Impact of emissivity model errors on retrieval of water vapor profiles over ocean with SSM/T2

Emissivity of the surface is a critical factor in the interpretation of brightness temperatures observed by satellite microwave sensors over the ocean. Models for this parameter are therefore an essential part of the forward models used in physical retrievals of atmospheric profiles from microwave sounders. The authors estimate the brightness temperature error for three different ocean emissivity models and evaluate the impact of this error on retrieval of water vapor profiles with the moisture sounder on the DMSP satellites (SSM/T2). In the course of this analysis the authors also resolve a question as to the polarization state of the SSM/T2 channels.