Backscattering peak of ice cloud particles. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • At a wavelength corresponding to negligible electromagnetic absorption by ice, rigorous numerical simulations based on solving Maxwell's equations show a backscattering peak associated with the phase function of randomly oriented hexagonal ice crystals. The backscattering peak, which has important implications to the interpretation of lidar observations, exists in the cases of smooth regular, smooth irregular, and roughened hexagonal ice crystals. The backscattering peak width is inversely proportional to the size parameter. The theoretical prediction of the backscattering peak is consistent with observations.

published proceedings

  • Opt Express

author list (cited authors)

  • Zhou, C., & Yang, P.

citation count

  • 44

complete list of authors

  • Zhou, Chen||Yang, Ping

publication date

  • May 2015