Spectral attenuation and emission measurements for atmospheric remote sensing applications

The interaction between radiation, water vapor (WV) and clouds is one of the most important themes of Earth science in the coming decades. Furthermore, the possibility of exploiting multi–frequency attenuation measurements made along active links for the WV vertical profile estimation, would overcome the limitations of radiometer–based retrieval. The measurement of WV content implies monitoring at different time–scales and spatial resolutions and thus different kinds of instruments. According to this synergistic approach, in this research work data processing of atmospheric microwave absorption and far–infrared emission measurements was considered. Potentiality of WV retrieval through active measurements made from air– and space–borne platforms has been explored. On the other side, data processing procedures have been developed and tested using radiance measurements performed during two field campaigns. This volume represents the work carried out by the author for his PhD dissertation.Marco Pellegrini received the MS degree in telecommunications engineering in 2001 (University of Florence) and a PhD in environmental monitoring in 2006 (University of Basilicata). He joined the Electronics and Telecommunications Department and the Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, in Florence. His main research activity is in the area of atmospheric remote sensing through active and passive systems.