Publication Abstracts

Yang et al. 2003

Yang, P., M.G. Mlynczak, H. Wei, D.P. Kratz, B.A. Baum, Y.X. Hu, W.J. Wiscombe, A. Heidinger, and M.I. Mishchenko, 2003: Spectral signature of ice clouds in the far-infrared region: Single-scattering calculations and radiative sensitivity study. J. Geophys. Res., 108, no. D18, 4569, doi:10.1029/2002JD003291.

We investigate the spectral signature of ice clouds in the far-infrared (far-IR) spectral region from 100 to 667 /cm (15-100 µm). Individual particle scattering properties (extinction efficiency, absorption efficiency, and the asymmetry factor of the scattering phase function) are calculated for small particles using circular cylinders and for large crystals using hexagonal columns. The scattering properties are computed for particle sizes over a size range from 1 to 10,000 µm in maximum dimension from a combination of the T-matrix method, the Lorenz-Mie theory, and an improved geometric optics method. Bulk scattering properties are derived subsequently for 30 particle size distributions, with effective particle sizes ranging from 15 to 150 µm, obtained from various field campaigns for midlatitude and tropical cirrus clouds. Furthermore, a parameterization of the bulk scattering properties is developed. The radiative properties of ice clouds and the clear-sky optical thickness computed from the line-by-line method are input to a radiative transfer model to simulate the upwelling spectral radiance in the far-IR spectral region at the research aircraft height (20 km). On the basis of the simulations, we investigate the sensitivity of far-IR spectra to ice cloud optical thickness and effective particle size. The brightness temperature difference (BTD) between 250 and 559.5 /cm is shown to be sensitive to optical thickness for optically thin clouds (visible optical thickness < 2). At the other extreme, for optically thick ice clouds (τ > 8), the BTD between 250 and 410.2 /cm is shown to be sensitive to the effective particle size up to a limit of 100 µm.

Export citation: [ BibTeX ] [ RIS ]

BibTeX Citation

@article{ya08000d,
  author={Yang, P. and Mlynczak, M. G. and Wei, H. and Kratz, D. P. and Baum, B. A. and Hu, Y. X. and Wiscombe, W. J. and Heidinger, A. and Mishchenko, M. I.},
  title={Spectral signature of ice clouds in the far-infrared region: Single-scattering calculations and radiative sensitivity study},
  year={2003},
  journal={Journal of Geophysical Research},
  volume={108},
  number={D18},
  pages={4569},
  doi={10.1029/2002JD003291},
}

[ Close ]

RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ya08000d
AU  - Yang, P.
AU  - Mlynczak, M. G.
AU  - Wei, H.
AU  - Kratz, D. P.
AU  - Baum, B. A.
AU  - Hu, Y. X.
AU  - Wiscombe, W. J.
AU  - Heidinger, A.
AU  - Mishchenko, M. I.
PY  - 2003
TI  - Spectral signature of ice clouds in the far-infrared region: Single-scattering calculations and radiative sensitivity study
JA  - J. Geophys. Res.
JO  - Journal of Geophysical Research
VL  - 108
IS  - D18
SP  - 4569
DO  - 10.1029/2002JD003291
ER  -

[ Close ]

• Return to 2003 Publications

• Return to Publications Homepage