The impact of ice cloud particle microphysics on the uncertainty of ice water content retrievals

Ice water content (IWC) is a standard product of cloud radar measurements. In this work, cloud radar cross-sections of various ice clouds are modeled to examine the relationship between the radar signal and the IWC. We report that using backscatter signal at cloud radar wavelength to retrieve IWC results in large uncertainties. Particle size distribution is the primary cause for the uncertainty in the retrieved IWC at radar wavelengths, though particle shape and orientation also play significant roles. Particularly in this study, we demonstrate that using both transmitted waves through the clouds (extinction) and backscattered waves from the clouds to retrieve the mean particle size and then using the mean particle size for IWC retrieval reduces the uncertainty. IWC retrieval can be improved with size distribution derived from dual wavelength cloud radar.     

基于六角形和球形冰晶模型的卷云辐射特征研究

卷云中冰晶粒子的单次光散射计算是卷云辐射传输及云微物理参数反演的重要基础。近年,利用高观测频率的静止气象卫星数据来反演水云和卷云的光学和微物理参数,进而计算地表光通量的研究倍受重视。然而,很多研究中卷云的冰晶用球形模型来模拟。由于不同形状和尺度大小的冰晶对电磁波的散射特征的不同,导致不同冰晶模型计算的卷云环境下卫星观测的辐射值及地表光通量的不同。利用不同尺度大小和电磁波波长的球形和六角形冰晶的单次散射数据,结合RSTAR辐射传输模式来定量分析了卷云环境下不同形状的冰晶模型对计算卫星观测的辐射和地表光通量中的影响。结果显示利用不同形状的冰晶模块来计算的卫星观测的辐射,地表向下辐射通量明显不同。波长在0.4～1.0 μm之间的大气窗口部分的光谱辐射通量的差距最大。总辐射通量受云粒子形状的影响显著。研究证实了正确选择冰晶模型对卫星反演卷云微物理和光学参数的反演及计算地表光通量的重要性。该结果对于云微物理参数的反演及地表向下辐射通量的模拟具有参考价值。     

Modeling single-scattering properties of small cirrus particles by use of a size-shape distribution of ice spheroids and cylinders

In this study, we model single-scattering properties of small cirrus crystals using mixtures of polydisperse, randomly oriented spheroids and cylinders with varying aspect ratios and with a refractive index representative of water ice at a wavelength of 1.88 μm. The Stokes scattering matrix elements averaged over wide shape distributions of spheroids and cylinders are compared with those computed for polydisperse surface-equivalent spheres. The shape-averaged phase function for a mixture of oblate and prolate spheroids is smooth, featureless, and nearly flat at side-scattering angles and closely resembles those typically measured for cirrus. Compared with the ensemble-averaged phase function for spheroids, that for a shape distribution of cylinders shows a relatively deeper minimum at side-scattering angles. This may indicate that light scattering from realistic cirrus crystals can be better represented by a shape mixture of ice spheroids. Interestingly, the single-scattering properties of shape-averaged oblate and prolate cylinders are very similar to those of compact cylinders with a diameter-to-length ratio of unity. The differences in the optical cross sections, single-scattering albedo, and asymmetry parameter between the spherical and the nonspherical particles studied appear to be relatively small. This may suggest that for a given optical thickness, the influence of particle shape on the radiative forcing caused by a cloud composed of small ice crystals can be negligible.     

On the retrieval of ice cloud particle shapes from POLDER measurements

Shapes of ice crystals can significantly affect the radiative transfer in ice clouds. The angular distribution of the polarized reflectance over ice clouds strongly depends on ice crystal shapes. Although the angular-distribution features of the total or polarized reflectance over ice clouds imply a possibility of retrieving ice cloud particle shapes by use of remote sensing data, the accuracy of the retrieval must be evaluated. In this study, a technique that applies single ice crystal habit and multidirectional polarized radiance to retrieve ice cloud particle shapes is assessed. Our sensitivity studies show that the retrieved particle shapes from this algorithm can be considered good approximations to those in actual clouds in calculation of the phase matrix elements. However, this algorithm can only work well under the following conditions: (1) the retrievable must be overcast and thick ice cloud pixels, (2) the particles in the cloud must be randomly oriented, (3) the particle shapes and size distributions used in the lookup tables must be representative, and (4) the multi-angle polarized measurements must be accurate and sufficient to identify ice cloud pixels of randomly oriented particles. In practice, these conditions will exclude most of the measured cloud pixels. Additionally, because the polarized measurements are only sensitive to the upper cloud part not deeper than an optical thickness of 4, the retrieved particle shapes with the polarized radiance may only approximate those in the upper parts of the clouds. In other words, for thicker clouds with vertical inhomogeneity in particle shapes, these retrieved particle shapes cannot represent those of whole clouds. More robust algorithm is needed in accurate retrieval of ice cloud particle shapes.     

