Abstract
The effective ice crystal particle diameter (D e ) of cirrus clouds can be inferred by comparing the measured radar / lidar backscattering ratio with the theoretically calculated one. The calculated ratios are based upon assumptions of ice crystal particle density and size distribution, and it will be affected by the artificially assumed particle size ranges. This size truncation effect on the inference of effective particle diameter will be investigated theoretically by assuming the cirrus ice particle spherical and particle density of 0.9g / cm3. Results show that the truncation at large particle end has very small effect on the inference of D e, but the truncation at the small particle end will have some effect on the inference of D e e.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnott, Q.P., Y. Dong, and J. Hallett (1994), Role of small ice crystals in radiative properties of cirrus: A case study, FIRE II, November 22, 1991. J.Geophys. Res., 99: D1, 1371–1381.
Brown, P. R. A., A. J. Illingworth, A. J. Heymsfield, G. M. McFarquhar, K. A. Browning and M. Gosset (1995), The role of spaceborn millimetre-wave radar in the global monitoring of ice cloud, Appl. meteor., 34: 2346–2366.
Heymsfield, A. J., and C. M. R. Platt (1984), A parameterization of the particle spectrum of ice clouds in terms of the ambient temperature and the ice water content, J. Atmos. Sci., 41: 846–855.
Heymsfield, A. J., K. M. Miller, and J. D. Spinhirne (1990), The 27–28 October 1986 FIRE cirrus case study: Cloud microstructure, Mon. Wea. Rev., 118: 2313–2328.
Intrieri, J. M., G. L. Stephens, W. L. Eberhard, and T. Uttal (1993), A method for determining cirrus cloud particle sizes using lidar and radar backscatter technique, J. Appl. Meteor., 32: 1074–1082.
Stephens, G. L., S. C. Tsay, P. W. Stackhouse, Jr., and P. J. Flatau (1990), The relevance of the microphysical and radiative properties of cirrus clouds to climate and climatic feedback, J. Atmos. Sci., 47: 1742–1753.
Warren, S. G. (1984), Optical constants of ice from the ultraviolet to the microwave, Appl. Opt., 23: 1206–1223.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by LAPC.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chunlei, L., Keya, Y. Particle size truncation effect on the inference of effective particle diameter. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 14, 350–354 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-997-0055-4
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-997-0055-4