Publication Abstracts

Wang et al. 2012

Wang, F., C. Kummerow, A.J. Geer, P. Bauer, and G. Elsaesser, 2012: Comparing rain retrievals from GPROF with ECMWF 1D-Var products. Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 138, no. 568, 1852-1886.

Both the Goddard Profiling Algorithm (GPROF) and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) one-dimensional + four-dimensional variational analysis (1D+4D-Var) rainfall retrievals are inversion algorithms based on Bayes' theorem. Differences stem primarily from the a priori information. The GPROF uses an observationally generated a priori database whereas ECMWF 1D-Var uses the model forecast first guess (FG) fields. The relative similarity in the two approaches means that comparisons can shed light on the differences that are produced by the a priori information. Case studies have found that differences can be classified into four categories based upon the agreement in the brightness temperatures (Tbs) and in the microphysical properties of cloud water path (CWP) and rainwater path (RWP) space. A category of special interest is when both retrievals converge to similar Tb through minimization procedures but produce different CWP and RWP. The similarity in Tb can be attributed to comparable total water path (TWP) between the two retrievals while the disagreement in the microphysics is caused by their different degrees of constraint of the cloud/rain ratio by the observations. This situation occurs frequently and takes up 46.9% in the 1 month 1D-Var retrievals examined. The two retrievals produce similar spatial patterns but with different magnitude. The allocation of a large amount of CWP in the 1D-Var retrieval seems to be related to the stratiform portion of rain, which is produced by the large-scale condensation scheme. To attain better-constrained cloud/rain ratios and improved retrieval quality, this study suggests the implementation of higher microwave frequency channels in the 1D-Var algorithm.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{wa01600j,
  author={Wang, F. and Kummerow, C. and Geer, A. J. and Bauer, P. and Elsaesser, G.},
  title={Comparing rain retrievals from GPROF with ECMWF 1D-Var products},
  year={2012},
  journal={Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society},
  volume={138},
  number={568},
  pages={1852--1886},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - wa01600j
AU  - Wang, F.
AU  - Kummerow, C.
AU  - Geer, A. J.
AU  - Bauer, P.
AU  - Elsaesser, G.
PY  - 2012
TI  - Comparing rain retrievals from GPROF with ECMWF 1D-Var products
JA  - Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc.
JO  - Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
VL  - 138
IS  - 568
SP  - 1852
EP  - 1886
ER  -

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