A Passive Microwave Radiometer System for Diverse Atmospheric Measurements

这笔赠款支持购买一个多通道微波辐射计，作为亚拉巴马大学移动的综合剖面系统（MIPS）的补充。 由Radiometrics，Inc.制造，TP/WPV-3000型辐射计在60 GHz氧吸收线附近采用7个通道进行温度分布，在22 GHz水蒸气线附近采用5个通道进行湿度分布。 MIPS目前的能力能够使用特高频边界层剖面仪测量5公里以外的风和雷达反射率，使用激光云高计测量7.5公里以外的能见度和云底，使用无线电声学探测系统测量约1公里以外的虚拟温度。 该辐射计将大大扩展MIPS的垂直范围，提供温度、湿度和云水的廓线，范围约为10公里。 计划用于增强系统的应用是：（1）研究大气边界层中随时间变化的温度和湿度廓线;（2）研究对流的开始与边界层结构的关系;（3）将温度和湿度廓线与雷暴的演变联系起来;（4）测量登陆飓风中的温度和湿度廓线;（5）在各种多机构实地方案中使用该系统。 这些数据将以真实的时间提供给国家气象局的地方办事处，以评估观测对天气预报的贡献。

This grant supports the acquisition of a multichannel microwave radiometer as an addition to the University of Alabama Mobile Integrated Profiling System (MIPS). Manufactured by Radiometrics, Inc., the Model TP/WPV-3000 radiometer employs seven channels near the 60 GHZ oxygen absorption line for temperature profiling and five channels near the 22 GHz water vapor line for humidity profiling. The current capability of MIPS enables the measurement of wind and radar reflectivity to 5 km using a UHF boundary layer profiler, visibility and cloud bases to 7.5 km with a laser ceilimeter, and virtual temperature to about 1 km using a radio acoustic sounding system. The radiometer will greatly extend the vertical range of MIPS by providing profiles of temperature, humidity, and cloud water to about 10 km. Applications planned for the augmented system are (1) studies of the time-varying temperature and humidity profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer; (2) investigations of convective initiation in relation to boundary layer structure; (3) relating temperature and humidity profiles to the evolution of thunderstorms; (4) measuring temperature and humidity profiles in landfalling hurricanes; (5) using the system in various multi-agency field programs. The data will be made available in real time to the local office of the National Weather Service to assess the contribution the observations can make to weather forecasting.