Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 5 November 2014

Outline

1.Rayleigh and Mie scattering

2.Phase functions

3.Extinction

4.Single and multiple scattering

Luca Lelli
luca@iup.physik.uni-bremen.de
Room U2080
Phone 0421.218.62097
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Scattering fundamentals

•Scattering can be broadly defined as the redirection of radiation out of

the original direction of propagation, usually due to interactions with
molecules and particles

•Reflection, refraction, diffraction etc. are actually all just forms of

scattering

•Matter is composed of discrete electrical charges (atoms and molecules

– dipoles)

•Light is an oscillating EM field – excites charges, which radiate EM

waves

•These radiated EM waves are scattered waves, excited by a source

external to the scatterer

•The superposition of incident and scattered EM waves is what is

observed
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Scattering geometry
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Scattering geometry

Backward Forward
scattering scattering
✓ = ⇡(= 180 ) ✓=0

✓
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Types of scattering

1. Elastic scattering
the wavelength (frequency) of the scattered light is the same as the
incident light (Rayleigh and Mie scattering)

2. Inelastic scattering
the emitted radiation has a wavelength different from that of the incident
radiation (Raman scattering, fluorescence)

3. Quasi-elastic scattering
the wavelength (frequency) of the scattered light shifts (e.g., in moving
matter due to Doppler effects)
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Rayleigh and Mie scattering
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Rayleigh and Mie scattering example

Brighter beam Laser beam

Enhanced forward Wavelength 532 nm
scattering (Mie) in
the direction of
observation

Shallower beam
Beam splitter
Side scattering
(Rayleigh)
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 More types of scattering

1) Single scattering

•Photons scattered only once

•Prevails in optically thin media (τ << 1),
since photons have a high probability of
exiting the medium (e.g., a thin cloud)
before being scattered again
•Also favored in strongly absorbing media
(ω << 1)
a) 1 photon b) 3 photon
2) Multiple scattering
g=0 g = 0.85

•Prevails in optically thick, strongly

scattering and non-absorbing media
•Photons may be scattered hundreds of
times before emerging
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Parameters governing scattering

(1) The wavelength (λ) of the incident radiation

(2) The size of the scattering particle, usually expressed as the

non-dimensional size parameter, x:
2⇡r
x=

r is the radius of a spherical particle, λ is wavelength

(3) The particle optical properties relative to the surrounding

medium: the complex refractive index

Scattering regimes:

x << 1 : Rayleigh scattering

x~1 : Mie scattering
x >>1 : Geometric scattering
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Atmospheric particles

Type Size Number concentration

Gas molecule ~10-4 µm < 3×1019 cm-3

Aerosol, Aitken < 0.1µm ~104 cm-3
Aerosol, Large 0.1-1 µm ~102 cm-3
Aerosol, Giant > 1 µm ~10-1 cm-3
Cloud droplet 5-50 µm 102-103 cm-3
Drizzle drop ~100 µm ~103 m-3
Ice crystal 10-102 µm 103-105 m-3
Rain drop 0.1-3 mm 10-103 m-3
Graupel 0.1-3 mm 1-102 m-3
Hailstone ~1 cm 10-2-1 m-3
Insect ~1 cm <1 m-3
Bird ~10 cm <10-4 m-3
Airplane ~10-100 m <1 km-3
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Some refractive indices

Substance nr ni (n = nr+ i ni)

Water 1.333 0
Water (ice) 1.309 0
NaCl (salt) 1.544 0
H2SO4 1.426 0
(NH4)2SO4 1.521 0
SiO2 1.55 0 (λ = 550 nm)
Carbon 1.95 -0.79 (λ = 550 nm)
Mineral dust 1.56 -0.006 (λ = 550 nm)

The most significant absorbing component of atmospheric particles is

elemental carbon (soot); reflected in the large value of the imaginary part of
the refractive index.

Other common atmospheric particles are purely scattering.

Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Scattering regimes

Microwave
Only single scattering

Thermal IR
Only spheres

Near IR
Visible
UV
cs
1 cm pti Hail
tr ic O
m e 00
1 mm o 0 Raindrops
Ge x=
2

in g
ter
100 µm Drizzle
a t
Particle Radius

e Sc
10 µm Mi Cloud droplets
.2

}
0 ing Dust,
1 µm x =
t ter Smoke,
S ca
h Haze
ig 2
0.1 µm yle 0 0
Ra = 0. ing
x r Aitken Nuclei
atte
10 nm Sc
b l e
i gi
g l
1 nm Ne
Air Molecules

0.1 µm 1 µm 10 µm 100 µm 1 mm 1 cm 10 cm
Wavelength
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Scattering phase function

x=10
Forward scattering

x=3

Scattering lobes derived from Mie

x=1
theory for homogeneous spheres

x=0.1

The scattering phase function, or phase function, gives the

angular distribution of light intensity scattered by a particle at a
given wavelength
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Rayleigh scattering phase function
E
Atmospheric composition: N2 (78%), O2 (21%), Ar (1%)

Size of N2 molecule: 0.31 nm

Size of O2 molecule: 0.29 nm
Size of Ar molecule: 0.3 nm !

Visible wavelengths ~400-700 nm Vertically polarized

=> Size parameter << 1

Horizontally polarized

✓ !

Unpolarized
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Rayleigh and Mie scattering

Figure 1.2: Normalized angular distribution of the scatterd light for 4 di↵erent
size parameters. (a) Rayleigh limit (b) x = 0.01 (c) x = 0.1 (d) x = 10. The
green curve is the parallel incident polarization. The red is the perpendicular one
and the blue one for unpolarized light.

Rayleigh coefficients, due to the molecular part of the atmosphere 8

 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 CLOUD OPTICS Mie scattering phase function

0.532µm Cloud of poly-dispersed water

1000 1.064µm droplets of mean radius 6 micron
1.64µm
2.13µm

100
phase function

10
✓

0.1

0.01
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
scattering angle, degrees
he phase function of water clouds at wavelengths 0.532, 1.064, 1.64, and 2.13 µm for
lectric and magnetic field, in order to ensure the energy
heAerosol and Clouds WS2014
interface: Rayleigh and Mie scattering
8
< (! ! ! !
E int E ext ) ⇥ d S = 0 Maxwell equations + boundary
conditions at(1.1)
particle surface
: (! ! ! !
H int H ext ) ⇥ d S = 0

d the general solutions for the Maxwell equations and

ts (1.1) as linear combination from known solutions. The
!lectric and
! magnetic field, in order to ensure the energy
k and E ? be the respective two field components (with
heAerosol and Clouds WS2014
interface: Rayleigh and Mie scattering
bitrary
8 plane of reference through the direction of propaga-
! ! ! !
<
ng wave( E (subscript
int E ext ) i)
⇥ and = 0outgoingMaxwell
d S the equations e).
wave (subscript + boundary
! ! ! ! conditions at(1.1)
particle surface
ing in: any
( H intdirection
H ext ) is
⇥ described
d S = 0 by four complex amplitude
and the electric field E as 6
" !general
d the # solutions" for the# Maxwell
" ! # equations and
E k,e eik(R z) S
2 S3 E k,i Plane wave +
ts (1.1)
! as linear= combination from ! known solutions. The(1.2)amplitudes S_i
4 complex
E ?,e ikR S4 S1 E ?,i
is the wavenumber, r the distance from the particle, z the
n the propagation direction of the incident wave and the
description of scattering is then reduced to the derivation

