Radiative Transfer in Cirrus Clouds: Theory and Experiment

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This project is a continuation of fundamental studies of radiative transfer in clouds composed of nonspherical ice crystals, with specific application to the interpretation of radiometric measurements of cirrus clouds from the air and space. It includes an experimental program to measure the spectral reflectance and scattering phase function in the visible and near infrared of ice clouds generated in a laboratory cold chamber. The objectives include comparing the theoretical scattering properties of ice clouds with the experimental results and exploring the information content of scattering measurements that may not be available from theory. On the theoretical side, calculations will be made of radiative transfer in clouds of oriented ice crystals, including polarization, for comparison with radiometric measurements from the Polarization and Directionality of Earth's Reflectances (POLDER) and the High resolution Interferometer Sounder (HIS) instruments. Results of this research will contribute to understanding the effects of cirrus clouds on the earth's radiation budget and to the remote sensing of cloud properties from space and the ground.