An attempt to classify the types of clouds by a dual frequency microwave radiometer

This work presents a new approach for the classification of cloud types (CT) from a dual frequency microwave radiometer time series. The algorithm is based on the identification of fixed relationships relating the Integrated Liquid Water Content (ILWC) and the Integrated Water Vapor Content (IWVC) retrieved from brightness temperatures measured at two frequencies. Results indicate that the cloud classification thresholds, identified from long-term radiosonde observations (RAOBS), apply to the radiometric measurements as well. The probability of occurrences of each CT, as calculated from RAOBS and MWR data, is found to be in good agreement. Results also show that rain events occur only in presence of two out of the four cloud types considered (Cloud Type CT3 and CT4).