Optical properties of ice particles in young contrails

The single-scattering properties of four types of ice crystals (pure ice crystals, ice crystals with an internal mixture of ice and black carbon, ice crystals coated with black carbon, and soot coated with ice) in young contrails are investigated at wavelengths 0.65 and 2.13 μm using Mie codes for coated spheres. The four types of ice crystals show differences in their single-scattering properties because of the embedded black carbon whose volume ratio is assumed to be 5%. The bulk-scattering properties of young contrails consisting of the four types of ice crystals are further investigated by averaging their single-scattering properties over a typical ice particle size distribution found in young contrails. The effect of the radiative properties of the four types of ice particles on the Stokes parameters I, Q, U, and V is also investigated for different viewing zenith angles and relative azimuth angles with a solar zenith angle of 30° using a vector radiative transfer model based on the adding-doubling technique. The Stokes parameters at a wavelength of 0.65 μm show pronounced differences for the four types of ice crystals, whereas the counterparts at a wavelength of 2.13 μm show similar variations with the viewing zenith angle and relative azimuth angle. However, the values of the results for the two wavelengths are noticeably different.     

Classifying atmospheric ice crystals by spatial light scattering

We describe preliminary results from an optical scattering instrument designed to assess the shapes and sizes of microscopic atmospheric cloud particles, especially the smallest ice crystals, that can profoundly affect cloud processes and radiative properties. The new instrument captures high-resolution spatial light scattering patterns from individual particles down to approximately 1 microm in size passing through a focused laser beam. Its significance lies in the ability of these patterns to provide morphological data for particle sizes well below the optical resolution limits of current cloud particle probes.     

Radiative forcing of aerosols and gases over tropical ocean and its impact on the global atmospheric environment: GCM investigations during INDOEX campaigns

Radiative forcings due to aerosols and the pollutant gases accumulated as haze which are transported from nearby continent to the tropical ocean are essentially important elements of the world climate system. Vertical transport of aerosols and gaseous species takes place within the deep convective cloud clusters of the inter-tropical convergence zone and subsequently these are distributed by the upper atmospheric zonal wind flow, thereby have impact on the global atmospheric environment. The comprehensive global atmospheric models have shown capability of simulating the climate of the atmosphere with proper forcing. We have deduced the radiative forcing, optical depth and the global energy balance components by a global atmospheric model. The results are validated well with INDOEX and other available observational findings.     

黑碳团簇气溶胶混合生长的红外吸收特性及长波辐射效应

黑碳气溶胶是当前气溶胶辐射强迫评估中最不确定的因子.本文通过构建黑碳的微物理模型,分别模拟了新鲜状态的黑碳气溶胶和混合生长(老化)后被硫酸盐包裹的黑碳气溶胶,利用叠加T矩阵方法计算获得了具有团簇形态和多成分混合的黑碳气溶胶红外吸收特性,通过大气辐射传输模型模拟了黑碳气溶胶的长波辐射强迫,分析了典型理化参数的敏感性.发现黑碳混合生长可以显著增强其大气层顶的长波辐射强迫,最高可达3倍.而且,包裹黑碳的硫酸盐半径越大,将明显增强大气层顶的黑碳长波辐射强迫.这些发现将有助于降低黑碳气溶胶气候效应评估的不确定性.     

Testing an ensemble model of cirrus ice crystals using midlatitude in situ estimates of ice water content,volume extinction coefficient and the total solar optical depth

