## 8 Discussion  
The analysis carried out for Medicare Numa highlights how powerful MW radiometers are in identifying the details of its precipitation structure, not discernible in conventional (VIS or IR) satellite imagery, as it evolves over the Mediterranean Sea. This is particularly evident for AMSR2 and GMI, thanks to their high spatial resolution compared to the other radiometers. The behavior of the measured TBs (at 37 and 89 GHz for example) is a clear indication that the main precipitation formation mechanism in the storm during its TLC stage, and in particular in the rainbands around the eye, is likely slantwise convection characterized by a weak updraft. Ice hydrometeors show different scattering properties from those found in the high convective cores (high TB minimum at 89 GHz, absence of scattering at 37 GHz, and no electrical activity). As the eye becomes more defined and the cyclone strengthens, the main rainband shows signatures of weak convection at 89 GHz (and at higher frequencies), due to scattering by precipitation-size frozen hydrometeors. However, even in this case, the absence of strong vertical motions inhibits the electrical activity. The analysis of GMI TBs and surface rainfall rate at the development phase evidences stronger convection activity. The minimum Polarization Corrected Temperature (PCT) at 89 GHz, computed according to [62], is 160.65 K and 195.35 K, in the development phase and in the mature phase of Numa, respectively. The 30 K difference of the 89 GHz PCT minimum values confirms that the convective activity is much weaker in the mature phase than in the development phase, in agreement with what found in previous studies (e.g. [3]). Comparing these values with TMI climatology of convective systems (e.g., [PERSON] et al. [51] and [PERSON] and Zipser [52]), it is evident that the convection identified during the mature phase can be characterized as \"weak\", whereas during its development phase Numa shows features typical of \"strong\" convection. The lack of scattering signal at higher frequency (\(>\) 150 GHz) in correspondence of the MODIS VIS cloud image during the TLC phase, and the depolarization at 89 GHz, indicate the presence of supercooled cloud droplets. The GMI and AMSR2 TB behavior finds correspondence to what found in other studies about in situ observations in tropical cyclones [63; 64; 65]. They confirm that tropical oceanic convection is usually not known for the strength of its updraft (exceptions occasionally occur), which is required to lott substantial quantities of rain drops and dense graupel to high altitude. In situ observations evidence, instead, the presence of supercooled cloud droplets at high levels and that the ice, mostly rimed particles and low density graupel, forms in the weak updraft regions and is redistributed throughout the storm by the upper and midlevel outflows. In the development phase, we have analyzed for the first time the 3D structure of this kind of storms, as observed by a spaceborne radar. DPR is particularly valuable because it can provide information on the storm features, from both the microphysical and meteorological perspective, thus supporting what already evidenced by the GMI TB analysis. On the other hand, during the TLC phase, GMI allows highlighting precipitation underestimation by the ground radar of Pettinascura, mainly due to the blind zone caused by its viewing geometry. In fact, the area of Numa, although frequently hit by Medicanes or intense precipitation, is not yet adequately covered by operational weather radars. These results confirm that spaceborne MW observations can provide useful insights about rainfall structure, intensity, and pattern, especially over the sea where no ground-based data are available, and when GR rainfall rate estimates might be affected by large uncertainties (as shown also in [PERSON] et al. [26]). The investigation of numerical modeling performance has shown that the RAMS-ISAC forecast for this event is sensitive to the initial and boundary conditions.