BackBack to listForwardCloud and precipitation profiling by radar 

Details on this mission type
Full name Cloud and precipitation profiling by radar
Definition This type of mission designates radars with different characteristics depending on the type of cloud to be observed: non-precipitating, with light-moderate precipitation, with heavy precipitation.
Relevant instruments and their contribution

The sorting column describes how the instruments, by design, have the potential to contribute to certain pre-determined capabilities, assuming nominal operation of space and ground segments. For this particular capability, instrument performance is considered to be driven by:

  • the frequency band (Ku and/or Ka, or W);
  • the sensitivity to rain rate, conditioned by the desired swath.

 Sorting criteria and colour code:

  1. Ku-band (~13 GHz) and Ka-band radar (~35 GHz) for light and heavy, solid and liquid precipitation.
  2. Ku-band radar (~13 GHz) for heavy precipitation, mostly liquid.
  3. W-band radar (~94 GHz) for non-precipitating clouds and contouring of convective precipitation.