Accuracy of retrieving temperature and humidity profiles by ground-based microwave radiometry in truly complex terrain
Within the Innsbruck Box project, a ground-based microwave radiometer (RPG-HATPRO) was operated in the Inn Valley (Austria), in very complex terrain, between September 2012 and May 2013 to obtain temperature and humidity vertical profiles of the full troposphere with a specific focus on the valley b...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-08-01
|
| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/3355/2015/amt-8-3355-2015.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818084533946286080 |
|---|---|
| author | G. Massaro I. Stiperski B. Pospichal M. W. Rotach |
| author_facet | G. Massaro I. Stiperski B. Pospichal M. W. Rotach |
| author_sort | G. Massaro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Within the Innsbruck Box project, a ground-based microwave radiometer
(RPG-HATPRO) was operated in the Inn Valley (Austria), in very complex
terrain, between September 2012 and May 2013 to obtain temperature and
humidity vertical profiles of the full troposphere with a specific focus on
the valley boundary layer. In order to assess its performance in a deep
alpine valley, the profiles obtained by the radiometer with different
retrieval algorithms based on different climatologies are compared to local
radiosonde data. A retrieval that is improved with respect to the one
provided by the manufacturer, based on better resolved data, shows a
significantly smaller root mean square error (RMSE), both for the temperature
and humidity profiles. The improvement is particularly substantial at the
heights close to the mountaintop level and in the upper troposphere. Lower-level inversions, common in an alpine valley, are resolved to a satisfactory
degree. On the other hand, upper-level inversions (above 1200 m) still pose
a significant challenge for retrieval. For this purpose, specialized
retrieval algorithms were developed by classifying the radiosonde
climatologies into specialized categories according to different criteria
(seasons, daytime, nighttime) and using additional regressors (e.g.,
measurements from mountain stations). The training and testing on the
radiosonde data for these specialized categories suggests that a
classification of profiles that reproduces meaningful physical
characteristics can yield improved targeted specialized retrievals. A novel
and very promising method of improving the profile retrieval in a mountainous
region is adding further information in the retrieval, such as the surface
temperature at fixed levels along a topographic slope or from nearby mountaintops. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:55:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a85f68c1360b4c4a95ada86c6f99aa3d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:55:25Z |
| publishDate | 2015-08-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| spelling | doaj.art-a85f68c1360b4c4a95ada86c6f99aa3d2022-12-22T01:35:41ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482015-08-01883355336710.5194/amt-8-3355-2015Accuracy of retrieving temperature and humidity profiles by ground-based microwave radiometry in truly complex terrainG. Massaro0I. Stiperski1B. Pospichal2M. W. Rotach3Twist-Off Srl, Padua, ItalyInstitute of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Innsbruck, AustriaInstitute for Meteorology, University of Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Innsbruck, AustriaWithin the Innsbruck Box project, a ground-based microwave radiometer (RPG-HATPRO) was operated in the Inn Valley (Austria), in very complex terrain, between September 2012 and May 2013 to obtain temperature and humidity vertical profiles of the full troposphere with a specific focus on the valley boundary layer. In order to assess its performance in a deep alpine valley, the profiles obtained by the radiometer with different retrieval algorithms based on different climatologies are compared to local radiosonde data. A retrieval that is improved with respect to the one provided by the manufacturer, based on better resolved data, shows a significantly smaller root mean square error (RMSE), both for the temperature and humidity profiles. The improvement is particularly substantial at the heights close to the mountaintop level and in the upper troposphere. Lower-level inversions, common in an alpine valley, are resolved to a satisfactory degree. On the other hand, upper-level inversions (above 1200 m) still pose a significant challenge for retrieval. For this purpose, specialized retrieval algorithms were developed by classifying the radiosonde climatologies into specialized categories according to different criteria (seasons, daytime, nighttime) and using additional regressors (e.g., measurements from mountain stations). The training and testing on the radiosonde data for these specialized categories suggests that a classification of profiles that reproduces meaningful physical characteristics can yield improved targeted specialized retrievals. A novel and very promising method of improving the profile retrieval in a mountainous region is adding further information in the retrieval, such as the surface temperature at fixed levels along a topographic slope or from nearby mountaintops.http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/3355/2015/amt-8-3355-2015.pdf |
| spellingShingle | G. Massaro I. Stiperski B. Pospichal M. W. Rotach Accuracy of retrieving temperature and humidity profiles by ground-based microwave radiometry in truly complex terrain Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| title | Accuracy of retrieving temperature and humidity profiles by ground-based microwave radiometry in truly complex terrain |
| title_full | Accuracy of retrieving temperature and humidity profiles by ground-based microwave radiometry in truly complex terrain |
| title_fullStr | Accuracy of retrieving temperature and humidity profiles by ground-based microwave radiometry in truly complex terrain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accuracy of retrieving temperature and humidity profiles by ground-based microwave radiometry in truly complex terrain |
| title_short | Accuracy of retrieving temperature and humidity profiles by ground-based microwave radiometry in truly complex terrain |
| title_sort | accuracy of retrieving temperature and humidity profiles by ground based microwave radiometry in truly complex terrain |
| url | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/3355/2015/amt-8-3355-2015.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gmassaro accuracyofretrievingtemperatureandhumidityprofilesbygroundbasedmicrowaveradiometryintrulycomplexterrain AT istiperski accuracyofretrievingtemperatureandhumidityprofilesbygroundbasedmicrowaveradiometryintrulycomplexterrain AT bpospichal accuracyofretrievingtemperatureandhumidityprofilesbygroundbasedmicrowaveradiometryintrulycomplexterrain AT mwrotach accuracyofretrievingtemperatureandhumidityprofilesbygroundbasedmicrowaveradiometryintrulycomplexterrain |