Retrieving Cloud Ice Water, Liquid Water, and Other Cloud Parameters from GPS Radio Occultation and Satellite Microwave Imager/Sounder in Heavy Precip

ABSTRACT: The Science and Technology in Atmospheric Research (STAR) LLC in Boulder, with scientific support from National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is proposing to conduct research and development in the field of integrated water content and Cloud liquid water estimation from GPS Radio-Occultations (GPSRO) and satellite microwave radiances. Key to the success of GPSRO inversions is a prior knowledge of cloud properties (rain, cloud liquid content, ice, etc.). STAR will implement the community Global Statistical Interpolation variational data assimilation system to ingest and extract information from a variety of observing systems and, in particular, from microwave radiances, such as SSMI/S measured by satellites from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Variational assimilation of satellite observations is a unique and convenient mean to produce physically consistent cloud retrieval products on three-dimensional regular grids. The proposed work aims at furthering the science that supports the retrievals of cloud parameters from both, satellite microwave radiances and GPSRO data in all weather conditions, to implement the corresponding technology and assess the accuracy of the retrievals, in terms of their suitability for Defense remote sensing applications, such as radiative transfer calculations. BENEFIT: Improved cloud products retrievals from the coming COSMIC-2 mission, which in turn will improve polarized radiative transfer calculations, done with AFRLs MODTRAN model, and needed for various sensors used by the Air Force.