Construction and exploitation of a new-generation multi-frequency polarized scanning ground-based instrument capable of estimatin g cloud and rain water liquid path

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Clemens Simmer, since 5/2010
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 27134859

Reliable long term monitoring of cloud liquid water content under all-weather conditions and the partitioning of total liquid water content into cloud and rain water is mandatory to evaluate the performance of cloud resolving atmospheric models including the newest generation weather forecast models performing in the meso- -scale, and to validate cloud water estimates based on satellite imagery techniques. To this purpose we propose to design, construct, operate, and exploit the data of 1 a novel dual-polarisation three-channel passive ground-based microwave (MW hereafter1) radiometer setup. Run in synergy with several other ground-based remote sensing instruments at Bonn [22 channel passive microwave radiometer (PMWR) MICCY, X-Band precipitation radar, Micro Rain Radar, Ceilometer], Cabauw (3 and 37 GHz cloud radar), and during the field campaign COPS of the DFG-SPP1167 (including among others cloud radars and scanning water vapour lidar), the radiometer will in addition provide unprecedented quantitative information about vertical profiles of cloud microphysical parameters even in raining clouds. Carefully chosen setups will allow for the first time a quantitative evaluation of 3D-effects in radiative transfer in the field.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Major Instrumentation: radiometer extension for dual polarization at 10.4 GHz ; two frequency radiometer (21.0/36.5 GHz)
• Instrumentation Group: 0520 Niederschlagsmeßgeräte, Wasserstandsmeßgeräte
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Alessandro Battaglia, until 5/2010