Satellite passive and active microwave methods for arctic cyclone studies

Abstract

Satellite passive microwave methods for the Arctic cyclone studies are considered. The data of Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) onboard Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites and Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer—Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) onboard Aqua satellite and AMSR2 onboard GCOM-W satellite are shown to be quite informative for polar low studies. The methodology of polar low detection and tracking, based on analysis of the total atmospheric water vapor fields, retrieved from passive microwave satellite measurement data, is described. Several case studies of mesoscale low system are considered using passive microwave and other satellite data, including visible, infrared and synthetic aperture radar images and scatterometer wind fields.