The higher microwave frequencies are useful for detecting the scattering effects involving frozen precipitation, snow cover, and emission by lighter precipitation (< 0.3 mm/hour). While absorption and emission by cloud and rain droplets is still increasing, the scattering effect begins to dominate. Scattering occurs when radiation incident on a particle is removed from its original incident path. The result is that less energy is sensed and brightness temperatures become cooler.

Moving across the microwave spectrum from lower to higher frequencies, notice the increase in the number and intensity of dark (cool) spots in the imagery. These are signatures of ice within clouds and snow on the ground. Rainbands containing ice particles and processes become evident over land as well as oceanic regions with AMSU and SSM/I window channels at frequencies greater than 80 GHz.

Centered at 183 GHz is a strong atmospheric absorption region resulting from water vapor. Profiles of atmospheric water vapor are retrieved by using channels placed between the center and wings of this absorption region. The AMSU-B uses 3 channels centered at 183 GHz and 2 window channels (one at 89 GHz and another at 150 GHz) for operational temperature moisture sounding. A similar capability is provided by DMSP satellites with the SSM/T2 (Special Sensor Microwave Water Vapor Profiler), a 5-channel microwave radiometer.