Cloud water characterization system

Abstract

A system and method for providing a statistical measure of the size of liquid water droplets in a cloud, as well as a system and method for the detection and/or measurement of the presence of a cloud, liquid water content in the cloud and ice water content in the cloud, among other parameters.

1 . A system for determining a measure of cloud water droplet size based on sensor cooling by cloud water and stored sensor power ratio and droplet size data, said system comprising:
 a first and second temperature controlled co-located self heated sensors, the cooling of said sensors being substantially independent of ice water;   a self heated compensation sensor oriented to be substantially independent of cloud water cooling;   a variable power source coupled to each first and second sensor for keeping each sensor at a temperature and each having a measurable output power;   a variable power source coupled to the compensation sensor for keeping the sensor at a temperature and having a measurable output power; and   a control unit for:
 correcting the measured power to each of the first and second sensors to reflect only heat loss due to cloud water by subtracting from the measured power an adjusted compensation sensor measured value; and 
 forming a ratio of corrected power of each of the first and second sensors to identify a liquid water droplet size based on the stored power ratio and droplet size data. 
   
   
   
       2 - 22 . (canceled)