title: Radiative transfer for a three-dimensional raining cloud.
abstract: Satellite-sensor-based microwave brightness temperatures for a three-dimensional raining cloud over a reflecting surface are computed by using a radiative transfer model based on the discrete-ordinates solution procedure. The three-dimensional model applied to a plane layer is validated by comparison with results from a one-dimensional model that is available in the literature. Results examining the effects of cloud height, rainfall rate, surface reflectance, rainfall footprint area, and satellite viewing position on one- and three-dimensional brightness temperature calculations are reported. The numerical experiments indicate that, under certain conditions, three-dimensional effects are significant in the analysis of satellite-sensor-based rainfall retrieval algorithms. The results point to the need to consider carefully three-dimensional effects as well as surface reflectance effects when interpreting satellitemeasured radiation data.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Haferman
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Krajewski
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez A