Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Observation Flashcards

GPS radio occultation provides which type of atmospheric data?

Answer: Temperature and humidity profiles from GPS signal refraction

GPS radio occultation measures bending of GPS signals through the atmosphere to retrieve temperature, humidity, and pressure profiles globally.

What is quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) from radar?

Answer: Estimation of rainfall rates and totals from radar reflectivity using Z-R relationships

QPE uses Z-R relationships (reflectivity to rain rate) to convert radar reflectivity values into estimates of actual precipitation amounts.

Lightning detection networks like the US NLDN measure what properties of lightning strokes?

Answer: Location, time, polarity, and peak current of lightning strikes

The National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) uses time-of-arrival techniques to detect and locate cloud-to-ground lightning, measuring peak current, polarity, and time.

What advantage do LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites have over GEO satellites for atmospheric sounding?

Answer: Higher spatial resolution and better coverage of polar regions

LEO satellites provide higher spatial resolution and full global coverage including polar regions, though with less frequent revisit times than GEO satellites.

What is the primary meteorological use of the GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI)?

Answer: Multi-band visible, near-IR, and IR imaging for cloud, moisture, and fire detection

The ABI on GOES-R provides 16-band imagery from visible to thermal infrared for monitoring clouds, moisture, severe storms, fires, and other phenomena.

Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) instruments are used at ground level to retrieve what?

Answer: Continuous high-temporal-resolution temperature and moisture profiles in the boundary layer

AERI instruments measure downwelling infrared radiance to retrieve temperature and water vapor profiles in the lower atmosphere at high temporal resolution.