Optical properties of cirrus clouds at a mid-latitude EARLINET station

Elina Giannakaki; Dimitris Balis; Vassilis Amiridis; Stelios Kazadzis

doi:10.1117/12.740698

16 October 2007 Optical properties of cirrus clouds at a mid-latitude EARLINET station

Elina Giannakaki, Dimitris Balis, Vassilis Amiridis, Stelios Kazadzis

Proceedings Volume 6745, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere XII; 67450M (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.740698
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2007, Florence, Italy

Abstract

Measurements performed with a backscatter and Raman lidar at Thessaloniki, Greece were used to characterize cirrus clouds and aerosol layers by determining their optical properties. This is achieved through the application of different post-processing algorithms. We retrieved the cirrus cloud's optical properties by using three independent mathematical methods. In the first method, an iterative procedure was used based on the criterion that forward and backward integration coincide to the desired degree of accuracy. In the second method, the optical depth of the cirrus cloud can be determined by comparing the backscattering signals just bellow and above the cloud if the lidar signals are correctly represent the scattering medium. The third method, the well known Raman method, is applicable to night time measurements and is capable for determining the vertical profile of lidar ratio. The results are considerably influenced by multiple scattering effects, that not taken into account and this leads to a significant underestimation of calculated cirrus optical depths and lidar ratios. To estimate and correct this effect we have applied a radiative transfer model that calculates the multiple scattering contributions for each cirrus case analyzed. We have compared the resulting optical depths and lidar ratios and found a good agreement between these methods. The comparison has been performed to the effective values of optical depth and lidar ratio.

Citation Download Citation

Elina Giannakaki, Dimitris Balis, Vassilis Amiridis, and Stelios Kazadzis "Optical properties of cirrus clouds at a mid-latitude EARLINET station", Proc. SPIE 6745, Remote Sensing of Clouds and the Atmosphere XII, 67450M (16 October 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.740698

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available