Early results on comparison between cloud information by VIRS and rain information by PR/TMI Original Research Article

Using the infrared, passive microwave and radar data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), a correspondence is studied between cloud information and rainfall for three rain events in a preliminary study. Cloud information from the split window, 3.7 micron infrared spectrum and two visible channels from the Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS) are compared with rainfall information from the Precipitation Radar (PR) and TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). Optically thick clouds, as classified by the split window, reasonably correspond to the PR and TMI rainfalls. The smaller brightness temperature difference (BTD) between the 3.7 and 11 micron bands shows a better correspondence to the core of convection than the split window BTD. The radiance ratio of Ch1Ch2 also shows a good correspondence to the PR and TMI rain area.