Simultaneously retrieving cloud optical depth and effective radius for optically thin clouds

A new technique for simultaneously retrieving cloud optical depth and effective radius has been proposed. This approach is based on the angular distribution of scattered light in the forward scattering lobe of cloud drops. The angular distributions can be observed by multiple shadowband scans. Radia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research. D. Atmospheres 2005-11, Vol.110 (D21), p.D21201.1-n/a
Main Authors: Min, Qilong, Duan, Minzheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Angular distribution
cloud effective radius
cloud liquid water path
cloud optical depth
Clouds
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Forward scattering
Geophysics
Radiative transfer
rotating shadowband
solar aureole
Strategy
Water
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Summary:A new technique for simultaneously retrieving cloud optical depth and effective radius has been proposed. This approach is based on the angular distribution of scattered light in the forward scattering lobe of cloud drops. The angular distributions can be observed by multiple shadowband scans. Radiative transfer modeling simulations demonstrate that accuracies for cloud optical depth, effective radius, and liquid water path are 2%, 10%, and 2 gm−2, respectively, for given possible instrument noise and uncertainties. Further, we have tested different measurement strategies and achieved consistent accuracies. This technique will provide an approach to deal with the issue of “CLOWD (cloud with low optical (water) depth).”
ISSN:0148-0227
2169-897X
2156-2202
2169-8996
DOI:10.1029/2005JD006136