In-Situ and W-Band Radar Measurements of Ice Microphysics for Megha-Tropiques validation

The French-Indian Megha-Tropiques satellite was launched by an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on October 12th, 2011. The satellite is dedicated to study the water and energy cycle in the tropics for the next 5 years. On board are 3 radiometers: MADRAS, passive microwave conical scanning imager; SAPHIR passive microwave cross-track scanning sounder for water vapor; ScaraB passive broadband cross-track scanning imager for radiative budget TOA. Using the opportunity of the DYNAMO/CINDY instrument deployment in the Maldives, and in particular SMART-R and S-PolKa, the French research Falcon-20 collected microphysics data over Gan from November 19th to December 15th. A set of in-situ probes coupled with the W-Band RASTA Doppler radar were installed on the plane in order to sample the ice microphysics around oceanic convection in the Indian Ocean. These measurements are meant to improve our knowledge on precipitating ice depending on the type of system and its life cycle. This more precise description of the precipitating ice will then be used to refine the parametrization in radiative transfer models used in the retrieval of rain from MADRAS. The first results and a summary of the Falcon-20 campaign will be presented.