title: Simple relation between lidar multiple scattering and depolarization for water clouds.
abstract: An empirical relationship is derived between the multiple-scattering fraction and the linear depolarization ratio by using Monte Carlo simulations of water clouds measured by backscatter lidar. This relationship is shown to hold for clouds having a wide range of extinction coefficients, mean droplet sizes, and droplet size distribution widths. The relationship is also shown to persist for various instrument fields of view and for measurements made within broken cloud fields. The results obtained from the Monte Carlo simulations are verified by using multiple-field-of-view lidar measurements. For space-based lidars equipped to measure linear depolarization ratios, this new relationship can be used to accurately assess signal perturbations due to multiple scattering within nonprecipitating water clouds.
authors.affiliation: Climate Science Branch, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia 23681, USA. yongxiang.hu-1@nasa.gov
authors.forename: Yongxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zhaoyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Winker
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bissonnette
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGill