Browsing by Author "Zhang, Zhibo"
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Item Computation of the scattering properties of nonspherical ice crystals(Texas A&M University, 2004-11-15) Zhang, ZhiboThis thesis is made up of three parts on the computation of scattering properties of nonspherical particles in the atmosphere. In the first part, a new crystal type-droxtal-is introduced to make a better representation of the shape of small ice crystals in the uppermost portions of midlatitude and tropical cirrus clouds. Scattering properties of droxtal ice crystals are investigated by using the Improved-Geometric Optic (IGO) method. At the visible wavelength, due to the presence of the hexagonal structure, all elements of the phase matrix of droxtal ice crystals share some common features with hexagonal ice crystals, such as 220 and 460 halos. In the second part of this thesis, the possibility of enhancing the performance of current Anomalous Diffraction Theory (ADT) is investigated. In conventional ADT models, integrations are usually carried out in the domain of the particle projection. By transforming the integration domain to the domain of scaled projectile length, the algorithm of conventional ADT models is enhanced. Because the distribution of scaled projectile length is independent of the particle's physical size as long as the shape remains the same, the new algorithm is especially efficient for the calculation of a large number of particles with the same shape but different sizes. Finally, in the third part, the backscattering properties of nonspherical ice crystals at the 94GHz frequency are studied by employing the Finite-Difference Time- Domain (FDTD) method. The most important factor that controls the backscattering cross section is found to be the ratio of the volume-equal radius to the maximum dimension of the ice crystal. Substantial differences in backscattering cross sections are found between horizontal orientated and randomly oriented ice crystals. An analytical formula is derived for the relationship between the ice water (IWC) content and the radar reflectivity ( e Z ). It is shown that a change to the concentration of ice crystals without any changes on the size distribution or particle habits leads only to a linear e Z IWC - relationship. The famous power law e Z IWC - relationship is the result of the shift of the peak of particle size distribution.Item Satellite-based remote sensing of cirrus clouds: hyperspectral radiative transfer modeling, analysis of uncertainties in in-situ cloud extinction measurements and intercomparison of cirrus retrievals from a-train instruments(2009-05-15) Zhang, ZhiboThis dissertation consists of three parts, each devoted to a particular issue of significant importance for satellite-based remote sensing of cirrus clouds. In the first part, we develop and present a fast infrared radiative transfer model on the basis of the adding-doubling principle. The model aims to facilitate the radiative transfer computations involved in hyperspectral remote sensing applications. The model is applicable to a variety of cloud conditions, including vertically inhomogeneous or multilayered clouds. It is shown that for hyperspectral applications the model is two order-of-magnitude faster than the well-known discrete ordinate transfer (DISORT) model, while maintains a similar accuracy. The second part is devoted to the investigation of uncertainties in the FSSP (Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe) measurement of cloud extinction by small ice particles. First, the single-scattering properties of small ice particles in cirrus clouds are derived and compared to those of equivalent spheres according to various definitions. It is found that, although small ice particles in cirrus clouds are often ?quasi-spherical?, their scattering phase functions and asymmetry factors are significant different from those of ice spheres. Such differences may lead to substantial underestimation of cloud extinction in FSSP measurement, if small ice particles are assumed to be spheres. In the third part, we present a comparison of cirrus cloud optical thickness retrievals from two important instruments, MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) and POLDER (Polarization and Directionality of Earth?s Reflection), on board NASA?s A-train satellite constellation. The comparison reveals a large difference. Several possible reasons are discussed. It is found that much of the difference is attributable to the difference between the MODIS and POLDER retrieval algorithm in the assumption of cirrus cloud bulk scattering properties. Potential implications of the difference for climate studies are investigated. An important finding is that the use of an unrealistic cirrus bulk scattering model might introduce artificial seasonal variation of cirrus optical thickness and shortwave radiative forcing into the retrieval.