A general database of hydrometeor single scattering properties at microwave and sub-millimetre wavelengths

<p>A main limitation today in simulations and inversions of microwave observations of ice hydrometeors (cloud ice, snow, hail, etc.) is the lack of data describing the interaction between electromagnetic waves and the particles. To improve the situation, the development of a comprehensive...

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Main Authors: P. Eriksson, R. Ekelund, J. Mendrok, M. Brath, O. Lemke, S. A. Buehler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2018-07-01
Series:Earth System Science Data
Online Access:https://www.earth-syst-sci-data.net/10/1301/2018/essd-10-1301-2018.pdf
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author P. Eriksson
R. Ekelund
J. Mendrok
M. Brath
O. Lemke
S. A. Buehler
author_facet P. Eriksson
R. Ekelund
J. Mendrok
M. Brath
O. Lemke
S. A. Buehler
author_sort P. Eriksson
collection DOAJ
description <p>A main limitation today in simulations and inversions of microwave observations of ice hydrometeors (cloud ice, snow, hail, etc.) is the lack of data describing the interaction between electromagnetic waves and the particles. To improve the situation, the development of a comprehensive dataset of such <q>scattering properties</q> has been started. The database aims at giving a broad coverage in both frequency (1 to 886&thinsp;GHz) and temperature (190 to 270&thinsp;K), to support both passive and active current and planned measurements, and to provide data corresponding to the full Stokes vector. This first version of the database is restricted to totally random particle orientation. Data for 34 particle sets, i.e. habits, have been generated. About 17 of the habits can be classified as single crystals, three habits can be seen as heavily rimed particles, and the remaining habits are aggregates of different types, e.g. snow and hail. The particle sizes considered vary between the habits, but maximum diameters of 10 and 20&thinsp;mm are typical values for the largest single crystal and aggregate particles, respectively, and the number of sizes per habit is at least 30. Particles containing liquid water are also inside the scope of the database, but this phase of water is so far only represented by a liquid sphere habit. The database is built upon the netCDF4 file format. Interfaces to browse, extract and convert data for selected radiative transfer models are provided in MATLAB and Python. The database and associated tools are publicly available from Zenodo (<a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1175572" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1175572</a>, Ekelund et al., 2018b), and <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1175588" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1175588</a>, Mendrok et al., 2018, respectively). Planned extensions include non-spherical raindrops, melting particles and a second orientation case that can be denoted as azimuthally random.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-5d479307977a4ee989da67819f37ca352022-12-22T00:22:17ZengCopernicus PublicationsEarth System Science Data1866-35081866-35162018-07-01101301132610.5194/essd-10-1301-2018A general database of hydrometeor single scattering properties at microwave and sub-millimetre wavelengthsP. Eriksson0R. Ekelund1J. Mendrok2M. Brath3O. Lemke4S. A. Buehler5Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SwedenDepartment of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SwedenDepartment of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SwedenMeteorological Institute, Department of Earth Sciences, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, GermanyMeteorological Institute, Department of Earth Sciences, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, GermanyMeteorological Institute, Department of Earth Sciences, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany<p>A main limitation today in simulations and inversions of microwave observations of ice hydrometeors (cloud ice, snow, hail, etc.) is the lack of data describing the interaction between electromagnetic waves and the particles. To improve the situation, the development of a comprehensive dataset of such <q>scattering properties</q> has been started. The database aims at giving a broad coverage in both frequency (1 to 886&thinsp;GHz) and temperature (190 to 270&thinsp;K), to support both passive and active current and planned measurements, and to provide data corresponding to the full Stokes vector. This first version of the database is restricted to totally random particle orientation. Data for 34 particle sets, i.e. habits, have been generated. About 17 of the habits can be classified as single crystals, three habits can be seen as heavily rimed particles, and the remaining habits are aggregates of different types, e.g. snow and hail. The particle sizes considered vary between the habits, but maximum diameters of 10 and 20&thinsp;mm are typical values for the largest single crystal and aggregate particles, respectively, and the number of sizes per habit is at least 30. Particles containing liquid water are also inside the scope of the database, but this phase of water is so far only represented by a liquid sphere habit. The database is built upon the netCDF4 file format. Interfaces to browse, extract and convert data for selected radiative transfer models are provided in MATLAB and Python. The database and associated tools are publicly available from Zenodo (<a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1175572" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1175572</a>, Ekelund et al., 2018b), and <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1175588" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1175588</a>, Mendrok et al., 2018, respectively). Planned extensions include non-spherical raindrops, melting particles and a second orientation case that can be denoted as azimuthally random.</p>https://www.earth-syst-sci-data.net/10/1301/2018/essd-10-1301-2018.pdf
spellingShingle P. Eriksson
R. Ekelund
J. Mendrok
M. Brath
O. Lemke
S. A. Buehler
A general database of hydrometeor single scattering properties at microwave and sub-millimetre wavelengths
Earth System Science Data
title A general database of hydrometeor single scattering properties at microwave and sub-millimetre wavelengths
title_full A general database of hydrometeor single scattering properties at microwave and sub-millimetre wavelengths
title_fullStr A general database of hydrometeor single scattering properties at microwave and sub-millimetre wavelengths
title_full_unstemmed A general database of hydrometeor single scattering properties at microwave and sub-millimetre wavelengths
title_short A general database of hydrometeor single scattering properties at microwave and sub-millimetre wavelengths
title_sort general database of hydrometeor single scattering properties at microwave and sub millimetre wavelengths
url https://www.earth-syst-sci-data.net/10/1301/2018/essd-10-1301-2018.pdf
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