Future Technology for Measuring Precipitation & Cloud Dynamics from Space: Part 1. Measurement from Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

Precipitation is a key geophysical parameter. Knowledge of precipitation and its underlying physical processes are required in a number of research and application disciplines that are directly related to the global water and energy cycle. This includes climate diagnostics and modelling, numerical weather prediction (NWP), nowcasting, hydrological applications, oceanography, flood forecasting, transportation, agro-meteorology and water resources management. The latter topic is having a growing socioeconomic impact because societal adaptation to climate change requires better prediction and management of fresh water resources.