GPMGMI Polarimetric Observations of Cloud and Precipitation
Ice cloud microphysical properties as observed by GMI. Cloud-precipitation processes in severe weather systems. Sensitivity gaps and observational needs.
Wu, Dong L.↗
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Polarimetric Observations in the Forthcoming NASA Atmosphere Observing System (AOS) Constellation
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aerosol↗
Using polarimetric observations to detect and quantify the three-dimensional radiative transfer effects in passive satellite cloud property retrievals: Theoretical framework and feasibility study
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Chamara Rajapakshe↗
Optimizing view/illumination geometry for terrestrial features using Space Shuttle and aerial polarimetry
This paper describes to relationship of polarimetric observations from orbital and aerial platforms and the determination optimum sun-target-sensor geometry. Polarimetric observations were evaluated for feature discrimination. The Space Shuttle experiment was performed using two boresighted Hasselblad 70 mm cameras with identical settings with linear polarizing filters aligned orthogonally about the optic axis. The aerial experiment was performed using a single 35 mm Nikon FE2 and rotating the linear polarizing filter 90 deg to acquire both minimum and maximum photographs. Characteristic curves were created by covertype and waveband for both aerial and Space Shuttle imagery. Though significant differences existed between the two datasets, the observed polarimetric signatures were unique and separable.
Israel, Steven A.↗
The unpolarized component in polarimetric radar observations of forested areas
A polarimetric radar measures the complete scattering matrix of a target. For the forest and other natural targets, the average return is, in general, partially polarized. Conditions on the second-order statistics of the scattering matrix under which the return is fully polarized are derived, and it is shown that these conditions are connected with the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix. The result of this analysis is a set of three quantities which indicate the ability of a scatterer to generate an unpolarized component. These quantities for forested areas are shown.
Durden, Stephen L.↗
Optical Linear Polarization toward the Open Star Cluster Casado Alessi 1
We present B-, V-, R-, and I-band linear polarimetric observations of 73 stars in the direction of open star cluster Casado Alessi 1 (hereafter Alessi 1). We aim to use polarimetry as a tool to investigate the properties and distribution of dust grains toward the direction of the cluster. The polarimetric observations were carried out using the ARIES IMaging POLarimeter mounted at the 104 cm telescope of ARIES, Nainital (India). Using the Gaia photometric data the age and distance of the cluster are estimated to be 0.8 ± 0.1 Gyr and 673 ± 98 pc, respectively. A total of 66 stars with a 26′ radius from the cluster are identified as members of the cluster using the astrometric approach. Out of these 66 members, 15 stars were observed polarimetrically and found to have the same value of polarization. The majority of the stars in the region follow the general law of polarization for the interstellar medium, indicating that polarization toward the cluster Alessi 1 is dominated by foreground dust grains. The average values of the maximum polarization (P {sub max}) and the wavelength corresponding to the maximum polarization (λ {sub max}) toward the cluster are found to be 0.83 ± 0.03% and 0.59 ± 0.04 μm, respectively. Also, dust grains toward the cluster appear to be aligned, possibly due to the galactic magnetic field.
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
Follow-up observations for IceCube-170922A: Detection of rapid near-infrared variability and intensive monitoring of TXS 0506+056
Abstract We present our follow-up observations to search for an electromagnetic counterpart of the IceCube high-energy neutrino IceCube-170922A. Monitoring observations of a likely counterpart, TXS 0506+056, are also described. First, we quickly took optical and near-infrared images of seven flat-spectrum radio sources within the IceCube error region right after the neutrino detection and found a rapid flux decline of TXS 0506+056 in Kanata/HONIR J-band data. Motivated by this discovery, intensive follow-up observations of TXS 0506+056 were continuously performed, including our monitoring imaging observations, spectroscopic observations, and polarimetric observations in optical and near-infrared wavelengths. TXS 0506+056 showed a large-amplitude (∼1.0 mag) variability in a time scale of several days or longer, although no significant variability was detected in a time scale of a day or shorter. TXS 0506+056 also showed a bluer-when-brighter trend in optical and near-infrared wavelengths. Structure functions of the variabilities were examined and indicate that TXS 0506+056 is not a special blazar in terms of optical variability. Polarization measurement results of TXS 0506+056 are also discussed.
