A Microphysics-Scheme-Consistent Snow Optical Parameterization for the Community Radiative Transfer Model

• DOI: 10.1175/mwr-d-22-0145.1
• Publication Date: 2022-10-26T21:05:36Z
• Authors: Tong Ren; Ping Yang; Kevin Garrett; Yingtao Ma; Jiachen Ding; James Coy
• Keywords: Graupel; Snowflake; Ice cloud

Abstract The satellite observational data assimilation community requires consistent hydrometer descriptions—including mass–size relation and particle size distribution—to be used in both the forecast model observation operator. We develop a microphysics-scheme-consistent snow graupel single-scattering property database to meet this requirement. In database, snowflakes are modeled as mixture of small column large aggregated ice particles, mixing ratios which may adjusted satisfy given relation. Snow properties computed for four different relations. Subsequently, description Thompson microphysics scheme is an example demonstrate how bulk optical derived. Thompson-scheme-consistent added Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM), version 2.4.0. With CloudSat Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) liquid precipitation retrievals inputs, CRTM simulations performed over global oceans compared with collocated Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) high-frequency channel observations. simulated brightness temperatures show agreement GMI observed cases light-to-moderate extratropical polar ice-free oceans, root-mean-square errors 4.3, 13.0, 1.8, 3.3 K 166-GHz (vertical polarization), (horizontal 183 ± 3-GHz 7-GHz polarization) channels, respectively. result demonstrates potential using newly developed parameterization applications.