Disclaimer: This material is being kept online for historical purposes. Though accurate at the time of publication, it is no longer being updated. The page may contain broken links or outdated information, and parts may not function in current web browsers. Visit https://espo.nasa.gov for information about our current projects.

 

Detecting super-thin clouds with polarized sunlight

Sun, W., G. Videen, and M. Mishchenko (2014), Detecting super-thin clouds with polarized sunlight, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, doi:10.1002/2013GL058840.
Abstract: 

We report a novel method for detecting cloud particles in the atmosphere. Solar radiation backscattered from clouds is studied with both satellite data and a radiative transfer model. A distinct feature is found in the angle of linear polarization of solar radiation that is backscattered from clouds. The dominant backscattered electric field from the clear-sky Earth-atmosphere system is nearly parallel to the Earth surface. However, when clouds are present, this electric field can rotate significantly away from the parallel direction. Model results demonstrate that this polarization feature can be used to detect super-thin cirrus clouds having an optical depth of only ~0.06 and super-thin liquid water clouds having an optical depth of only ~0.01. Such clouds are too thin to be sensed using any current passive satellite instruments.

PDF of Publication: 
Download from publisher's website.
Research Program: 
Radiation Science Program (RSP)
Mission: 
Glory
CLARREO