The effect of cirrus clouds on microwave limb radiances

This study presents and analyses the first simulations of microwave limb radiances with clouds. They are computed using the 1D unpolarized version of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer System (ARTS). The study is meant to set a theoretical foundation for using microwave limb measurements for cloud monitoring. Information about clouds is required for the validation of climate models.Limb spectra are generated for the frequency bands of the Millimeter wave Acquisitions for Stratosphere/Troposphere Exchange Research (MASTER) instrument. For these simulations, the radiative transfer equation is solved using the Discrete Ordinate ITerative (DOIT) method, which is briefly described. Single scattering properties for the cloud particles are calculated using the T-matrix method.The impact of various cloud parameters is investigated. Simulated brightness temperatures most strongly depend on particle size, ice mass content and cloud altitude. The impact of particle shape is much smaller, but still significant. Increasing the ice mass content has a similar effect as increasing the particle size; this complicates the prediction of the impact of clouds on microwave radiances without exact knowledge of these cloud parameters.     

微波成像仪通道对降水云参数响应的数值模拟研究

由于降水云类型和结构等的差异,将导致微波信号出现不同的响应,因此基于星载微波仪器观测结果对降水云参数进行反演仍是目前国际上的难题之一。为了解层云和对流云等两类降水云的TMI微波信号特点,本文以相应的结构模型为基础,利用微波辐射传输模式MWRT分别模拟了不同下垫面和降水云参数条件下的TMI各通道微波亮温,并分析了各种组合通道信号,包括反映发射信息的极化差D(洋面)及反映散射信息的高频极化校正亮温PCT85(洋面)和高低频率垂直极化差VFD(陆面)的变化情况,以此从理论上探讨可能的降水反演方法。研究结果表明:在洋面,D和PCT85均随降水率的升高而减小,其中D_(10)和PCT85都能很好地反映降水率的变化,但分别受地表状况和云体性质(冻结层高度和霰粒大小)的影响较大;D_(19)和D_(37)虽然对下垫面状况和冻结层高度都不甚敏感,但随降水率的增加,存在极化丧失现象,因此不适合反演降水。在陆面,较高频取85 GHz的VFD与降水率有很好的对应关系,随降水率的增长而增大,其中VFD37-85受地表状况影响最小,但受云体性质影响较大;37 GHz对液态水变化敏感,其发射效应易混淆散射信号,故较高频取37 GHz的VFD10-37和VFD19-37不适合研究降水与微波信号之间的关系;层云与对流云存在有无霰粒的差异,会对微波散射性质造成影响,导致PCT85和VED对层云降水率的响应要高于对流云。     

一次锋面气旋云系中强对流云团的识别

利用NOAA-16/AMSU-B微波亮温资料和GOES-9光学遥感资料对2004年6月16日一次锋面气旋云系中的强对流云团进行识别, 尝试了NOAA-16/AM SU-B微波两窗区通道亮温、3个微波水汽通道间亮温差, GOES-9红外亮温阈值、水汽和红外通道亮温差、红外和水汽通道亮温多光谱逐个修改聚类等方法, 通过比较各种方法的识别结果, 分析各种识别技术的特点, 同时采用地面常规观测资料进行叠加, 对识别方法进行了验证。结果表明:微波对强对流云团均能较好识别, 但89 GHz通道亮温受地表影响较大, 不能很好剔除过冷水体, 150 GHz通道亮温与微波水汽通道间亮温差的识别结果较一致, 3个微波水汽通道间亮温差对阈值的依赖性相对较小; GOES-9红外亮温阈值因其随时空变化对识别结果会造成较大差别, 而水汽和红外通道亮温差对强对流云团能进行较好定位, 但识别范围较小, 多光谱逐个修改聚类方法对积雨云的识别效果较好, 且和NOAA-16/AMSU-B识别结果有较好的对应关系; 地面常规观测资料的叠加结果也说明, 多波段遥感资料对强对流云团的识别结果与当时的天气现象及积雨云状均有较好的对应关系。     

Retrieval of Liquid Water Path Inside Nonprecipitating Clouds Using TMI Measurements

