First insights into deep convection by the Doppler velocity measurements of the EarthCARE's Cloud Profiling Radar

Convective updrafts and downdrafts play a vital role in Earth’s energy and water cycles by modulating vertical energy and
moisture transport and shaping precipitation patterns. Despite their importance, the characteristics of convective motions and
their relationship to the near-storm environment remain poorly constrained by observations.
The payload of the recently launched EarthCARE satellite mission includes a 94-GHz Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) with5
Doppler capability. In this study, we present first-light CPR Doppler velocity observations in deep convective clouds. These
early examples offer a first glimpse into the dynamic nature of cloud systems. The narrow footprint of the CPR helps reduce
the impact of multiple scattering and non-uniform beam filling (NUBF) on the Doppler velocity measurements. However, the
instrument’s low Nyquist velocity presents a significant challenge for recovering the true Doppler velocity profiles in deep
convective systems.10
The CPR Doppler velocity observations are expected to challenge traditional methodologies for identifying deep convective
cores, which typically rely on reflectivity-based thresholds. We showcase examples that demonstrate the synergy between CPR
Doppler velocity measurements and geostationary satellite observations, illustrating how their combined use can help capture
the evolution of the convective lifecycle.
These results align with EarthCARE’s broader mission objectives and highlight the potential of spaceborne Doppler radar to15
significantly advance our understanding of cloud dynamics and convection in the climate system