Comptes Rendus
The next generation radiotelescopes / Les radiotélescopes du futur
Sub-millimetre wave radiometry for cloud and rain characterization: From simulation to Earth observation mission concept
Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 13 (2012) no. 1, pp. 54-61.

Different studies and instrument/mission proposals have demonstrated the potential of the passive sub-millimetre–millimetre wave (SMMW) radiometry to provide remote measurements for the characterization of clouds and rain. At these wavelengths radiation received by a satellite over ice clouds is dominantly scattered by the ice particles. Vertically integrated ice and water contents, hydrometeor properties and profiles can then be retrieved from the radiometric observations with the use of multi-frequency retrieval schemes based on inversion databases simulating realistic brightness temperatures from in situ or modeled cloud microphysics profiles. Current technological SMMW developments offer new observational perspectives for the characterization of the atmosphere.

Différentes études et propositions dʼinstruments ont démontré le potentiel des observations en radiométrie passive aux ondes sub-millimétriques et millimétriques pour caractériser les nuages et la pluie. A ces longueurs dʼonde, au-dessus dʼun nuage de glace, le rayonnement mesuré depuis lʼespace est principalement issu de la diffusion par les cristaux de glace. Les contenus verticaux intégrés en glace et en eau liquide, certaines propriétés des hydrométéores et les profils de microphysique nuageuse peuvent ainsi être restitués grâce à des algorithmes dʼinversion basés sur des jeux de températures de brillance réalistes simulées à partir de profils de microphysique nuageuse in situ ou modélisés. Les développements technologiques actuels en détecteurs sub-millimétriques offrent de nouvelles perspectives pour la caractérisation de lʼatmosphère.

Published online:
DOI: 10.1016/j.crhy.2011.11.006
Keywords: Sub-millimetre wave radiometry, Instrument, Cloud, Rain, Earth observation mission
Mot clés : Radiométrie sub-millimétrique, Instrumentation, Nuage, Pluie, Mission dʼobservation de la Terre

Eric Defer 1; Carlos Jimenez 1; Catherine Prigent 1

1 LERMA – CNRS/Observatoire de Paris, 61, avenue de lʼObservatoire, 75014 Paris, France
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Eric Defer; Carlos Jimenez; Catherine Prigent. Sub-millimetre wave radiometry for cloud and rain characterization: From simulation to Earth observation mission concept. Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 13 (2012) no. 1, pp. 54-61. doi : 10.1016/j.crhy.2011.11.006. https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/physique/articles/10.1016/j.crhy.2011.11.006/

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