Quantitative estimates of liquid water path （LWP） in clouds using satellite measurements are critical to understanding of cloud properties and the assessment of global climate change. In this paper, the relationship between microwave brightness temperature （TB） and LWP in the nonprecipitating clouds is studied by using satellite microwave measurements from the TRMM Microwave Imager （TMI） onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission （TRMM）, together with a radiative transfer model for microwave radiance calculations. Radiative transfer modeling shows that the sensitivity is higher at both 37.0- and 85.5-GHz horizontal polarization channels for the LWP retrievals. Also, the differences between the retrieved values responding to TBs of various channels and the theoretical values are displayed by the model. Based upon above simulations, with taking into account the factor of resolution and retrieval bias for a single,channel, a nonprecipitating cloud LWP in the summer subtropical marine environment retrieval algorithm is formulated by the combination of the two TMI horizontal polarization channels, 37.0 and 85.5 GHz. Moreover,by using TMI measurements （1Bll）, this algorithm is applied to retrieving respectively LWPs for clear sky, nonprecipitating clouds, and typhoon precipitating clouds. In the clear sky case, the LWP cl~anges from -1 to 1 g m-2, and its mean value is about 10^-5 g m^-2. It indicates that, using this combination retrieval algorithm, there are no obvious systemic deviations when the LWP is low enough. The LWP values varying from 0 to 1000 g m^-2 in nonprecipitating clouds are reasonable, and its distribution pattern is very similar to the detected results in the visible channel of Visible and Infrared Scanner （VIRS） on the TRMM. In typhoon precipitating clouds, there is much more proportion of high LWP in the mature phase than the early stage. When surface rainfall rate is lower than 5 mm h^-1, the LWP increases with increasing rainfall rate.     

不同侧边界条件下水平有限降水云的微波辐射模式研究

从空间微波遥感降水定量分布的目标出发，本文研究在非对称侧边界条件下水平有限降水云的微波辐射率的计算公式。由普适性三维辐射传输方程出发，推导出非对称横向边界条件下的微波辐射率解析表达式。用热带降水云典型参数所作初步数值试验表明，相对于对称侧边界条件非对称侧边界条件对于上行（卫星所测）辐射率具有不可忽略的作用，且这种作用对于不同的微波频率具有不同的强度，甚至有符号的差别。云的不均匀尺度越小，这种作用越强。由于热带降水大多具有高度非均匀对流云带状或云团结构，本文所发展的模式将对微波遥感这类降雨定量分布发挥重要作     

南海中尺度大气海浪耦合模式及其对该区一次强台风过程的模拟研究

利用中尺度大气模式MM5(V3)和第3代海浪模式WWATCH建立考虑大气 海浪相互作用的风浪耦合模式。在耦合模式中引入考虑波浪影响的海表粗糙度参数化方案,大气模式分量提供海面10 m风场驱动海浪模式分量运行,并利用海浪模式分量反馈的波龄参数计算海表粗糙度。利用耦合模式模拟南海的一次台风过程,通过3组对比试验,检验耦合模式对台风过程的模拟效果并研究大气 海浪相互作用对台风过程的影响。结果表明：耦合模式能够较好地模拟南海的台风过程,与非耦合大气模式相比,其模拟的台风强度略有增强,路径变化不大;耦合模式对台风过程中海表热通量及降水影响显著,在台风充分发展过程中,耦合模式模拟的海表热通量增强,台风螺旋雨带上尤其是台风路径的右侧,耦合模式模拟的降水强于非耦合模式;耦合模式较好地模拟了台风过程海浪场的分布和演变,与非耦合模式相比,其模拟的海浪场增强,与实际更为接近;考虑了海表粗糙度对波浪的依赖关系后,海浪场同时影响海表的动力过程和热力过程,从本次个例看,在台风发展初期,海浪对海表动力作用影响显著,其反馈作用使台风系统减弱,但在台风充分发展后,耦合系统中海表热通量增加,热力作用显著增强,海浪的反馈作用有利于台风系统的发展和维持。     

基于亮温通道变率的FY-3C微波湿度计陆地云检测新方法

云检测是卫星资料同化的重要前处理步骤,无论是晴空资料同化还是有云资料同化,都需要准确地区分有云和晴空资料。由于陆地地表发射率的多变性和微波能穿透部分云类的特点,微波湿度计资料在陆地上空的云检测研究一直是难点。利用快速辐射传输模式（CRTM）分析了不同云类条件下FY-3C微波湿度计（MWHS-Ⅱ）各通道亮温的通道间变率特征,根据MWHS-Ⅱ亮温通道间变率随云高以及云中液态水含量的增大而减小的特点,提出了一个基于亮温通道变率的MWHS-Ⅱ陆地资料云检测方法。与已有的云产品比较结果表明:新的云检测算法能有效地剔除大部分受云影响的资料,剔除后的晴空资料观测和模拟偏差更好地符合高斯分布。新方法对过冷水云、冰云、重叠云的检测能力较强,正确检测率可以达到80%,对卷云以及高度较低的水云的检测能力相对较弱。新方法能有效利用MWHS-Ⅱ观测资料自身完成云检测,在MWHS-Ⅱ资料同化中有很好的应用前景。      

