Thresholds of detection for falling snow from satellite-borne active and passive sensors

Since falling snow from space is the next precipitation measurement challenge from space, information must be determined in order to guide retrieval algorithm development for these current and future missions. This information includes thresholds of detection for various sensor channel configurations, snow event system characteristics, and surface types. Results herein provide thresholds of falling snow detection for active radars at Ku, Ka, and W-band, and for passive radiometer channels from 10 to 183 GHz. The results show that the radar detection levels are an order of magnitude better (detect lower amounts of falling snow) than the passive detection.