Ice microphysics from multi-frequency suites of active and passive remote sensing instruments: satellite product and numerical model validation

Representation of ice clouds in numerical modelling remains problematic with global average ice water paths varying by more than an order of magnitude (0.01 and 0.2 kg/m2) between different climate models. A similar spread exists amongst remote sensing satellite estimates, which makes it difficult to improve parameterization development for global models. Multi-wavelength Doppler radars & radiometers observations promise to reduce these observational uncertainties.

The PhD candidate will work at the development of a modular ice/snow microphysical retrieval (including ice water content and characteristic size) and will apply it to a gamut of observations acquired in the framework of NASA GPM field validation campaigns (e.g. OLYMPEX, IPHEx) and of the DOE-ARM program (including observations from the mobile facility in Antarctica and from the permanent facility in Barrow, North of Alaska). The retrieved microphysical parameters will be used to build climatological records of ice microphysics at specific sites that will be exploited to validate satellite products (specifically GPM and CloudSat) and numerical models.