Potential applications of the SSM/I cloud liquid water parameter to the estimation of marine aircraft icing

Abstract

Examples with infrared and visible images and synoptic charts are shown for the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea for March 1992. The SSM/I images often show detailed, low-level cloud circulations not suggested by infrared satellite images. A prototype system for forecasting the potential for aircraft icing, which combines the SSM/I cloud liquid water parameter with numerical model output, is also presented. Where integrated cloud liquid water exceeds a specific threshold, an icing watch region is specified. The top of the icing watch layer is set to the model -20°C level or infrared cloud top, whichever is lower. The base of the icing watch layer is set to the 0°C level from model output. No watch areas are specified where the infrared cloud top temperature is above freezing, regardless of integrated cloud liquid water amount. -Authors