dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaEvaluating the quality of ground-based microwave radiometer measurements and retrievals using detrended fluctuation and spectral analysis methods
| Authors | K. Ivanova, E. E. Clothiaux, H. N. Shirer, T. P. Ackerman, J. C. Liljegren, M. Ausloos |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0108035 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0108035 |
| DOI | 10.1175/1520-0450(2002)041<0056:ETQOGB>2.0.CO;2 |
Abstract
Time series both of microwave radiometer brightness temperature measurements at 23.8 and 31.4 GHz and of retrievals of water vapor and liquid water path from these brightness temperatures are evaluated using the detrended fluctuation analysis method. As quantified by the parameter $\alpha$, this method (i) enables identification of the time scales over which noise dominates the time series and (ii) characterizes the temporal range of correlations in the time series. The more common spectral analysis method is also used to assess the data and its results are compared with those from detrended fluctuation analysis method. The assumption that measurements should have certain scaling properties allows the quality of the measurements to be characterized. The additional assumption that the scaling properties of the measurements of an atmospheric quantity are preserved in a useful retrieval provides a means for evaluating the retrieval itself. Applying these two assumptions to microwave radiometer measurements and retrievals demonstrates three points. First, the retrieved water vapor path during cloudy-sky periods can be dominated by noise on shorter than ~30~min time scales ($\alpha$-exponent = 0.1) and exhibits no scaling behavior at longer time scales. However, correlations in the brightness temperatures and liquid water path retrievals are found to be consistent with a power-law behavior for time scales up to 3 hr with an $\alpha$-exponent equal to approximately 0.3, as in other geophysical phenomena. Second, clear-sky, moist atmospheres show the expected scaling for both measurements and retrievals of the water vapor path. Third, during clear-sky, dry atmospheric days, instrument noise from the 31.4 GHz channel compromises the quality of the water vapor path retrieval.
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"abstract": "Time series both of microwave radiometer brightness temperature measurements\nat 23.8 and 31.4 GHz and of retrievals of water vapor and liquid water path\nfrom these brightness temperatures are evaluated using the detrended\nfluctuation analysis method. As quantified by the parameter $\\alpha$, this\nmethod (i) enables identification of the time scales over which noise dominates\nthe time series and (ii) characterizes the temporal range of correlations in\nthe time series. The more common spectral analysis method is also used to\nassess the data and its results are compared with those from detrended\nfluctuation analysis method. The assumption that measurements should have\ncertain scaling properties allows the quality of the measurements to be\ncharacterized. The additional assumption that the scaling properties of the\nmeasurements of an atmospheric quantity are preserved in a useful retrieval\nprovides a means for evaluating the retrieval itself. Applying these two\nassumptions to microwave radiometer measurements and retrievals demonstrates\nthree points. First, the retrieved water vapor path during cloudy-sky periods\ncan be dominated by noise on shorter than ~30~min time scales\n($\\alpha$-exponent = 0.1) and exhibits no scaling behavior at longer time\nscales. However, correlations in the brightness temperatures and liquid water\npath retrievals are found to be consistent with a power-law behavior for time\nscales up to 3 hr with an $\\alpha$-exponent equal to approximately 0.3, as in\nother geophysical phenomena. Second, clear-sky, moist atmospheres show the\nexpected scaling for both measurements and retrievals of the water vapor path.\nThird, during clear-sky, dry atmospheric days, instrument noise from the 31.4\nGHz channel compromises the quality of the water vapor path retrieval.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0108035",
"authors": [
"K. Ivanova",
"E. E. Clothiaux",
"H. N. Shirer",
"T. P. Ackerman",
"J. C. Liljegren",
"M. Ausloos"
],
"categories": [
"physics.ao-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1175/1520-0450(2002)041\u003c0056:ETQOGB\u003e2.0.CO;2",
"title": "Evaluating the quality of ground-based microwave radiometer measurements and retrievals using detrended fluctuation and spectral analysis methods",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0108035"
},
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