Simulating brightness temperatures at SSM/I channels in the Mediterranean area

An accurate retrieval of atmospheric and sea surface parameters from spaceborne microwave radiometers requires to validate the radiative forward model capable to simulate the brightness temperatures for known atmospheric and surface conditions. Matching the forward model and the retrieval algorithm to the climatological condition of the area of interest is also essential to obtain better retrieval accuracy. This work focuses on the Mediterranean Sea and aims to set up a consistent and accurate forward model using different sources of geophysical quantities and a large set of SSM/I data for validation purposes.