Classifying atmospheric ice crystals by spatial light scattering.
We describe preliminary results from an optical scattering instrument designed to assess the shapes and sizes of microscopic atmospheric cloud particles, especially the smallest ice crystals, that can profoundly affect cloud processes and radiative properties. The new instrument captures high-resolution spatial light scattering patterns from individual particles down to approximately 1 microm in size passing through a focused laser beam. Its significance lies in the ability of these patterns to provide morphological data for particle sizes well below the optical resolution limits of current cloud particle probes.
Kaye
Paul H
PH
Science and Technology Research Institute, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK. p.h.kaye@herts.ac.uk
Hirst
Edwin
E
Greenaway
Richard S
RS
Ulanowski
Zbigniew
Z
Hesse
Evelyn
E
Demott
Paul J
PJ
Saunders
Clive
C
Connolly
Paul
P