Retrieval of total water vapour in the Arctic using microwave humidity sounders
Quantitative retrievals of atmospheric water vapour in the Arctic present numerous challenges because of the particular climate characteristics of this area. Here, we attempt to build upon the work of Melsheimer and Heygster (2008) to retrieve total atmospheric water vapour (TWV) in the Arctic from...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:e5f07cf0269944b99d2307b1d12a48de 2023-05-15T14:48:08+02:00 Retrieval of total water vapour in the Arctic using microwave humidity sounders R. C. Scarlat C. Melsheimer G. Heygster 2018-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-2067-2018 https://doaj.org/article/e5f07cf0269944b99d2307b1d12a48de EN eng Copernicus Publications https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/11/2067/2018/amt-11-2067-2018.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1867-1381 https://doaj.org/toc/1867-8548 doi:10.5194/amt-11-2067-2018 1867-1381 1867-8548 https://doaj.org/article/e5f07cf0269944b99d2307b1d12a48de Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, Vol 11, Pp 2067-2084 (2018) Environmental engineering TA170-171 Earthwork. Foundations TA715-787 article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-2067-2018 2022-12-31T01:32:44Z Quantitative retrievals of atmospheric water vapour in the Arctic present numerous challenges because of the particular climate characteristics of this area. Here, we attempt to build upon the work of Melsheimer and Heygster (2008) to retrieve total atmospheric water vapour (TWV) in the Arctic from satellite microwave radiometers. While the above-mentioned algorithm deals primarily with the ice-covered central Arctic, with this work we aim to extend the coverage to partially ice-covered and ice-free areas. By using modelled values for the microwave emissivity of the ice-free sea surface, we develop two sub-algorithms using different sets of channels that deal solely with open-ocean areas. The new algorithm extends the spatial coverage of the retrieval throughout the year but especially in the warmer months when higher TWV values are frequent. The high TWV measurements over both sea-ice and open-water surfaces are, however, connected to larger uncertainties as the retrieval values are close to the instrument saturation limits. This approach allows us to apply the algorithm to regions where previously no data were available and ensures a more consistent physical analysis of the satellite measurements by taking into account the contribution of the surface emissivity to the measured signal. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Sea ice Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 11 4 2067 2084 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental engineering TA170-171 Earthwork. Foundations TA715-787 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental engineering TA170-171 Earthwork. Foundations TA715-787 R. C. Scarlat C. Melsheimer G. Heygster Retrieval of total water vapour in the Arctic using microwave humidity sounders |
topic_facet |
Environmental engineering TA170-171 Earthwork. Foundations TA715-787 |
description |
Quantitative retrievals of atmospheric water vapour in the Arctic present numerous challenges because of the particular climate characteristics of this area. Here, we attempt to build upon the work of Melsheimer and Heygster (2008) to retrieve total atmospheric water vapour (TWV) in the Arctic from satellite microwave radiometers. While the above-mentioned algorithm deals primarily with the ice-covered central Arctic, with this work we aim to extend the coverage to partially ice-covered and ice-free areas. By using modelled values for the microwave emissivity of the ice-free sea surface, we develop two sub-algorithms using different sets of channels that deal solely with open-ocean areas. The new algorithm extends the spatial coverage of the retrieval throughout the year but especially in the warmer months when higher TWV values are frequent. The high TWV measurements over both sea-ice and open-water surfaces are, however, connected to larger uncertainties as the retrieval values are close to the instrument saturation limits. This approach allows us to apply the algorithm to regions where previously no data were available and ensures a more consistent physical analysis of the satellite measurements by taking into account the contribution of the surface emissivity to the measured signal. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
R. C. Scarlat C. Melsheimer G. Heygster |
author_facet |
R. C. Scarlat C. Melsheimer G. Heygster |
author_sort |
R. C. Scarlat |
title |
Retrieval of total water vapour in the Arctic using microwave humidity sounders |
title_short |
Retrieval of total water vapour in the Arctic using microwave humidity sounders |
title_full |
Retrieval of total water vapour in the Arctic using microwave humidity sounders |
title_fullStr |
Retrieval of total water vapour in the Arctic using microwave humidity sounders |
title_full_unstemmed |
Retrieval of total water vapour in the Arctic using microwave humidity sounders |
title_sort |
retrieval of total water vapour in the arctic using microwave humidity sounders |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-2067-2018 https://doaj.org/article/e5f07cf0269944b99d2307b1d12a48de |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Arctic Sea ice |
op_source |
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, Vol 11, Pp 2067-2084 (2018) |
op_relation |
https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/11/2067/2018/amt-11-2067-2018.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1867-1381 https://doaj.org/toc/1867-8548 doi:10.5194/amt-11-2067-2018 1867-1381 1867-8548 https://doaj.org/article/e5f07cf0269944b99d2307b1d12a48de |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-2067-2018 |
container_title |
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
2067 |
op_container_end_page |
2084 |
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1766319219804209152 |