Precipitation and Latent Heating Estimation using Precipitation and Latent Heating Estimation using Combined Spaceborne Radar and Microwave Radiometer Combined Spaceborne Radar and Microwave Radiometer

DataDataWilliam Olson, Mircea Grecu, Chung-Lin ShieWilliam Olson, Mircea Grecu, Chung-Lin Shie

JCET/UMBC and NASA/GSFCJCET/UMBC and NASA/GSFC

Phases of the MJO:Phases of the MJO:

Global Latent Heating /Global Latent Heating /Precipitation (October 1998 - March 1999):Precipitation (October 1998 - March 1999):

Here, the Madden-Julian Here, the Madden-Julian Oscillation propagates from theOscillation propagates from theIndian Ocean to the central PacificIndian Ocean to the central PacificOcean. The equatorial vertical Ocean. The equatorial vertical distributions of latent heating distributions of latent heating (top panels) and surface rain rate (top panels) and surface rain rate (bottom panels) are shown at (bottom panels) are shown at right.right.

Duane WaliserDuane WaliserJet Propulsion LaboratoryJet Propulsion Laboratory

Tristan L’EcuyerTristan L’EcuyerColorado State UniversityColorado State University

Simulation/Retrieval Studies of Shallow Simulation/Retrieval Studies of Shallow Convection and SnowConvection and SnowMircea Grecu, William Olson, Chung-Lin ShieMircea Grecu, William Olson, Chung-Lin Shie

JCET/UMBC and NASA/GSFCJCET/UMBC and NASA/GSFC

Simulation:Simulation:

At right is a high-resolutionAt right is a high-resolutionsimulation of lake-effectsimulation of lake-effectsnow, showing the watersnow, showing the watercontents of snow (bottomcontents of snow (bottompanel), simulated cloud radarpanel), simulated cloud radarreflectivity factor at 94 GHz reflectivity factor at 94 GHz (middle panel) and (middle panel) and attenuated reflectivities attenuated reflectivities (top panel), assuming a (top panel), assuming a downward-looking radar. downward-looking radar.

The panels at right show theThe panels at right show theeffects of assumed snoweffects of assumed snowdensity and radiometer density and radiometer viewing angle on upwelling viewing angle on upwelling microwave radiances and microwave radiances and radar path-integrated radar path-integrated attenuation through a verticalattenuation through a verticalcolumn. These simulationscolumn. These simulationsserve as a testbed for serve as a testbed for combined radar/radiometercombined radar/radiometerestimation methods. Such anestimation methods. Such anapplication to actual data is application to actual data is shown at far right. shown at far right.

blue: 183+/-7 GHzred: 89 GHz

radar PIA

Estimation:Estimation:ACR (94 GHz radar) and MIR (183+/-7 GHzACR (94 GHz radar) and MIR (183+/-7 GHzradiometer) observations from the Wakasa Bay fieldradiometer) observations from the Wakasa Bay fieldexperiment are used to estimate snow contents, below.experiment are used to estimate snow contents, below.The estimator fit to the 183+/-7 GHz data is also shown.The estimator fit to the 183+/-7 GHz data is also shown.