WindSat physically-based forward model: atmospheric component

Nai-Yu Wang; Paul S. Chang; Michael Bettenhausen; Richard M. Bevilacqua; Peter W. Gaiser

doi:10.1117/12.578811

20 January 2005 WindSat physically based forward model: atmospheric component

Nai-Yu Wang, Paul S. Chang, Michael Bettenhausen, Richard M. Bevilacqua, Peter W. Gaiser

Proceedings Volume 5656, Active and Passive Remote Sensing of the Oceans; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.578811
Event: Fourth International Asia-Pacific Environmental Remote Sensing Symposium 2004: Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Ocean, Environment, and Space, 2004, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

WindSat is a satellite-based multi-frequency polarimetric microwave radiometer designed to measure the fully polarimetric radiometric brightness temperature (TB) at 10.7, 18.7, and 37.0 GHz, and linearly polarized TB at 6.8 and 23.8 GHz. The primary goal of WindSat is to demonstrate the capability of polarimetric microwave radiometry in remote sensing of the ocean surface wind vector. Sea surface temperature, water vapor, and cloud liquid water, are among some of the other geophysical parameters that can also be measured. Solution of an inverse method to retrieve these environmental parameters from the polarimetric radiometer measurements requires a forward model that characterizes the measured brightness temperature due to emission from the surface and the intervening atmosphere, and its transmission through the atmosphere. This paper concentrates predominantly on the atmospheric component of the Windsat forward model. This includes two separate but related algorithms. We have developed a complete radiative transfer model that calculates the upward and downward atmospheric radiation, including attenuation effects due to clear air (both resonant and continuum absorption by water vapor and molecular oxygen) and non-precipitating clouds. From calculations and analysis of using this full forward model and an extensive match-up dataset a computationally efficient one-layer parameterized model has been developed for use in the physically-based Windsat retrieval algorithm. A performance assessment of forward models which utilize surface and atmospheric models, NWP model data assimilation profiles, and environmental measurements from other satellites, by comparison with WindSat measurements, is presented.

Citation Download Citation

Nai-Yu Wang, Paul S. Chang, Michael Bettenhausen, Richard M. Bevilacqua, and Peter W. Gaiser "WindSat physically based forward model: atmospheric component", Proc. SPIE 5656, Active and Passive Remote Sensing of the Oceans, (20 January 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.578811

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