Ka/W/G-band Simultaneous Radar Observations of Marine Clouds during the Eastern Pacific Cloud Aerosol Precipitation Experiment

A novel multifrequency (Ka, W and G-band) radar instrument, called CloudCube, is currently being developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. CloudCube aims at tackling some of the most relevant Earth Science questions by exploiting the differential hydrometeor-signal interaction at different frequencies to identify and model diverse kinds of weather observables and provide novel insight into clouds and precipitation microphysics and dynamics. CloudCube measures vertical profiles of reflectivity at each frequency band and Doppler velocity at G-band for a more detailed analysis of the smallest hydrometeors. CloudCube is an all-solid-state instrument based on the technical success of RainCube, that uses a single-stage IF-RF up/down-conversion approach and combines low-power-consumption MMICs in split-waveguide blocks to achieve a compact and low-cost architecture that will make it attractive for future missions from space platforms with limited resources.

The Eastern Pacific Cloud Aerosol Precipitation Experiment, conducted at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, San Diego, CA, is offering a year-round opportunity to study and characterize marine cloud formations. CloudCube participated in the field campaign during six weeks in the months of March and April 2023, measuring multiple and diverse atmospheric structures. Progress on the development of the instrument as well as results of the participation in the field campaign will be presented at the meeting.