Observing storm clouds by space-borne multifrequency microwave radiometers

A method to infer precipitating cloud parameters from microwave radiometric data has been presented and tested on simulated data. The algorithm is essentially based on an extended and fairly dense data base of precipitating cloud structures and their related brightness temperatures. A case study is presented where the proposed retrieval method has been applied to SSML measurements over the Mediterranean area and compared to surface raingauge measurements to give indications about the potential of the method for retrieving precipitation from space