Monte Carlo simulations of polarized microwave satellite data

To iIlvestigate the possibility to use passive microwave brightness tempera ture measurements to distinguish stratiform and convective regions of mesos cale convective systems (MCSs) over land background, a new polarized radiat ive transfer Monte Carlo code has been developed. The code is based on a fo rward scheme and is used to investigate the relation between the brightness temperature differences for the horizontal and vertical polarization (Delt aT(v-H)) observed in the stratiform region of these cloud systems and the c loud microphysics. Radiative transfer computations have been performed on a microphysical-dynamical cloud model and the results are presented together with the algorithm description. (C) 2001 International Astronautical Feder ation. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.