A new retrieval for cloud liquid water path using a ground‐based microwave radiometer and measurements of cloud temperature

Abstract

A new method to retrieve cloud liquid water path using 23.8 and 31.4 GHz microwave radiometer brightness temperature measurements is developed. This method does not depend on climatological estimates of either the mean radiating temperature of the atmosphere T mr or the mean cloud liquid water temperature T cloud . Rather, T mr is estimated from surface temperature and relative humidity measurements, while T cloud is estimated using millimeter‐wave cloud radar data, together with atmospheric temperature profiles obtained from either radiosonde or rapid update cycle (RUC) model output. Simulations demonstrate that the new retrieval method significantly reduces the biases in the liquid water path estimates that are apparent in a site‐specific retrieval based on monthly stratified, local climatology. An analysis of the liquid water path estimates produced by the two retrievals over four case study days illustrates trends and retrieval performances consistent with the model simulations.