American Meteorological Society, Journal of Applied Meteorology, 3(41), p. 218-229, 2002
DOI: 10.1175/1520-0450(2002)041<0218:ccmpru>2.0.co;2
Full text: Unavailable
A retrieval algorithm is described to estimate vertical profiles of cirrus-cloud ice water content (IWC) and general effective size Dge from combined lidar and radar measurements. In the algorithm, the lidar extinction coefficient is parameterized as = IWC[a0 + (a1/Dge)] and water equivalent radar reflectivity factor Ze is parameterized as Ze = C(IWC/i)Dbge, where a0, a1, C, and b are constants based on the assumption of a modified gamma size distribution and hexagonal ice crystals. A comparison of retrieved results from a cirrus-cloud case study with aircraft in situ measurements indicates that the algorithm can provide reliable cirrus cloud microphysical properties. A technique to estimate ice water path and layer-mean Dge is also developed using the optical depth and mean radar reflectivity factor of the cloud layer.