In this paper an ensemble model of cirrus ice crystals is tested against midlatitude in situ estimates of ice water content, volume extinction coefficient and the total solar optical depth. During the Winter of 2005 and Spring 2006 the FAAM (Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements) BAE-146 G-LUXE aircraft flew three flights as part of the CAESAR (Cirrus and Anvils: European Satellite and Airborne Radiation measurements project) campaign of flying in cirrus around the UK. The suite of microphysical instrumentation onboard the aircraft included the PMS 2D-C probe and the Stratton Park Engineering Company (SPEC) cloud particle imager (CPI). The campaign characterized cirrus properties such as ice water content, volume extinction coefficient, ice crystal geometric shape and ice crystal effective dimension. Cirrus cloud temperatures ranged approximately between 215 and 240 K. From the CPI instrument 60–80% of the ice crystal habits were estimated to be either indeterminate or ‘irregular’ (though such irregular crystals could be composed of pristine components) of some form with hexagonal columns and hexagonal plates accounting for generally much less than 3% of the ice crystal population. The CPI estimated integrated ice water content ranged between 5±2 and 45±22 gm^?2, whilst the CPI estimate of the total solar optical depth was found to lie between 0.2±0.1 and 1.0±0.5. The CPI estimate of the mean ice crystal effective dimension was found to range between about 59±9 and 90±75 μm.The particle size distribution (PSD) function was estimated using a PSD scheme that requires as input the in situ estimated IWC and measured in-cloud temperature. The CPI estimates of the bulk and microphysical properties of the midlatitude cirrus are used to test whether an ensemble model of cirrus ice crystals together with a PSD scheme can predict CPI in situ estimates to within the experimental uncertainty. This paper demonstrates that the ensemble model coupled with a PSD scheme can predict the ice water content and the integrated ice water content to generally well within the experimental uncertainty if a varying density with respect to size is assumed. The ensemble model together with a PSD scheme is also shown to predict the CPI estimated volume extinction coefficient and the derived total solar optical depth to generally well within the experimental uncertainty. The paper demonstrates that an ensemble model of cirrus combined with a PSD scheme can predict the radiative properties of cirrus without the need to invoke the concept of an ice crystal effective dimension.     

Infrared radiative transfer modelling in a 3D scattering cloudy atmosphere: Application to limb sounding measurements of cirrus

The Monte Carlo cloud scattering forward model (McClouds_FM) has been developed to simulate limb radiative transfer in the presence of cirrus clouds, for the purposes of simulating cloud contaminated measurements made by an infrared limb sounding instrument, e.g. the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS). A reverse method three-dimensional Monte Carlo transfer model is combined with a line-by-line model for radiative transfer through the non-cloudy atmosphere to explicitly account for the effects of multiple scattering by the clouds. The ice cloud microphysics are characterised by a size distribution of randomly oriented ice crystals, with the single scattering properties of the distribution determined by accurate calculations accounting for non-spherical habit.A comparison of McClouds_FM simulations and real MIPAS spectra of cirrus shows good agreement. Of particular interest are several noticeable spectral features (i.e. H₂O absorption lines) in the data that are replicated in the simulations: these can only be explained by upwelling tropospheric radiation scattered into the line-of-sight by the cloud ice particles.     

Effect of ice crystal shape and effective size on snow bidirectional reflectance

We tested the applicability of three rigorous radiative transfer computational approaches, namely, the discrete ordinates radiative transfer (DISORT) method, the adding–doubling approach, and an efficient computational technique based on Ambartsumian's nonlinear integral equation for computing the bidirectional reflectance of a semi-infinite layer. It was found that each of these three models, in a combination with the truncation of the forward peak of the bulk scattering phase functions of ice particles, can be used to simulate the bidirectional reflectance of a semi-infinite snow layer with appropriate accuracy. Furthermore, we investigate the sensitivity of the bidirectional reflectance of a homogeneous and optically infinite snow layer to ice crystal habit and effective particle size. It is shown that the bidirectional reflectance is not sensitive to the particle effective size in the visible spectrum. The sensitivity of the bidirectional reflectance in the near-infrared spectrum to the particle effective size increases with the increase of the incident wavelength. The sensitivity of the bidirectional reflectance to the effective particle size and shape is attributed fundamentally to the sensitivity of the single-scattering properties to particle size and shape. For a specific ice crystal habit, the truncated phase function used in the radiative transfer computations is not sensitive to particle effective size. Thus, the single-scattering albedo is primarily responsible for the sensitivity of the bidirectional reflectance to particle size, particularly, at a near-infrared wavelength.     

Evaluating Ecohydrological Model Sensitivity to Input Variability with an Information-Theory-Based Approach

Ecohydrological models vary in their sensitivity to forcing data and use available information to different extents. We focus on the impact of forcing precision on ecohydrological model behavior particularly by quantizing, or binning, time-series forcing variables. We use rate-distortion theory to quantize time-series forcing variables to different precisions. We evaluate the effect of different combinations of quantized shortwave radiation, air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and wind speed on simulated heat and carbon fluxes for a multi-layer canopy model, which is forced and validated with eddy covariance flux tower observation data. We find that the model is more sensitive to radiation than meteorological forcing input, but model responses also vary with seasonal conditions and different combinations of quantized inputs. While any level of quantization impacts carbon flux similarly, specific levels of quantization influence heat fluxes to different degrees. This study introduces a method to optimally simplify forcing time series, often without significantly decreasing model performance, and could be applied within a sensitivity analysis framework to better understand how models use available information.     

