Back to Search Start Over

Precipitation Estimation from the NASA TROPICS Mission: Initial Retrievals and Validation

Authors :
Lincoln Laboratory
Kidd, Chris
Matsui, Toshi
Blackwell, William
Braun, Scott
Leslie, Robert
Griffith, Zach
Lincoln Laboratory
Kidd, Chris
Matsui, Toshi
Blackwell, William
Braun, Scott
Leslie, Robert
Griffith, Zach
Source :
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

This paper describes the initial results of precipitation estimates from the Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) Millimeter-wave Sounder (TMS) using the Precipitation Retrieval and Profiling Scheme (PRPS). The TROPICS mission consists of a Pathfinder CubeSat and a constellation of six CubeSats, providing a low-cost solution to the frequent sampling of precipitation systems across the Tropics. The TMS instrument is a 12-channel cross-track scanning radiometer operating at frequencies of 91.655 to 204.8 GHz, providing similar resolutions to current passive microwave sounding instruments. These retrievals showcase the potential of the TMS instrument for precipitation retrievals. The PRPS has been modified for use with the TMS using a database based upon observations from current sounding sensors. The results shown here represent the initial postlaunch version of the retrieval scheme, as analyzed for the Pathfinder CubeSat launched on 30 June 2021. In terms of monthly precipitation estimates, the results fall within the mission specifications and are similar in performance to retrievals from other sounding instruments. At the instantaneous scale, the results are very promising.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Journal :
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Notes :
application/pdf
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1342475187
Document Type :
Electronic Resource