Cloud and precipitation microphysical retrievals from the EarthCARE Cloud Profiling Radar: the C-CLD product

Abstract. The Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite mission is a joint endeavour developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) Japan Aerospace Exploration (JAXA) features 94 GHz Doppler Cloud Profiling Radar. This paper presents theoretical basis of cloud precipitation microphysics (C-CLD) EarthCARE Level 2 (L2) algorithm. C-CLD algorithm provides best estimates vertical profiles water mass content hydrometeor characteristic size, obtained from radar reflectivity, path-integrated signal attenuation sedimentation velocity using optimal estimation (OE) theory. To obtain forward model relations associated uncertainty, an ensemble-based method used. ensemble consists collection in situ measured drop size distributions that cover natural microphysical variability. mean standard deviation represent their microphysics-based uncertainty. output variables are provided on grid horizontal 1b (L1b) (1 km along track 100 m vertically). OE framework not applied to liquid-only clouds drizzle-free lightly drizzling conditions, where more statistical approach preferred.