REMOTELY SENSING CLOUD PROPERTIES FROM MICROWAVE RADIOMETRIC OBSERVATIONS BY USING A MODELED CLOUD DATABASE

As a first step for remote sensing cloud properties, a database of clo ud genera has been established. This is derived from a microphysical m odel, and it considers the statistical profiles of four hydrometeor sp ecies for each cloud genus. From this database the corresponding radia tive database is obtained making use of a radiative transfer model, so for each cloud genus the simulated microwave response at the special sensor microwave imager channels is found. The cloud and radiative dat abases allow the retrieval of the genera of the cloud and other releva nt properties from satellite observations. An automatic cloud genus cl assifier has also been implemented. Several tests have been carried ou t, and the results are presented.