The backscattered light from agglomerated debris particles shows that an approximate linear correlation exists between the logarithm of the geometric albedo log ⁡ ( A ) of polydispersions of agglomerated debris particles and their lidar linear or circular depolarization ratios, µ L and µ C . The nature of the relationship depends on the complex refractive index of the particles in the distribution. This extension of the Umov law can be used for lidar and radar characterizations by placing constraints on the reflectivity of the particles. It suggests that an approximate inverse relationship exists between the lidar ratio and the lidar depolarization ratios whose scaling parameter depends on the refractive index of the aerosol population.