半透明云风矢量高度算法中云下背景辐射的估计

半透明云风矢量高度指定是卫星风矢量算法的重要部分,需要来自半透明云体的辐射和云下背景辐射两个变量。云下背景辐射发生在云层下面,未被卫星直接观测到,为了在半透明云风矢量高度指定算法中更精确地获得云下背景辐射,使用风矢量附近无云区的红外/水汽散点图,估计云下背景辐射。分析表明:在追踪区域里存在无云区的情况下,追踪区的最高红外亮温可代表红外通道的背景辐射;而水汽通道的背景辐射,却在红外亮温高值区段内水汽亮温相对较低区段。追踪区内找不到无云区时应扩大搜索范围,找到无云区后可估计云下背景辐射。在半透明云风矢量高度指定算法中使用云下背景辐射估计的改进算法前后,计算FY-2气象卫星进行风矢量,并将结果与欧洲中期天气预报中心（ECMWF）分析场进行对比表明,在半透明风矢量高度指定算法中使用云下背景辐射估计,FY-2气象卫星风矢量误差明显降低。     

Physical retrievals of over-ocean rain rate from multichannel microwave imagery. Part I: Theoretical characteristics of normalized polarization and scattering indices

Summary Microwave rain rate retrieval algorithms have most often been formulated in terms of the raw brightness temperatures observed by one or more channels of a satellite radiometer. Taken individually, single-channel brightness temperatures generally represent a near-arbitrary combination of positive contributions due to liquid water emission and negative contributions due to scattering by ice and/or visibility of the radiometrically cold ocean surface. Unfortunately, for a given rain rate, emission by liquid water below the freezing level and scattering by ice particles above the freezing level are rather loosely coupled in both a physical and statistical sense. Furthermore, microwave brightness temperatures may vary significantly (30–70 K) in response to geophysical parameters other than liquid water and precipitation. Because of these complications, physical algorithms which attempt to directly invert observed brightness temperatures have typically relied on the iterative adjustment of detailed microphysical profiles or cloud models, guided by explicit forward microwave radiative transfer calculations.In support of an effort to develop a significantly simpler and more efficient inversion-type rain rate algorithm, the physical information content of two linear transformations of single-frequency, dual-polarization brightness temperatures is studied: thenormalized polarization difference P of Petty and Katsaros (1990, 1992), which is intended as a measure of footprint-averaged rain cloud transmittance for a given frequency; and ascattering index S (similar to the polarization corrected temperature of Spencer et al., 1989) which is sensitive almost exclusively to ice. A reverse Monte Carlo radiative transfer model is used to elucidate the qualitative response of these physically distinct single-frequency indices to idealized 3-dimensional rain clouds and to demonstrate their advantages over raw brightness temperatures both as stand-alone indices of precipitation activity and as primary variables in physical, multichannel rain rate retrieval schemes.As a byproduct of the present analysis, it is shown that conventional plane-parallel analyses of the well-known footprint-filling problem for emission-based algorithms may in some cases give seriously misleading results.With 11 Figures     

Cloud type and cloud cover effects on the surface radiative balance at several Polar sites

Summary ?The present work concerns measurements performed at five Polar sites in order to study the influence of cloud type and cloud cover on the surface radiative balance. Cloud cover index was retrieved with the Kasten and Czeplak formula (1980), and comparison with observed values showed the possibility of applying this formula in Polar regions. The Duchon and O’Malley (1999) methodology was adopted to estimate the cloud types present during the measurement period for each site. The results show that during the Antarctic summer clouds have a warming effect on the surface, while during a melting event recorded in the Arctic site clouds have a net cooling effect on the surface. This result allows us to conclude that, during a melting period a different cloud type formation, and a lower surface albedo, modify the effects of clouds on the surface radiation balance. Received April 5, 2002; revised August 1, 2002; accepted August 17, 2002     

