Concept for a Cloud-Precipitation radar onboard the International Space Station

This talk will provide a high level overview of the concept development for a Cloud-Precipitation Radar to be deployed on the International Space Station. The fundamental science objectives and the unique opportunities presented by the ISS will be presented, then a notional instrument configuration (Ka- & W-band, Doppler) will be presented and its performance will be articulated. The main goal of this radar is to bridge the gaps left open by CloudSat and TRMM missions, and not expected to be covered neither by the GPM nor EarthCARE missions. In particular, the instrument will be capable of a) observing planetary boundary layer clouds and low cloud bases, as well as shallow and light winter precipitation of particular importance for the mid- to high-latitude hydrological balance; b) measuring cloud dynamics in the upper troposphere and in shallow convection; c) retrieving cloud microphysical properties in precipitating clouds. Because of the ISS orbit, the radar will be better suited to reconstruct the diurnal cycle of clouds than CloudSat, and will provide excellent coverage in the mid-latitude range.