Characterizing Ice-Scattering Homogeneity in TRMM Microwave Imagers and Its Influence on Oceanic Rain-Rate Estimation Bias of TRMM Precipitation Radar

Precipitation homogeneity is one of the main factors that contribute to the difference in the rain-rate estimation from meteorological satellites. Using the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) products, this paper aims to characterize the homogeneity of ice-scattering signals from TRMM Microwave Imagers (TMIs) as related to rain-rate estimation bias with TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR). Statistical information about the polarization-corrected brightness temperature (PCT) from the TMI 85 GHz band is obtained over the global ocean in the tropics. The characteristics are the fraction of PCT below a given threshold, the minimum value, and the standard deviation that are calculated at a 0.25° × 0.25°grid level. The average values of rain-rate estimation from TRMM PR and TMI in the same grid position and time are then compared. This result indicates that the rain-rate estimation bias is influenced by the homogeneity and organization of precipitation systems. Using the statistical signature of ice-scattering signals at the grid level, an adjustment was implemented for TMI rain-rate estimation. The results could produce rain-rate estimations that conform more to PR, particularly for the inhomogeneous precipitation system mostly affected by stratiform rain. The characterization of ice-scattering signals as a proxy to the precipitation homogeneity, as presented in this research, could be implemented in order to improve the accuracy of satellite rain-rate estimation in the future.