(galaxies:) BL Lacertae objects: general↗
Constraints on extragalactic-jet characteristics from lobe observations
Very Large Array spectral and polarimetric observations of the lobes of luminous, double radio galaxies are discussed. These observations can provide information on the jets responsible for the sources. Spectral steepening is usually observed in the lobes, with the radio spectral index increasing with distance from the hot spot. These data can be used to infer a 'speed of separation' of the hot spot and lobe material. These speeds are in agreement with hydrocode models of jets. Polarimetric observations indicate that in at least some sources, there is an undectably small amount of internal Faraday rotation, indicating upper limits to the thermal-plasma density of a few times 10 to the -5th/cu cm or less. These measurements are also in agreement with the numerical beam models, provided that the beam density is substantially less than that of the background medium. It is concluded that the lobe observations indicate that these sources are powered by light, high-Mach-number beams.
Spangler, S. R.↗
Assimilation of Dual-Polarimetric Radar Observations with WRF GSI
Dual-polarimetric (dual-pol) radar typically transmits both horizontally and vertically polarized radio wave pulses. From the two different reflected power returns, more accurate estimate of liquid and solid cloud and precipitation can be provided. The upgrade of the traditional NWS WSR-88D radar to include dual-pol capabilities will soon be completed for the entire NEXRAD network. Therefore, the use of dual-pol radar network will have a broad impact in both research and operational communities. The assimilation of dual-pol radar data is especially challenging as few guidelines have been provided by previous research. It is our goal to examine how to best use dual-pol radar data to improve forecast of severe storm and forecast initialization. In recent years, the Development Testbed Center (DTC) has released the community Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) DA system for the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The community GSI system runs in independently environment, yet works functionally equivalent to operational centers. With collaboration with the NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center, this study explores regional assimilation of the dual-pol radar variables from the WSR-88D radars for real case storms. Our presentation will highlight our recent effort on incorporating the horizontal reflectivity (ZH), differential reflectivity (ZDR), specific differential phase (KDP), and radial velocity (VR) data for initializing convective storms, with a significant focus being on an improved representation of hydrometeor fields. In addition, discussion will be provided on the development of enhanced assimilation procedures in the GSI system with respect to dual-pol variables. Beyond the dual-pol variable assimilation procedure developing within a GSI framework, highresolution (≤1 km) WRF model simulations and storm scale data assimilation experiments will be examined, emphasizing both model initialization and short-term forecast of precipitation fields and processes. Further details of the methodology of data assimilation, the impact of different dual-pol variables, the influence on precipitation forecast will be presented at the conference.
Li, Xuanli↗
Assimilation of Dual-Polarimetric Radar Observations with WRF GSI
Dual-polarimetric (dual-pol) radar typically transmits both horizontally and vertically polarized radio wave pulses. From the two different reflected power returns, more accurate estimate of liquid and solid cloud and precipitation can be provided. The upgrade of the traditional NWS WSR-88D radar to include dual-pol capabilities will soon be completed for the entire NEXRAD network. Therefore, the use of dual-pol radar network will have a broad impact in both research and operational communities. The assimilation of dual-pol radar data is especially challenging as few guidelines have been provided by previous research. It is our goal to examine how to best use dual-pol radar data to improve forecast of severe storm and forecast initialization. In recent years, the Development Testbed Center (DTC) has released the community Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) DA system for the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The community GSI system runs in independently environment, yet works functionally equivalent to operational centers. With collaboration with the NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center, this study explores regional assimilation of the dual-pol radar variables from the WSR-88D radars for real case storms. Our presentation will highlight our recent effort on incorporating the horizontal reflectivity (ZH), differential reflectivity (ZDR), specific differential phase (KDP), and radial velocity (VR) data for initializing convective storms, with a significant focus being on an improved representation of hydrometeor fields. In addition, discussion will be provided on the development of enhanced assimilation procedures in the GSI system with respect to dual-pol variables. Beyond the dual-pol variable assimilation procedure developing within a GSI framework, highresolution (≤1 km) WRF model simulations and storm scale data assimilation experiments will be examined, emphasizing both model initialization and short-term forecast of precipitation fields and processes. Further details of the methodology of data assimilation, the impact of different dual-pol variables, the influence on precipitation forecast will be presented at the conference.
