| Infrared | Microwave | Combined IR and microwave method |
Advantages | High level of self-radiation of the atmosphere | Aerosol does not affect the measurement results | Possibility to eliminate the influence of the aerosol |
Extensive use of different wavelengths for the hardware adaptation of the season | The range weather conditions: summer, spring, autumn. | Advanced application range complex weather conditions and seasons. | |
Due to the optics you can create a compact and highly directional gauges | Clouds without precipitation can be measured | Possibility of obtaining further information on the lower boundary of clouds and thick clouds using infrared measurements for microwave tomography method | |
It opens the possibility of estimating the height of cloud and moisture in-cloud layer | |||
Disadvantages | Method are influenced by aerosol, which is difficult to prediction | Method is intended for use in the summer. In winter, its use is extremely limited | Complicated measuring equipment and data processing. |
Influenced by cloud cover, which entails limiting the height sensing and difficulties in processing the results of measurements in-cloud layer | Clouds and precipitation require the use of additional wavelengths to account for their influence. | The increase in the price of the complex | |
The complexity of the calibration at a low level of atmospheric radiation | Highly sensitive equipment is needed |