Investigating regime-dependent rainfall variations using TRMM active and passive microwave sensors

Wesley K. Berg; Christian D. Kummerow

doi:10.1117/12.466282

30 April 2003 Investigating regime-dependent rainfall variations using TRMM active and passive microwave sensors

Proceedings Volume 4894, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment III; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.466282
Event: Third International Asia-Pacific Environmental Remote Sensing Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Ocean, Environment, and Space, 2002, Hangzhou, China

Abstract

Recent attempts to determine the response of the tropical hydrological cycle to climate forcing have been hampered by large discrepancies in the variability of available long-term satellite rainfall datasets over seasonal to interannual time scales. From investigations of regional and time-dependent changes in the structure of precipitation systems it is apparent that variations in precipitation systems due to differences in the meteorological regimes produce biases in satellite retrievals. This can have severe consequences for studies of climate variability since changes in these "climate regime" biases over seasonal or interannual time scales can produce large errors in the observed variability. Using data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) we have attempted to identify and understand how changes in the structure of precipitation systems result in biases in various single sensor satellite retrievals. Evidence of differences in the relative content of ice versus liquid water, systematic changes in the height of the liquid water column, and changes in the relationship of low-level liquid water content to surface rainfall have been found, which can impact passive microwave rainfall retrievals. In addition, evidence of significant changes in the mean drop diameter between these regions may lead to significant biases in retrievals from the precipitation radar. Although TRMM has produced improvements in estimates of zonal mean rainfall, we must address this issue of time-dependent systematic biases associated with climate regimes if we wish to develop more accurate retrievals for either regional applications or global mean estimates suitable for studies of climate variability.

Citation Download Citation

Wesley K. Berg and Christian D. Kummerow "Investigating regime-dependent rainfall variations using TRMM active and passive microwave sensors", Proc. SPIE 4894, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment III, (30 April 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.466282

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
8 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Meteorology

Satellites

Microwave radiation

Climatology

Liquids

Gemini Planet Imager

Sensors

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years