非球形气溶胶粒子散射相函数经验公式

散射相函数是研究电磁波传输特性的重要参数，直接影响电磁波传输方程的简化程度和解的精度。基于电磁散射与辐射传输中的基本理论，对非球形粒子散射相函数的经验公式进行了研究。为了很好的模拟非球形粒子的后向散射峰值，提高辐射传输方程的简化程度和解的精度，提出了一种新的相函数经验公式。分析新的相函数对非球形粒子的适用性，以单个沙尘性气溶胶为例，计算了不同形状粒子的Henyey-Greenstein*相函数和新的相函数随角度的变化，并与T矩阵法的计算结果进行了对比，发现椭球形粒子的长短轴比和有限长圆柱形粒子的径长比大于0.5时，新的相函数在大角度后向散射部分与T矩阵法的吻合程度较高。考虑波长变化，对比了尺寸谱满足对数正态分布的四种气溶胶粒子的Henyey-Greenstein*相函数和新的相函数与T矩阵法的计算结果。研究表明，对于椭球形粒子和有限长圆柱形粒子，在大角度(大于90°)后向散射部分，除了0.694时的椭球形海洋性气溶胶，新的相函数均方根差较小的占100%，证明了新的相函数可以较好的模拟非球形粒子的后向散射特征。新的相函数对准确模拟辐射传输过程具有重要意义。     

A fast infrared radiative transfer model for overlapping clouds

A fast infrared radiative transfer model (FIRTM2) appropriate for application to both single-layered and overlapping cloud situations is developed for simulating the outgoing infrared spectral radiance at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). In FIRTM2 a pre-computed library of cloud reflectance and transmittance values is employed to account for one or two cloud layers, whereas the background atmospheric optical thickness due to gaseous absorption can be computed from a clear-sky radiative transfer model. FIRTM2 is applicable to three atmospheric conditions: (1) clear-sky, (2) single-layered ice or water cloud, and (3) two simultaneous cloud layers in a column (e.g., ice cloud overlying water cloud). Moreover, FIRTM2 outputs the derivatives (i.e., Jacobians) of the TOA brightness temperature with respect to cloud optical thickness and effective particle size. Sensitivity analyses have been carried out to assess the performance of FIRTM2 for two spectral regions, namely the longwave (LW) band (587.3-1179.5 cm⁻¹) and the short-to-medium wave (SMW) band (1180.1-2228.9 cm⁻¹). The assessment is carried out in terms of brightness temperature differences (BTD) between FIRTM2 and the well-known discrete ordinates radiative transfer model (DISORT), henceforth referred to as BTD (F−D). The BTD (F−D) values for single-layered clouds are generally less than 0.8 K. For the case of two cloud layers (specifically ice cloud over water cloud), the BTD (F−D) values are also generally less than 0.8 K except for the SMW band for the case of a very high altitude (>15 km) cloud comprised of small ice particles. Note that for clear-sky atmospheres, FIRTM2 reduces to the clear-sky radiative transfer model that is incorporated into FIRTM2, and the errors in this case are essentially those of the clear-sky radiative transfer model.     

Polarization difference due to nonrandomly oriented ice particles at millimeter/submillimeter waveband

This paper presents polarized signature due to oriented circular columnar and planar ice crystals at millimeter/submillimeter (mm/sub-mm) waveband. DDSCAT 6.1 and RT4 code package are employed for scattering properties and radiative transfer simulations, respectively, at the three estimated window frequencies (150, 220 and 340 GHz) of FengYun-4 (FY-4). We use empirical formulas to describe realistic sizes of planar and columnar particles and assume that ice particles are in Gamma-size distribution in this study. A “resonance” feature of polarized signals as a function of median mass diameter is notably found for horizontally oriented columns and blunt plates at the frequency of 340 GHz; however, there is no promising resonance characteristic for horizontally aligned plates with empirical sizes at the three window channels of FY-4. The position of the resonance peak is related to particle aspect ratio, frequency and ice water path (IWP), and it moves to a shorter median mass diameter when the particle aspect ratio decreases or IWP in clouds increases. Considering that particle canting angle distribution (Gaussian distribution in this study), polarization difference, as well as the brightness temperature difference between clear and cloudy sky, decreases rapidly when particles gradually change from horizontally oriented to randomly oriented. The upwelling brightness temperature is insensitive to particle size and shape but sensitive to particle orientation, the difference of brightness temperature between horizontal and random orientation up to 6 K, whereas polarized signature is quite sensitive to particle microphysics as well as orientation; polarized measurements thereby could benefit retrieval of cloud microphysical parameters.     

