Expand this Topic clickable element to expand a topic
Skip to content
Optica Publishing Group

Corona-producing cirrus cloud properties derived from polarization lidar and photographic analyses

Not Accessible

Your library or personal account may give you access

Abstract

Polarization lidar data are used to demonstrate that clouds composed of hexagonal ice crystals can generate multiple-ringed colored coronas. Although relatively uncommon in our mid-latitude cirrus sample (derived from Project FIRE extended time observations), the coronas are associated with unusual cloud conditions that appear to be effective in generating the displays. Invariably, the cirrus cloud tops are located at or slightly above elevated tropopauses (12.7-km MSL average height) at temperatures between −60° and −70°C. The cloud top region also generates relatively strong laser backscattering and unusually high 0.5–0.7 linear depolarization ratios. Color photograph analysis of corona ring angles indicates crystals with mean diameters of from 12 to 30 μm. The cirrus cloud types were mainly subvisual to thin (i.e., bluish-colored) cirrostratus, but also included fibrous cirrus. Estimated cloud optical thicknesses at the 0.694-μm laser wavelength ranged from ~0.001 to 0.2, where the upper limit reflects the effects of multiple scattering and/or unfavorable changes in particle characteristics in deep cirrus clouds.

© 1991 Optical Society of America

Full Article  |  PDF Article
More Like This
Cirrus cloud iridescence: a rare case study

Kenneth Sassen
Appl. Opt. 42(3) 486-491 (2003)

Corona-producing ice clouds: a case study of a cold mid-latitude cirrus layer

Kenneth Sassen, Gerald G. Mace, John Hallett, and Michael R. Poellot
Appl. Opt. 37(9) 1477-1485 (1998)

Laboratory study of microphysical and scattering properties of corona-producing cirrus clouds

E. Järvinen, P. Vochezer, O. Möhler, and M. Schnaiter
Appl. Opt. 53(31) 7566-7575 (2014)

Cited By

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Figures (5)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Tables (1)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article tables are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Equations (1)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Equations are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Select as filters


Select Topics Cancel
© Copyright 2024 | Optica Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved