Abstract

A scattering model is described for the investigation of depolarization of polarized light caused by ice clouds. The scattering by a single particle is described by refraction, reflection, and diffraction. The ice cloud is assumed to be a random mixture of hexagonal columns and plates of random orientation and size. Multiple scattering effects are included by means of a Monte Carlo method, where single photon histories are constructed from random samples of the distributions governing the basic scattering parameters. The dependence of depolarization on cloud extinction coefficient, receiver field of view, and mixing ratio of columns to plates are studied. Lidar measurements of depolarization by a high altitude cirrus cloud are presented and discussed within the frame of the present model. Good agreement can be obtained assuming a variation of crystal shape distribution with height.

© 1989 Optical Society of America

Depolarization of polarized light caused by high altitude clouds. 2: Depolarization of lidar induced by water clouds

Yi-Yi Sun and Zhi-Ping Li
Appl. Opt. 28(17) 3633-3638 (1989)

Lidar inelastic multiple-scattering parameters of cirrus particle ensembles determined with geometrical-optics crystal phase functions

Jens Reichardt, Michael Hess, and Andreas Macke
Appl. Opt. 39(12) 1895-1910 (2000)

Lidar ratio and depolarization ratio for cirrus clouds

Wei-Nai Chen, Chih-Wei Chiang, and Jan-Bai Nee
Appl. Opt. 41(30) 6470-6476 (2002)

Infrared transmission through cirrus clouds: a radiative model for target detection

K. N. Liou, Y. Takano, S. C. Ou, A. Heymsfield, and W. Kreiss
Appl. Opt. 29(13) 1886-1896 (1990)

Effect of multiple scattering on depolarization measurements with spaceborne lidars

Susanne Reichardt and Jens Reichardt
Appl. Opt. 42(18) 3620-3633 (2003)