CLiMMATE (CLoud Microwave Measurements of ATmospheric Events)

Understanding the role of clouds in the Earth’s heat budget and the radiation transfer processes is vital for global climate models and meteorological studies. This centers' research comprises the areas of remote sensing of the atmosphere, including rain and clouds, using microwave sensors such as radars and radiometers at various frequencies.

Microwave remote sensing has the advantage over optical remote sensing in that the information do not depend on the illumination by the Sun, therefore radars can "see" during the night as well as during the day. Radars can also penetrate clouds and provide information about the microphysical properties of clouds and rain. Several physical parameters important to weather prediction and climate modeling such as mean drop size diameter, and rain rate distribution can be retrieve from the information provided by these sensors.