Combined Microwave-infrared Sounding Studies

This report describes implementation and characteristics of two software systems, the Statistical Method of Parameter Estimation (Environmental Research and Technology, Inc.) and the Minimum Information Method (Air Force Global Weather Central). These systems are designed for investigating the retrieval of atmospheric temperature profiles from remotely sensed radiometric data. Significant features of the programs are discussed and preliminary results for simulated infrared, microwave, and combined infrared-microwave measurements are presented for the statistical method. Further development is suggested and approaches to optimum use of combined infrared-microwave measurements are outlined. Additionally, two appendices are provided which summarize recent developments in a variational-iterative computation scheme for radiative transfer calculations which included scattering effects of clouds and precipitation, and the use of near IR measurements for cloud-snow discrimination. Both developments have great potential in investigating remote sensing techniques. (Author).