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Report of the Ishigaki^Miyako Campaign Experiment for TRMM (IMCET) 1998
Preface
TRMM was successfully launched in November 1997. TRMM has a unique rain
package which consists of a rain radar (PR), a microwave radiometer and a
visible / infrared radiometer. The rain radar is the first spaceborne radar and
was developed in Japan. A field campaign experiment for validation of TRMM,
especially for the PR, was planned and conducted in 1998. The instruments are:
Communications Research Laboratory's (CRL's) airborne rain radar with the same
frequency of TRMM PR and ground-based radars operated by the Japan
Meteorological Agency (JMA). The field was around Ishigakijima and Miyakojima
Islands in the South-western island chain in Japan. There, we have an C-band
radar located in Ishigakijima Island. The radar has a very good skyline over
ocean and was thought to be ideal of rain observation over ocean. An enhanced
radiosonde observation was also included. Simultaneous rain observation using
the airborne radar, ground-based radar and PR was the main work. Though we had a
good comparison in the rain patterns among radars, the result was not so
conclusive as expected. The main reason is the performance of PR is much better
than expected, and the accuracy of the validation is not enough to determine the
accuracy of PR.
This report is on the field campaign in 1998. Though the result are still
unsatisfactory, it might be good to report the activity of the field experiment
and current results. We welcome any comments for this report.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the participants and
agencies / bodies for the field experiment. JMA performed the enhance radiosonde
observation, ground-based and shipborne radars observation. JMA also allowed us
to use facilities in the Miyakojima Meteorological Observatory. Remote Sensing
Technology Center (RESTEC) helped in logistics and also data analysis. Nakanihon
Air Service, Co. Ltd., successfully operated observation flight using Beechcraft
King Air aircraft with an airborne radar. Communications Research Laboratory
group led by Dr. T. Kozu operated the airborne radar.
6.1 Comparison of the PR with Ishigakijima and Okinawa radar 39
6.2 Comparison of the PR with Keifumaru radar 45
6.3 Microwave radiometer observation 47
6.4 Surface observation 48