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Elsevier, Atmospheric Research, 1-4(72), p. 383-401, 2004

DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2004.03.023

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The effect of cirrus clouds on microwave limb radiances

Journal article published in 2004 by Claudia Emde, Stefan A. Buehler ORCID, Patrick Eriksson ORCID, T. R. Sreerekha
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Abstract

This study presents and analyses the first simulations of microwave limb radiances with clouds. They are computed using the 1D unpolarized version of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer System (ARTS). The study is meant to set a theoretical foundation for using microwave limb measurements for cloud monitoring. Information about clouds is required for the validation of climate models. Limb spectra are generated for the frequency bands of the Millimeter wave Acquisitions for Stratosphere/Troposphere Exchange Research (MASTER) instrument. For these simulations, the radiative transfer equation is solved using the Discrete Ordinate ITerative (DOIT) method, which is briefly described. Single scattering properties for the cloud particles are calculated using the T-matrix method. The impact of various cloud parameters is investigated. Simulated brightness temperatures most strongly depend on particle size, ice mass content and cloud altitude. The impact of particle shape is much smaller, but still significant. Increasing the ice mass content has a similar effect as increasing the particle size; this complicates the prediction of the impact of clouds on microwave radiances without exact knowledge of these cloud parameters. ; This study presents and analyses the first simulations of microwave limb radiances with clouds. They are computed using the 1D unpolarized version of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer System (ARTS). The study is meant to set a theoretical foundation for using microwave limb measurements for cloud monitoring. Information about clouds is required for the validation of climate models. Limb spectra are generated for the frequency bands of the Millimeter wave Acquisitions for Stratosphere/Troposphere Exchange Research (MASTER) instrument. For these simulations, the radiative transfer equation is solved using the Discrete Ordinate ITerative (DOIT) method, which is briefly described. Single scattering properties for the cloud particles are calculated using the T-matrix method. The impact of various cloud parameters is investigated. Simulated brightness temperatures most strongly depend on particle size, ice mass content and cloud altitude. The impact of particle shape is much smaller, but still significant. Increasing the ice mass content has a similar effect as increasing the particle size; this complicates the prediction of the impact of clouds on microwave radiances without exact knowledge of these cloud parameters.