Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The approximate distribution of scattered solar radiative intensities from optically thin cirrus

  • Published:
pure and applied geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The present study deals with the approximate scattering characteristics of optically thin cirrus clouds which are known to exist in the vicinity of the tropopause. The assumed homogeneous ice model cloud is composed of randomly oriented circular cylinders of uniform size. The spectral region investigated extends from 0.6–0.7 μ, where absorption by ice and atmospheric gases is negligible Radiative upward and downward intensities are calculated for a uniform ground albedo of 0 and 0.25 using the assumption that multiple-scattering can be disregarded. A rough comparison with the Rayleigh scattering characteristics in this spectral region indicates that remote sensing of the atmosphere is affected very little by the presence of optically thin cirrus assuming the validity of the above assumptions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. H. S. Appleman,Occurrence and Forecasting of Cirrostratus Clouds, World Meteorological Organization, No. 109, 47, Technical Note No. 40 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  2. K. N. Liou,Electromagnetic scattering by arbitrarily oriented ice cylinders, Appl. Optics11 (1972), 667–674.

    Google Scholar 

  3. K. N. Liou,Light scattering by ice clouds in the visible and infrared: A theoretical study, J. Atmos. Sci.29 (1972), 524–536.

    Google Scholar 

  4. H. C. van de Hulst,Light Scattering by Small Particles (Wiley & Sons, New York 1957), p. 452.

    Google Scholar 

  5. W. G. Zdunkowski andG. Korb,An approximative method for the determination of short-wave radiative fluxes in scattering and absorbing media, Atmos. Phys.47 (1974), 129.

    Google Scholar 

  6. K. N. Liou,Transfer of solar irradiance through cirrus cloud layers, J. Geophys. Res.78 (1973), 1409–1418.

    Google Scholar 

  7. K. N. Liou, Private communication, 1974.

  8. K. L. Coulson, J. V. Dave andZ. Sekera,Tables Related to Radiation Emerging from a Planetary Atmosphere with Rayleigh Scattering (University of California Press, Berkeley 1960), 548 pp.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Meteorology, University of Utah, Utah, USA

    James D. Pryce

Authors
  1. Wilford G. Zdunkowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James D. Pryce
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zdunkowski, W.G., Pryce, J.D. The approximate distribution of scattered solar radiative intensities from optically thin cirrus. PAGEOPH 112, 739–752 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00876949

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00876949

Keywords

Search

Navigation