Publication Abstracts

Aires et al. 2001

Aires, F., C. Prigent, W.B. Rossow, and M. Rothstein, 2001: A new neural network approach including first-guess for retrieval of atmospheric water vapor, cloud liquid water path, surface temperature and emissivities over land from satellite microwave observations. J. Geophys. Res., 106, 14887-14907, doi:10.1029/2001JD900085.

The analysis of microwave observations over land to determine atmospheric and surface parameters is still limited due to the complexity of the inverse problem. Neural network techniques have already proved successful as the basis of efficient retrieval methods for non-linear cases, however, first-guess estimates, which are used in variational assimilation methods to avoid problems of solution non-uniqueness or other forms of solution irregularity, have up to now not been used with neural network methods. In this study, a neural network approach is developed that uses a first-guess. Conceptual bridges are established between the neural network and variational assimilation methods. The new neural method retrieves the surface skin temperature, the integrated water vapor content, the cloud liquid water path and the microwave surface emissivities between 19 and 85 GHz over land from SSM/I observations. The retrieval, in parallel, of all these quantities improves the results for consistancy reasons. A data base to train the neural network is calculated with a radiative transfer model and a global collection of coincident surface and atmospheric parameters extracted from the National Center for Environmental Prediction reanalysis, from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project data and from microwave emissivity atlases previously calculated. The results of the neural network inversion are very encouraging. The theoretical r.m.s. error of the surface temperature retrieval over the globe is 1.3 K in clear sky conditions and 1.6 K in cloudy scenes. Water vapor is retrieved with a theoretical r.m.s. error of 3.8 kg/m2 in clear conditions and 4.9 kg/m2 in cloudy situations. The theoretical r.m.s. error in cloud liquid water path is 0.08 kg/m2. The surface emissivities are retrieved with an accuracy of better than 0.008 in clear conditions and 0.010 in cloudy conditions. Microwave land surface temperature retrieval presents a very attractive complement to the infra-red estimates in cloudy areas: time record of land surface temperature will be produced.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ai04000r,
  author={Aires, F. and Prigent, C. and Rossow, W. B. and Rothstein, M.},
  title={A new neural network approach including first-guess for retrieval of atmospheric water vapor, cloud liquid water path, surface temperature and emissivities over land from satellite microwave observations},
  year={2001},
  journal={Journal of Geophysical Research},
  volume={106},
  pages={14887--14907},
  doi={10.1029/2001JD900085},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ai04000r
AU  - Aires, F.
AU  - Prigent, C.
AU  - Rossow, W. B.
AU  - Rothstein, M.
PY  - 2001
TI  - A new neural network approach including first-guess for retrieval of atmospheric water vapor, cloud liquid water path, surface temperature and emissivities over land from satellite microwave observations
JA  - J. Geophys. Res.
JO  - Journal of Geophysical Research
VL  - 106
SP  - 14887
EP  - 14907
DO  - 10.1029/2001JD900085
ER  -

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