The 183-WSL fast rain rate retrieval algorithm Part I: Retrieval design

The Water vapour Strong Lines at 183GHz (183-WSL) fast retrieval method retrieves rain rates and classifies precipitation types for applications in nowcasting and weather monitoring. The retrieval scheme consists of two fast algorithms, over land and over ocean, that use the water vapour absorption lines at 183.31GHz corresponding to the channels 3 (183.31±1GHz), 4 (183.31±3GHz) and 5 (183.31±7GHz) of the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit module B (AMSU-B) and of the Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) flying on NOAA-15-18 and Metop-A satellite series, respectively. The method retrieves rain rates by exploiting the extinction of radiation due to rain drops following four subsequent steps. After ingesting the satellite data stream, the window channels at 89 and 150GHz are used to compute scattering-based thresholds and the 183-WSLW module for rainfall area discrimination and precipitation type classification as stratiform or convective on the basis of the thresholds calculated for land/mixed and sea surfaces. The thresholds are based on the brightness temperature difference Δwᵢₙ=TB₈₉−TB₁₅₀ and are different over land (L) and over sea (S): cloud droplets and water vapour (Δwᵢₙ<3K L; Δwᵢₙ<0K S), stratiform rain (3K<Δwᵢₙ<10K L; 0K<Δwᵢₙ<10K S), and convective rain (Δwᵢₙ>10K L and S). The thresholds, initially empirically derived from observations, are corroborated by the simulations of the RTTOV radiative transfer model applied to 20000 ECMWF atmospheric profiles at midlatitudes and the use of data from the Nimrod radar network. A snow cover mask and a digital elevation model are used to eliminate false rain area attribution, especially over elevated terrain. A probability of detection logistic function is also applied in the transition region from no-rain to rain adjacent to the clouds to ensure continuity of the rainfall field. Finally, the last step is dedicated to the rain rate retrieval with the modules 183-WSLS (stratiform) and 183WSLC (convective), and the module 183-WSL for total rainfall intensity derivation. A comparison with rainfall retrievals from the Goddard Profiling (GPROF) TRMM 2A12 algorithm is done with good results on a stratiform and hurricane case studies. A comparison is also conducted with the MSG-based Precipitation Index (PI) and the Scattering Index (SI) for a convective-stratiform event showing good agreement with the 183-WSLC retrieval. A complete validation of the product is the subject of Part II of the paper.