Hydrometeor parameters observed using high-resolution passive microwave imagery during CAMEX-3

Microwave brightness imagery obtained using the NOAA Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR/A) during the NASA CAMEX-3 experiment offers a unique high-resolution perspective of clouds, rain, water vapor fields, and sea state during hurricane conditions. The uniqueness of these data lies in the spectral range of the observed bands, the full (fore and aft) conical scanning mode (providing two looks at the same scene), the high spatial resolution (1-2.5 km), and polarimetric sensitivity. The PSR/A radiometers operate at the atmospheric window frequencies of 10.7, 18.7, 37 and 89 GHz, with one channel at 21.5 GHz on the wing of the 22.235 GHz water absorption line. All channels are sensitive to both vertical and horizontal polarization. CAMEX-3 flights occurred under different atmospheric conditions ranging from clear sky to severe tropical convection, and included hurricane rainband and eyewall overpasses. The data cover a variety of conditions for which the first rain rate retrievals from an airborne conical imaging radiometer are presented.