Impact of resolution on the statistical characteristics and regional structures of brightness temperatures calculated from simulated microphysics in hurricanes

The HFiP project was designed to quantify the impact of model resolution on intensity prediction. One facet of intensity prediction is the ability to properly predict hurricane microphysical structure and the attendant rain process. As such, an improved intensity prediction should result in and improved prediction of the brightness temperatures that can be observed from space. Previous studies of the ability of hurricane simulations to capture brightness temperature have met with limited success. The hypothesis that we wish to investigate is “The statistical simulation of brightness temperature variability and the particular simulation of brightness temperature structure are improved by transitioning from regional cloud resolution to cloud resolving resolution”. Such improvement is important for the ability of a prediction to capture mesoscale and hydrological basin rain structure and for the ability of models to assimilate brightness temperature as a data input in future applications.

In this paper we will examine the impact of resolution on the statistical characteristics and regional structures of brightness temperatures calculated from simulated microphysics as resolution is improved from 9 km spacing to 1 km spacing. This study will focus on the simulation of TRMM and SSM/I microwave brightness temperatures for cases and times where overpasses are available.