is directly linked to the total extinction of incident radiation. The following paragraphs will be focused on one hand on theoretical considerations at the foundations of thermal radiation processes and on the other the attention will be centered on a treatment of practical aspects of retrieving precipitation in the microwave bands. Particular attention will be dedicated in the first part of the chapter to the radiative transfer theory in the microwaves by using the Rayleigh-Jeans formulation and a description of the absorption and scattering processes associated with the Mie theory with the approximation of extinction from poly-disperse media as proxies for natural media. This section will create a valid substrate to understand and theoretically evaluate the impact of atmospheric constituents such as precipitation types or hydrometeor phases and sizes on the natural radiation emitted from the Earth. Furthermore, the theoretical considerations of this section will be compared in the second part of the chapter with real measurements. Making use of a wide suite of microwave frequencies of a new generation of PMW sensors flying on board polar orbiting satellites the attenuation of the microwave signal due to rain clouds will be discussed possibly discerning the contribution to the total radiation of the emissivity from various surfaces falling into the satellite field of view. Finally, a new microwave highfrequency method to retrieve and classify precipitation types will be presented.

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Precipitation analysis using the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit in support of nowcasting applications

Abstract: We describe a method to remotely sense precipitation and classify its intensity over water, coasts and land

Cited by 61 publications

References 9 publications

Detection and Measurement of Snowfall from Space

Detection and Measurement of Snowfall from Space

Lightning-based propagation of convective rain fields

Passive Microwave Remote Sensing of Rain from Satellite Sensors

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