利用AMSU-B和GOES-9卫星资料对热带气旋“蒲公英”的分析

利用NOAA-16/AMSU-B三水汽通道微波亮温差和GOES-9红外亮温阈值对热带气旋深厚对流云进行检测,同时利用GOES-9可见光、红外、水汽多光谱通道特征对热带气旋云系进行识别,通过一次台风“蒲公英”个例,对热带气旋在微波和光学遥感图像上的深厚对流云进行分析。结果表明,微波和光学遥感资料均能对热带气旋深厚对流云进行有效识别,检测结果基本一致,但识别出的对流云,微波范围较小,光学遥感范围较大,这可能是由于光学遥感仅能获得云顶信息,将对流云顶部覆盖的卷云错判造成的;即使采用较低亮温阈值,光学遥感也很难将这部分卷云完全分离,而微波对云更具穿透性,在深厚对流云的识别方面具有独特优势;三水汽通道间微波亮温差反映了深厚对流云的发展强度,可间接揭示热带气旋的发展情况。     

Cirrus cloud horizontal and vertical inhomogeneity effects in a GCM

Summary A set of the inhomogeneity factor for high-level clouds derived from the ISCCP D1 dataset averaged over a five-year period has been incorporated in the UCLA atmospheric GCM to investigate the effect of cirrus cloud inhomogeneity on climate simulation. The inclusion of this inhomogeneous factor improves the global mean planetary albedo by about 4% simulated from the model. It also produces changes in solar fluxes and OLRs associated with changes in cloud fields, revealing that the cloud inhomogeneity not only affects cloud albedo directly, but also modifies cloud and radiation fields. The corresponding difference in the geographic distribution of precipitation is as large as 7 mm day⁻¹. Using the climatology cloud inhomogeneity factor also produces a warmer troposphere related to changes in the cloudiness and the corresponding radiative heating, which, to some extent, corrects the cold bias in the UCLA AGCM. The region around 14 km, however, is cooler associated with increase in the reflected solar flux that leads to a warmer region above. An interactive parameterization for mean effective ice crystal size based on ice water content and temperature has also been developed and incorporated in the UCLA AGCM. The inclusion of the new parameterization produces substantial differences in the zonal mean temperature and the geographic distribution of precipitation, radiative fluxes, and cloud cover with respect to the control run. The vertical distribution of ice crystal size appears to be an important factor controlling the radiative heating rate and the consequence of circulation patterns, and hence must be included in the cloud-radiation parameterization in climate models to account for realistic cloud processes in the atmosphere.     

近40年我国暴雨的年代际变化特征

概要回顾和总结了中国暴雨的卫星光谱遥感、被动微波遥感及主动微波探测的国内研究成果,并对卫星主被动仪器遥感研究中国暴雨的趋势进行展望。在卫星光谱遥感研究暴雨方面,学者们充分利用了红外通道亮温,监测暴雨云团发展变化,并结合再分析资料、雨量计观测结果、天气模式等,进行了很多具有应用价值的研究。在被动微波研究暴雨方面,主要将被动微波亮温结合变分同化系统,开展改善天气模式预报能力的研究,而很少利用被动微波多通道亮温来反演暴雨云参数。在卫星测雨雷达探测研究暴雨云结构方面,主要开展了暴雨降水结构的个例分析研究、暴雨强度及频次时空分布的统计分析研究。卫星多仪器与地基多仪器、模式资料、地面站和探空站等数据的综合应用,在未来暴雨监测及暴雨机理研究等方面将发挥重要作用;卫星多仪器遥感信号结合辐射传输模式和高分辨率云模式,可望未来获得暴雨云团内的大气动力学参数、大气热力学参数和云参数。

     

Airborne remote sensing of cloud radiative smoothing during the Baltex Bridge Cloud campaign

Based on airborne observations during the Baltex Bridge Cloud (BBC) campaign in September 2001, the impact of two layer cloud systems, gas absorption and surface albedo on cloud radiative smoothing is investigated. Multispectral nadir radiance measurements have been conducted which cover the visible and near infrared wavelength range. The observed radiances are transformed into Fourier space where ranges of scale-invariance are identified. Associated slopes and scale breaks are determined and used to characterize the impacts on cloud radiative smoothing. The results reveal that an increase of gas absorption reduces the small scale slope and the scale break due to a decreasing likelihood of horizontal photon transport. Another impact is that the increasing gas absorption reduces the cloud surface interaction, which is indicated by an increase of the large scale slope. An increasing surface albedo results in large scale cloud radiative smoothing and is associated with a decrease of the large scale slope. This effect depends on the cloud height and the cloud morphology. Two layer cloud systems exhibit a similar behaviour in Fourier space as large surface albedos beneath a single cloud deck. It is argued that the impact of two layer cloud systems on large scale cloud radiative smoothing may not be typical for two layer clouds.     

