Inference of cloud temperature and thickness by microwave radiometry from space.

Abstract

The SMMR on the Seasat and Nimbus-7 satellites measured microwave radiation at 6.6, 10.69, 18.0, 21.0 and 37.0 GHz with both horizontal and vertical polarizations. Numerical simulations have been performed to explore the potential of using the 18.0, 21.0 and 37.0 GHz SMMR channels with simultaneous infrared measurements of cloud top height for retrieving cloud temperature differential and thickness over the ocean. The results suggest it is possible to infer cloud vertical thickness to approx. 0.4 km rms accuracy and cloud temperature differential to approx. 3oC rms. These accuracies are approximately half the a priori variances.-Authors