Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2014

Presentation information

Print

International Session (Oral)

Symbol A (Atmospheric, Ocean, and Environmental Sciences) » A-CG Complex & General

[A-CG06_29AM1] Satellite Earth Environment Observation

Tue. Apr 29, 2014 9:00 AM - 10:45 AM 315 (3F)

Convener:*Riko Oki(Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Yoshiaki Honda(Chiba University, Center for Environmental), Kenlo Nishida Nasahara(Institute of Agricultural and Forest Engineering, University of Tsukuba), Takashi Nakajima(Tokai University Department of Network and Computer Engineering, School of Information and Design Engineering), Taikan Oki(Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo), Yokota Tatsuya(Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies), Yukari N. Takayabu(Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute(AORI), The University of Tokyo), Hiroshi Murakami(Earth Observation Research Center, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Hajime Okamoto(Research Institute for Applied Mechanics,Kyushu University), Chair:Yukari Takayabu(Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, the University of Tokyo)

9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

[ACG06-10] Expectations for the Global Precipitation Measurements for Precipitation Sciences

*Yukari TAKAYABU1, Riko OKI2, Toshio IGUCHI3, Kazumasa AONASHI4, Misako KACHI2, Takuji KUBOTA2, Atsushi HAMADA1, Nobuhiro TAKAHASHI3, Kenji NAKAMURA5 (1.The University of Tokyo, 2.Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3.National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, 4.Meteorological Research Institute, Japan Meteorological Agency, 5.Dokkyo University)

Keywords:GPM, DPR, Precipitation Science, TRMM, precipitation characteristics, satellite constellation

Three dimensional precipitation data observed with Ku (13.8GHz) band Precipitation Radar (PR) on board the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) satellite have enabled us to discover various precipitation characteristics over the tropics and subtropics between 36N and 36S. Precipitation system regimes are estimated with precipitation characteristics. The multiple instrument observations of TRMM have also made us quantify the discrepancies between TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) vs. PR estimated rainfall, and provided us with opportunities to investigate various approaches to improve the rainfall retrieval algorithms. With the launch of the GPM/DPR, scheduled in February 2014, dual band measurements from space with Ku (13.6GHz) and Ka (35.5GHz) band frequencies will be started. Increasing information of the drop size distributions with DPR should improve the accuracy of precipitation profile structures, which are essential to study precipitation characteristics. GPM/DPR will provide excellent cross calibrations for constellation microwave observations to construct better mapping of precipitation from 65N to 65S, which covers 91% of the earth surface. Weak rainfall measurements will enable us better energy budget calculations after all, as well as more precise examinations of rainfall system lifecycles. We can also expect reexamination and further improvements of TRMM PR rainfall products by comparing Ku-band retrievals with DPR retrievals. Three dimensional satellite measurement of precipitation at mid-to-high latitudes is a completely new scientific experiment. Since the precipitation systems there are very different from those in the tropics and subtropics, we can certainly expect further scientific discoveries to improve our knowledge of precipitation characteristics with thorough observations from the satellite. Using this outcomes, we also expect to provide useful knowledge to improve the numerical models for weather predictions and climate projections.