Li, Xuanli↗
Wavelength dependence of polarization. XXXIV - Observations of Venus
Polarimetric observations of linear polarization on Venus are presented. The observations, which cover nine small disk areas as well as the whole disk, were made with seven filters between 0.3 and 1 micron and also with three filters in the range from 1.2 to 2.2 microns. A polarization wavelength dependence is determined which appears to confirm Landau's (1975) discovery of a steep rise in polarization near 3 microns. The dark UV markings on Venus are shown to be regions of more positive UV polarization and are interpreted as a general feature of a gaseous atmosphere in which sulfuric acid droplets are suspended.
Gehrels, T.↗
The envelopes of RV Tauri stars. I - Linear polarimetric and spectroscopic observations
Simultaneous spectroscopic and polarimetric observations are presented for five RV Tauri stars and one RV Tauri-like semiregular variable. Time-dependent variations are found in the polarizations for four of the objects, as are wavelength-dependent variations in two and possibly three stars. In general, the largest polarizations and strongest wavelength dependences in the polarization occur immediately following primary light minima.
Nook, Mark A.↗
Retrieving microphysical properties of concurrent pristine ice and snow using polarimetric radar observations
Abstract. Ice and mixed-phase clouds play a key role in our climate system because of their strong controls on global precipitation and radiation budget. Their microphysical properties have been characterized commonly by polarimetric radar measurements. However, there remains a lack of robust estimates of microphysical properties of concurrent pristine ice and aggregates because larger snow aggregates often dominate the radar signal and mask contributions of smaller pristine ice crystals. This paper presents a new method that separates the scattering signals of pristine ice embedded in snow aggregates in scanning polarimetric radar observations and retrieves their respective abundances and sizes for the first time. This method, dubbed ENCORE-ice, is built on an iterative stochastic ensemble retrieval framework. It provides the number concentration, ice water content, and effective mean diameter of pristine ice and snow aggregates with uncertainty estimates. Evaluations against synthetic observations show that the overall retrieval biases in the combined total microphysical properties are within 5 % and that the errors with respect to the truth are well within the retrieval uncertainty. The partitioning between pristine ice and snow aggregates also agrees well with the truth. Additional evaluations against in situ cloud probe measurements from a recent campaign for a stratiform cloud system are promising. Our median retrievals have a bias of 98 % in the total ice number concentration and 44 % in the total ice water content. This performance is generally better than the retrieval from empirical relationships. The ability to separate signals of different ice species and to provide their quantitative microphysical properties will open up many research opportunities, such as secondary ice production studies and model evaluations for ice microphysical processes.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
On the application of multifrequency polarimetric radar observations for sea-ice classification
The use of multifrequency polarimetric radar imagery to enhance the ability to separate different sea-ice types using single-frequency, single-polarization synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is investigated. Backscatter characteristics of six radiometrically and polarimetrically distinct sea-ice types are selected in an unsupervised range-dependent analysis of multifrequency polarimetric SAR data using the maximum a posteriori (MAP) polarimetric classifier. Maximum ice discrimination is achieved with combined C- and L-band full polarimetry, and collocated passive microwave imagery suggests greater than 90 percent classification accuracy. C-band VV-pol alone achieves only 68 percent relative accuracy because it confuses multiyear and rough compressed first year ice. L-band, relative classification accuracy is 75 percent, 83 percent, and 85 percent, using HH-pol, HH- and VV-combined, or the full polarimetry, respectively. P-band is less accurate. Combinations of two frequencies at a single polarization show the greatest improvement over a single channel.
