Benefits of a hyperspectral microwave sensor

This study presents the scientific results that serve as arguments for advocating the development of a hyperspectral microwave sensor: a sensor with a high spectral resolution in imaging and sounding microwave bands. Some of the major benefits that will be discussed include the (1) Higher vertical resolution sounding in all-weather conditions, (2) Increased precision and accuracy of the products due to decreased cross-talk and to a better isolation of signals, (3) Reduced sensitivity to background information due to increased information content, (4) Extended spatial coverage, (5) Hydrometeors profiling in both liquid and frozen phases, (6) Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model forecast improvement, (7) Reduction in the uncertainties of the spectroscopic parameters in the microwave spectrum (line coupling, temperature dependence, line strengths and widths) and (8) Better physical modeling of absorption and scattering by atmospheric and surface parameters. The major application of such a sensor would be improving the forecast skills at both short-term and medium-range scales, especially in extreme weather.