Project Title: Calibration and Analysis of Global Latent Heating Estimates Using Passive and Active Microwave Sensor Data

1
Project Title Calibration and Analysis of
Global Latent Heating Estimates Using Passive and
Active Microwave Sensor Data
Principal Investigator William Olson
Science Issue Quantify atmospheric latent
heating globally using satellite observations,
and evaluate the uncertainty in
estimates. Approach Use high-resolution
estimates of heating from spaceborne radar to
calibrate satellite radiometer estimates apply
to data from multiple radiometers to extend
coverage. Satellite-based data TRMM PR TMI,
AMSR-E, SSM/I. Other data Rawinsonde array
obs. model reanalyses. Models Goddard Cumulus
Ensemble model GEOS-3. Study Period Focus on
TRMM period (1998 - present) then process SSM/I
(1992 - present).
Project Status Years 12 complete - Developed
and tested heating algorithm based upon TRMM
observations. Developed classifier of
convective environments using reanalysis
observations will use this to refine
estimates. Year 3 (now) - Participating in
latent heating intercomparison project to
evaluate algorithms compare to rawinsonde
estimates of heating. Also generalizing method
to AMSR-E, SSM/I. Will focus on error estimates
and applications. Grecu, M., W. S. Olson, C.-L.
Shie, and W.-K. Tao, 2008 Estimation of latent
heating rates from a satellite microwave
radiometer algorithm, trained using spaceborne
radar observations, J. Appl. Meteor. and
Climatol. (in preparation). Tao, W.-K., R. A.
Houze, Jr., E. A. Smith, M. Grecu, M. Katsumata,
S. Lang, W. Olson, S. Satoh, S. Shige,
Y.Takayabu, and S. Yang, 2008 The 5th TRMM
latent heating workshop, Bull. Amer. Met. Soc.
(in preparation).
NEWS linkages (pull, push, collaborate,
external) Collaborate with Wei-Kuo Tao on
cloud-resolving model simulations - analysis and
improvement. Exchanges with Tristan LEcuyer -
radiative heating estimates. Collaborate with
Houser/Schiffer/Lapenta et al. in
WG2. Contribute latent heating estimates to
Duane Waliser, Xianan Jiang, Jui-Lin Li, Adrian
Tompkins - Madden Julian Oscillation diagnosis
and prediction. Contribute latent heating and
precipitation estimates to Arthur Hou, GMAO -
assimilation experiments.
Time series of surface rain rates and Q1 from
satellite microwave radiometer and rawinsonde
observations during the monsoon onset period
(May-June, 1998) of SCSMEX. Top panel is TMI
rain rate vs. rain rate from the rawinsonde Q2
budget. Middle panel is TMI Q1-QR plus
LEcuyers QR, yielding the Q1 time series shown.
Bottom panel is Q1 from rawinsonde
analyses. Note some discrepancies arise from the
limited sampling (1.3 day-1) by TMI. This case
is one example from the heating algorithm
inter-comparison study.
Bill Olson, Updated April 3, 2008