Comparison of model predicted cloud parameters and surface radiative fluxes with observations on the 100 km scale

Summary Cloud parameters and surface radiative fluxes predicted by regional atmospheric models are directly compared with observations for a 10-day period in late summer 1995 characterized by predominantly large-scale synoptic conditions. Observations of total cloud cover and vertical cloud structure are inferred from measurements with a ground-based network of Lidar ceilometers and IR-radiometers and from satellite observations on a 100 kilometer scale. Ground-based observations show that at altitudes below 3 km, implying liquid water clouds, there is a considerable portion of optically non-opaque clouds. Vertical distributions of cloud temperatures simultaneously inferred from the ground-based infrared radiometer network and from satellite can only be reconciled if the occurrence of optically thin cloud structures at mid- and high tropospheric levels is assumed to be frequent. Results of three regional atmospheric models, i.e. the GKSS-REMO, SMHI-HIRLAM, and KNMI-RACMO, are quantitatively compared with the observations. The main finding is that all models predict too much cloud amount at low altitude below 900 hPa, which is then compensated by an underestimation of cloud amount around 800 hPa. This is likely to be related with the finding that all models tend to underestimate the planetary boundary layer height. All models overpredict the high-level cloud amount albeit it is difficult to quantify to what extent due to the frequent presence of optically thin clouds. Whereas reasonably alike in cloud parameters, the models differ considerably in radiative fluxes. One model links a well matching incoming solar radiation to a radiatively transparent atmosphere over a too cool surface, another model underpredicts incoming solar radiation at the surface due to a too strong cloud feedback to radiation, the last model represents all surface radiative fluxes quite well on average, but underestimates the sensitivity of atmospheric transmissivity to cloud amount. Received August 31, 2000 Revised March 15, 2001     

On the use of a cloud modification factor for solar UV (290–385 nm) spectral range

Summary  Knowledge of ultraviolet radiation is necessary in different applications, in the absence of measurements, this radiometric flux must be estimated from available parameters. To compute this flux under all sky conditions one must consider the influence of clouds. Clouds are the largest modulators of the solar radiative flux reaching the Earth’s surface. The amount and type of cloud cover prevailing at a given time and location largely determines the amount and type of solar radiation received at the Earth’s surface. This cloud radiative effect is different for the different solar spectral bands. In this work, we analyse the cloud radiative effect over ultraviolet radiation (290–385 nm). This could be done by defining a cloud modification Factor. We have developed such cloud modification Factor considering two different types of clouds. The efficiency of the cloud radiative effect scheme has been tested in combination with a cloudless sky empirical model using independent data sets. The performance of the model has been tested in relation to its predictive capability of global ultraviolet radiation. For this purpose, data recorded at two radiometric stations are used. The first one is located at the University of Almería, a seashore location (36.83° N, 2.41° W, 20 m a.m.s.l.), while the second one is located at Granada (37.18° N, 3.58° W, 660 m a.m.s.l.), an inland location. The database includes hourly values of the relevant variables that cover the years 1993–94 in Almería and 1994–95 in Granada. Cloud cover information provided by the Spanish Meteorological Service has been include to compute the clouds radiative effect. After our study, it appears that the combination of an appropriate cloudless sky model with the cloud modification Factor scheme provides estimates of ultraviolet radiation with mean bias deviation of about 5% that is close to experimental errors. Comparisons with similar formulations of the cloud radiative effect over the whole solar spectrum provides evidence for the spectral dependency of the cloud radiative effect. Received November 15, 1999 Revised September 11, 2000     

