1982 Volume 2 Issue 3 Pages 31-49_1
The airborne microwave rain-scatterometer/radiometer system operated at X-band and Ka-band was developed for the remote sensing of precipitation, especially rain from the airplane. This sensor system is the combination of the active microwave remote sensors, (i.e. the rain-scatterometers of X-band and Ka-band) and the passive microwave remote sensors, (i.e. the microwave radiometers of X-band and Ka-band). Airborne rain-scatterometers were developed as a first step for the development of the future space-borne rain-scatterometer.
The total system is installed in the Cessna 404 and the remote sensing of precipitation is performed from the top of raining area through clouds. Flight experiments of more than 80 hours were perfomed in June, July and October, 1980 and in June, 1981. Date recorded in magnetic tapes are analyzed by the ground-based computer.
An outline of airborne microwave rain-scatterometer/radiometer system is introduced. The sensor system in the flight experiment is shown with the example of measurement result. Some examples of preliminary data analyses are also discussed.
