On remote sensing of optically thick ice clouds

Abstract

The author introduces new parameters for ice-cloud retrieval: the reduced optical depth and the particle absorption length. The retrieval of these parameters from backscattering solar light measurements depends only weakly on the assumption on the habits of particles made in retrieval procedures. This allows one to avoid major difficulties in modern ice-cloud retrieval algorithms related to a priori assumptions on the shape of crystals in ice clouds. © 2006 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.