Rignot, Eric↗
Estimation of High-Frequency Earth-Space Radio Wave Signals via Ground-Based Polarimetric Radar Observations
Expanding human presence in space, and enabling the commercialization of this frontier, is part of the strategic goals for NASA's Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) enterprise. Future near-Earth and planetary missions will support the use of high-frequency Earth-space communication systems. Additionally, increased commercial demand on low-frequency Earth-space links in the S- and C-band spectra have led to increased interest in the use of higher frequencies in regions like Ku and Ka-band. Attenuation of high-frequency signals, due to a precipitating medium, can be quite severe and can cause considerable disruptions in a communications link that traverses such a medium. Previously, ground radar measurements were made along the Earth-space path and compared to satellite beacon data that was transmitted to a ground station. In this paper, quantitative estimation of the attenuation along the propagation path is made via inter-comparisons of radar data taken from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) and ground-based polarimetric radar observations. Theoretical relationships between the expected specific attenuation (k) of spaceborne measurements with ground-based measurements of reflectivity (Zh) and differential propagation phase shift (Kdp) are developed for various hydrometeors that could be present along the propagation path, which are used to estimate the two-way path-integrated attenuation (PIA) on the PR return echo. Resolution volume matching and alignment of the radar systems is performed, and a direct comparison of PR return echo with ground radar attenuation estimates is made directly on a beam-by-beam basis. The technique is validated using data collected from the TExas and Florida UNderflights (TEFLUN-B) experiment and the TRMM large Biosphere-Atmosphere experiment in Amazonia (LBA) campaign. Attenuation estimation derived from this method can be used for strategiC planning of communication systems for future HEDS missions.
Bolen, Steve↗
The orbital inclination of Cygnus XR-1 measured polarimetrically
The X-ray binary Cyg XR-1/HDE 226868 was observed polarimetrically over one orbit at three different optical wavelengths. The standard theory of Brown, et al. (1978) is used to derive an orbital inclination i = 62 deg (+5 deg, -37 deg), where the error is the 90-percent-confidence interval derived by the method of Simmons, et al. (1980). The value of the orbital inclination is significantly lower than values based on polarimetric observations. The difference is a result of the observational protocols used. A bias toward larger values of the inclination caused by the tidal distortion of the primary is still found in the present result. The inclination derived corresponds to a mass of the compact component of 6.3 solar masses, above the maximum mass of any degenerate configuration consistent with general relativity except a black hole.
Dolan, Joseph F.↗
Systematic Validation of Ensemble Cloud-Process Simulations using Polarimetric Radar Observations and Simulator over the NASA Wallops Flight Facility
The BiLateral Operational Storm-Scale Observation and Modeling (BLOSSOM) project was initiated to establish a long-term supersite to improve understanding of cloud physical states and processes as well as to support satellite and climate model programs over the WFF site via a bilateral approach of storm-scale observations and process modeling. This study highlights a noble systematic validation framework of the BLOSSOM ensemble cloud-process simulations through mixed-phase, light-rain, and deep-convective precipitation cases. The framework consists of creating a domain-shifted ensemble of large-scale forcing datasets, and configuring and performing cloud-process simulations with three different bulk microphysics schemes. Validation uses NASA S-band dual-POLarimetric radar (NPOL) observations in the form of statistical composites and skill scores via a polarimetric radar simulator and newly developed CfRad Data tool (CfRAD). While the simulations capture the overall structures of the reflectivity composites, polarimetric signals are still poorly simulated, mainly due to a lack of representation of ice microphysics diversity in shapes, orientation distributions, and their complex mixtures. Despite the limitation, this new ensemble-based validation framework demonstrates that 1) no particular forcing or microphysics scheme outperforms the rest and 2) the skill scores of coarse- and fine-resolution ensemble simulations with different domain-shifted forcing and microphysics schemes are highly correlated with each other with no clear improvement. On the other hand, this suggests that coarse-resolution ensemble simulations are relevant for selecting the best meteorological forcing and microphysics scheme before conducting computationally demanding large eddy simulations (LESs) in support of aircraft and satellite instrument development as well as cloud-precipitation-convection parameterizations.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