title: Ice cloud backscatter study and comparison with CALIPSO and MODIS satellite data.
abstract: An invariant imbedding T-matrix (II-TM) method is used to calculate the single-scattering properties of 8-column aggregate ice crystals. The II-TM based backscatter values are compared with those calculated by the improved geometric-optics method (IGOM) to refine the backscattering properties of the ice cloud radiative model used in the MODIS Collection 6 cloud optical property product. The integrated attenuated backscatter-to-cloud optical depth (IAB-ICOD) relation is derived from simulations using a CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite) lidar simulator based on a Monte Carlo radiative transfer model. By comparing the simulation results and co-located CALIPSO and MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) observations, the non-uniform zonal distribution of ice clouds over ocean is characterized in terms of a mixture of smooth and rough ice particles. The percentage of the smooth particles is approximately 6% and 9% for tropical and midlatitude ice clouds, respectively.
authors.forename: Jiachen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Holz
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Platnick
authors.forename: Kerry G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Yongxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: King