Scaling algorithms for the calculation of solar radiative fluxes

We derived new scaling formulae based on the method of successive orders of scattering to calculate solar radiative flux. In this report, we demonstrate a multiple scaling method, in which we introduce scaling factors for each scattering order independently. The formula of radiative transfer by the method of successive orders of scattering cannot be solved rapidly except in the case of optically thin atmospheres. Then we further derived a double scaling method, which scales the ordinary radiative transfer equation by two scaling factors. We applied the double scaling method to two-stream and four-stream approximations of the discrete ordinates method. Comparing the results of the double scaling method with those of the delta-M method, we found that the double scaling method improved the accuracy of radiative fluxes at large solar zenith angles, especially in the optically thin region, and that in the region where multiple scattering dominates, its accuracy was comparable to that of the delta-M method. Once we determined the scaling factors appropriately, the double scaling method calculated radiative fluxes as rapidly as the delta-M method in the two-stream and four-stream approximations. This method, therefore, is useful for accurate computation of solar radiative fluxes in general circulation models.     

A strong ice cloud event as seen by a microwave satellite sensor: Simulations and observations

In this article, brightness temperatures observed by channels of the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B) instrument are compared to those simulated by a radiative transfer model, which can take into account the multiple scattering due to ice particles by using a discrete ordinate iterative solution method. The input fields, namely, the pressure, temperature, humidity, and cloud water content are taken from the short range forecast from the Met Office mesoscale model (UKMES). The comparison was made for a case study on the 25 January 2002 when a frontal system associated with significant cloud was present over the UK. It is demonstrated that liquid clouds have maximum impact on channel 16 of AMSU whereas ice clouds have maximum impact on channel 20. The main uncertainty for simulating microwave radiances is the assumptions about microphysical properties, such as size distribution, shape and orientation of the cloud particles, which are not known in the mesoscale model. The article examines the impact of these parameters on the cloud signal. The polarisation signal due to oriented ice particles at these frequencies is also discussed.     

Dependence of ice crystal optical properties on particle aspect ratio

The single-scattering properties of randomly oriented hexagonal ice crystals have been extensively used to study the bulk radiative properties of ice clouds. It has been reported in the literature that the asymmetry factors of these particles vary with their aspect ratios in a “V-pattern” with the minimum at a unit aspect ratio. However, this phenomenon was not explained in the previous studies. The present paper reports on an in-depth analysis of the optical properties of hexagonal ice crystals. It is shown that the delta-transmission is primarily responsible for the aforementioned “V-pattern” variation of the asymmetry factor as a function of the aspect ratio. Additionally, the term (1?f_δ)g is also partially responsible for the large values of the total asymmetry factor in the case of small aspect ratios, where f_δ indicates the ratio of the amount of the energy associated with the delta-transmission rays to the total amount of the scattered energy and g is the asymmetry factor associated with the geometric optics rays.     

Temperature dependence of ice optical constants: Implications for simulating the single-scattering properties of cold ice clouds

For a spectrum from ultraviolet to microwave and a temperature range from 160 to 270 K, the optical constants of water ice are compiled on the basis of the Kramers-Kronig relation in conjunction with existing datasets reported in literature. Significant temperature dependence is observed in both the mid-infrared and longer wavelengths. A sensitivity study at wavelengths in the infrared split window region indicates that the temperature dependence of the single-scattering properties of ice crystals is not negligible. Thus, it is necessary to take into account the temperature dependence of ice optical constants when simulating the radiative properties of cirrus clouds for various applications to remote sensing under cirrus cloud conditions.     

Effects of water and ice clouds on cloud microphysical budget:An equilibrium modeling study

The effects of water and ice clouds on the cloud microphysical budget associated with rainfall are investigated through the analysis of grid-scale data from a series of two-dimensional cloud-resolving model equilibrium sensitivity simulations. The model is imposed without large-scale vertical velocity. In the control experiment, the contribution from rainfall （cM） associated with net evaporation and hydrometeor loss/convergence is about 29% of that from the rainfall （Cm） associated with net condensation and hydrometeor gain/divergence and about 39% of that from the rainfall （CM） associated with net condensation and hydrometeor loss/convergence. The exclusion of ice clouds enhances rainfall contribution of CM, whereas it reduces rainfall contributions of Cm and cM. The removal of radiative effects of water clouds increases rainfall contribution of CM, barely changes rainfall contribution of Cm and reduces the rainfall contribution of cM in the presence of the radiative effects of ice clouds. Elimination of the radiative effects of water clouds reduces the rainfall contributions of CM and Cm, whereas it increases the rainfall contribution of cM in the absence of the radiative effects of ice clouds.