Optical Model of a Cirrus Cloud Consisting of Hollow Ice Hexagonal Columns for Lidar Applications

Abstract

The absence of an adequate optical model for cirrus clouds poses a significant challenge in interpreting ground-based and satellite lidar data. This, in turn, leads to a lack of up-to-date information for climate modeling and daily weather forecasting. Existing optical models typically assume an ideal shape of ice crystals in cirrus clouds, which is often not the case. This article suggests an optical model for clouds which consist of the most common irregularly shaped particles, specifically, hollow hexagonal columns. The model takes into account the actual distributions of cloud particles over both cavity depth and particle size. Additionally, the model considers a cloud containing a mixture of ideal hexagonal columns and hollow hexagonal columns, which significantly enhances the model reliability. The resulting model holds great practical importance for laser sounding of the atmosphere.