Optical model of cirrus clouds with preferentially oriented particles for lidar applications
A.V. Konoshonkin1,2, N.V. Kustova1, V.A. Shishko1,2, D.N. Timofeev1, A.E. Babinovich1
1V.E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Tomsk, Russia
2National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
Keywords: cirrus cloud, optical model, laser sounding, light scattering, physical optics method, atmospheric ice crystal, horizontal orientation
Abstract
The study of cirrus clouds is currently under close attention since they play an important role in the formation of the Earth’s climate. Their study is mainly conducted through laser sounding of the atmosphere. The interpretation of laser sounding data requires an adequate optical model of cirrus clouds. However, most existing optical models are developed assuming a random spatial orientation of particles, which, according to recent experimental data, is often inaccurate. We suggest an optical model of cirrus clouds which considers the preferential horizontal orientation of particles within a cloud. The model includes ideal hexagonal plates and columns and hollow columns as quasi-horizontally oriented particles. Additionally, the model incorporates hexagonal plates and columns, droxtalls and bullites, irregularly shaped particles, and aggregates of such particles as randomly oriented particles. The results are crucial for developing algorithms of lidar data interpretation when investigating cirrus clouds.
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