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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Atmospheres

 

Keywords

  • cloud optical depth
  • cloud effective radius
  • cloud liquid water path
  • forward scattering
  • solar aureole
  • rotating shadowband

Index Terms

  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Cloud optics
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Cloud/radiation interaction
  • Global Change: Remote sensing
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Radiation: transmission and scattering
  • Atmospheric Processes: Clouds and aerosols
Abstract
Cited By (5)
 

Abstract

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 110, D21201, 8 PP., 2005
doi:10.1029/2005JD006136

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

Qilong Min

Atmospheric Science Research Center, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA

Minzheng Duan

Atmospheric Science Research Center, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA

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).”

Received 27 April 2005; accepted 21 July 2005; published 2 November 2005.

Citation: Min, Q., and M. Duan (2005), Simultaneously retrieving cloud optical depth and effective radius for optically thin clouds, J. Geophys. Res., 110, D21201, doi:10.1029/2005JD006136.

Cited By

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