飑线型降水云微波辐射特性的数值研究

本文将三维云的微物理模式的输出作为三维辐射传输模式的输入，对降水云的微波上行辐射率同地球物理参数间的关系进行了初步研究。在侧边界条件不对称的情况下，如果不考虑实际存在的云间相互辐射作用而模拟降水云的上行辐射率时，模拟出的亮温在低频段将低估卫星上测到的亮温值；在高频段则依降水云上层含冰量的大小而异，即在降水云上层含冰量小的区域，将低估星上测到的亮温，且低估的幅度较低频通道的大，而在降水云上层含冰量大的区域，可能高估星上测到的亮温，但高估的幅度较小。     

Cloud Transmission Estimates of UV-B Erythemal Irradiance

Summary Two UV-Biometer 501A instruments were used to estimate global erythemal irradiance at two locations in southwest Sweden; the Earth Sciences Centre, University of G?teborg (57.69° N; 11.92° E) and the island of Nordkoster, 200 km to the north (58.83° N; 10.72° E). A semi-empirical radiative transfer model was used to calculate the global erythemally effective irradiance under clear skies. A ratio of the hourly measured to clear-sky modelled irradiance was then derived for zenith angles 35–70°. Subsequent comparisons were then made with routine measurements of sunshine duration at G?teborg and sunshine duration, cloud cover, type and height at Nordkoster. Cloud transmission of UV-B irradiance decreases with increasing solar zenith angle, with cloud attenuation being 8% stronger at Nordkoster Island for zenith angles >>;60°. Transmission also decreases with increasing cloud cover such that overcast cloud conditions reduce transmissions by an average of 75%. In addition, cloud type affects the amount of ground incident irradiant flux. Fractus cloud afforded the least UV-B transmission (0.16), while cirrus filaments afforded the most (0.95). The spatial and temporal distribution of clouds appears tobe non-random. Under conditions of 1 to 3 octas, sky cover, clouds appear to be concentrated in line with the sensor and Sun on more occasions than that expected given a random cloud distribution. The same cloud cover condition also resulted in many instances of ground incident irradiance above clear-sky values. The presence of cumuliform clouds appears to increase the likelihood of the latter phenomena. Received January 4, 1998     

Effect of Macrophysical Parameters of Clouds on Broadband Solar Radiation (295-2800 nm) at a Subtropical Location

The present study describes the effect of clouds(macro-physical parameters) on global solar radiation(G).Data from four years of hourly measurements of G on a horizontal surface were used.These data were collected at the South Valley University(SVU) meteorological research station(26.2°N,32.7°E,96 m above mean see level.In addition,the cloud modification factor for G(CMFG) was estimated in three cases:high-level,mid-level,and low-level clouds.For every level,the variation of hourly CMFG as a function of cloud amount(CA) was illustrated.A third-order polynomial between hourly values of CMFG and CA was established.Furthermore,the effect of CA in the attenuation of G relative to its corresponding value in cloudless conditions is discussed.For cloud cover > 88%,G was reduced by 54%,34%,and 28% by low-,mid-,and high-level clouds,respectively.     

Spatiotemporal Variations of Microwave Land Surface Emissivity (MLSE) over China Derived from Four-Year Recalibrated Fengyun 3B MWRI Data

Microwave Land Surface Emissivity (MLSE) over China under both clear and cloudy sky conditions was retrieved using measurements of recalibrated microwave brightness temperatures (Tbs) from Fengyun-3B Microwave Radiation Imager (FY-3B MWRI), combined with cloud properties derived from Himawari-8 Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) observations. The contributions from cloud particles and atmospheric gases to the upwelling Tbs at the top of atmosphere were calculated and removed in radiative transfer. The MLSEs at horizontal polarizations at 10.65, 18.7, and 36.5 GHz during 7 July 2015 to 30 June 2019 over China showed high values in the southeast vegetated area and low values in the northwest barren, or sparsely vegetated, area. The maximum values were found in the belt area of the Qinling-Taihang Mountains and the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is highly consistent with MLSEs derived from AMSR-E. It demonstrates that the measurements of FY-3B MWRI Tbs, including its calibration and validation, are reliable, and the retrieval algorithm developed in this study works well. Seasonal variations of MLSE in China are mainly driven by the combined effects of vegetation, rainfall, and snow cover. In tropical and southern forest regions, the seasonal variation of MLSE is small due to the enhancement from vegetation and the suppression from rainfall. In the boreal area, snow causes a significant decrease of MLSE at 36.5 GHz in winter. Meanwhile, the MLSE at lower frequencies experiences less suppression. In the desert region in Xinjiang, increases of MLSEs at all frequencies are observed with increasing snow cover.