Microwave Radiometer Profiler (MWRP) - IOP
Instrument Categories: Radiometric, Cloud Properties, Atmospheric Profiling
General Overview
The microwave radiometer profiler (MWRP) provides vertical profiles of temperature, humidity, and cloud liquid water content as a function of height or pressure at approximately 5-minute intervals for nearly all weather conditions. The profiles are derived from measurements of absolute microwave radiances (expressed as "brightness temperatures") obtained at twelve frequencies in the range of 22-30 GHz and 51-59 GHz. The data are useful for input to numerical weather forecast models and others that require continuous, high temporal resolution profiles. The microwave radiance measurements are useful for testing models of microwave radiation transfer used to derive the profiles.
IOPs Where the Instrument was Used
Long-Term Microwave Radiometer Intercomparison
Southern Great Plains, April 1, 2001 - September 30, 2001Microwave Radiometer Profiler Evaluation
North Slope Alaska, September 2000 - March 2001Microwave Radiometer Profiler Evaluation
Southern Great Plains, February 25 - August 22, 2000Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment
North Slope Alaska, 2004-09-27 -- 2004-10-21Spring Cloud IOP
Southern Great Plains, March 1 - 26, 2000Tropical Warm Pool - International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE)
Tropical Western Pacific, 2006-01-21 -- 2006-02-13
Primary Measurements Taken
The following measurements are those considered scientifically relevant. Refer to the datastream (netcdf) file headers for the list of all available measurements, including those recorded for diagnostic or quality assurance purposes.
- Convection
- Cloud base height
- Microwave radiation
- Atmospheric pressure
- Atmospheric moisture
- Cloud liquid water
- Liquid water path
- Precipitable water
- Atmospheric temperature
- Virtual temperature
Mentor(s)
Maria Cadeddu
(630) 252-7408
mcadeddu@anl.gov