tering by a sphere
oduced in the previous section is analytically solvable for a
of the particle of any size. Its solution was found by Gus-
The symmetry of the particle allows to simplify the equa-
g S3 = S4 = 0 and two relations are found for the electric
!lectric and
! magnetic field, in order to ensure the energy
k and E ? be the respective two field components (with
ering
he Aerosol
interface: by
and a
Clouds sphere
WS2014 Rayleigh and Mie scattering
bitrary
8 plane of reference through the direction of propaga-
< ! ! ! ! Maxwell equations + boundary
ng wave
oduced ( Ein(subscript
intthe E ext ) i)
previous ⇥ and S the
= 0outgoing
dsection wave (subscript
is analytically solvable fore).a
! ! ! ! conditions at(1.1)
particle surface
ingthe
of : any
in ( H intdirection
particle H
ofext ) is
any described
⇥size.
dS = by four complex
Its0solution was found amplitude
by Gus-
6
and the electric field E as
The symmetry of the particle allows to simplify the equa-
" !general
d the # solutions" for the# Maxwell " ! # equations and
S3 =E S ik(R z)
k,e4 = 0eand two Srelations
2 S3 arek,i found for Plane
E wave +
the electric
ts
!(1.1)
! as ! linear
= combination from ! known solutions. The(1.2)amplitudes S_i
4 complex
E k,e E
and ikR S4 Sparallel
?,e E ?,e , respectively 1 with and perpendicular
E ?,i
6
cattering, as
is the wavenumber, r the distance from the particle, z the
"! # " # "! #
n theEpropagation
k,e eik(R direction
z) S
2 of
0 theEincident
k,i waveS3and
= S4 the
= 0 sphere not depolarizing
! = ! (1.3)
description ikR
E ?,e of scattering0 is Sthen
1 reduced
E ?,i to the derivation
diagonal terms S3 and S4 to zero expresses the absence
during the scattering by the sphere. Considering both the
particle by
tering and the boundary constraints
a sphere at the surface, a
ate system (r, ✓, ) is appropriate to describe the solution,
oduced in
mposed in the previous
terms sectionharmonics.
of spherical is analytically solvable for a
of the particle
ensity of any
Ie scattered in size. Its solution
the direction (✓, was
) byfound by Gus-
a sphere, illu-
The symmetry
ntensity of written
Ii can be the particle
as: allows to simplify the equa-
g S3 = S4 I=
i 0 and two
2
relations
2
are 2found
2
for the electric
!lectric and! magnetic field, in order to ensure the energy
k and E ? be the respective two fieldBibliography components (with
ering
he Aerosol
tion by
and
(1.2)
interface: a
Clouds
settingsphereS3 = S4 = 0 and two relations are Rayleigh
WS2014 found for andtheMieelectric
scattering
bitrary
8 plane of reference ! through !the direction of propaga-
field
< !components ! E k,e
! and ! E ?,e , respectively
Maxwell parallel
equations + with and perpendicular
boundary
ng wave
oduced ( Ein(subscript
intthe E ext ) i)
previous ⇥ and S the
= 0outgoing
dsection wave
is analytically
[1] J.
(subscript
solvable
Seinfeld and S.
e).a Atmospheric chemistry and physics, Wiley,
for
Pandis,
to the
! plane ! of scattering,
! ! as 6 conditions at(1.1) particle surface
ingthe
of : any
in ( H intdirection
particle H
ofext ) is
any described
⇥size.
d"S = by four complex
Its0solution was 1998.
found amplitude
by #Gus-
! # " "! #
6 ik(R z)Rosenfeld
and the electric field E as E
The symmetry of the particle allows to simplify
k,e e [2] D. S2 the et0al.,
equa- E k,i
Inverse relations between amount od air pollution
" !general
d the # solutions" for!the# Maxwell "!= # equations and orographicand !
precipitation, Science 315 (2007), 1369. (1.3)
S3 =E S ik(R z)
2 ES?,e
k,e4 = 0eand two Srelations 3
ikR for 0Plane
arek,i found
E 1waveE+?,i
the Selectric
ts
!(1.1)! as ! linear
= combination from ! known [3]solutions.
J. Bösemberg
Theand(1.2)
4 complex V. amplitudes S_i A european aerosol re-
Matthias, Earlinet:
E Here,and
k,e E ?,esetting ikR
E ?,e , respectivelyS4 Sparallel
the diagonal withSand
E ?,i
terms andperpendicular
1 3search lidarSnetwork
4 to to zero expresses
estabilish the absence
an aerosol climatology, Tech. report,
6
cattering,
is of as
thedepolarization
wavenumber, r during the distance
the from http://www.earlinet.org/, 2003.
the
scattering particle,
by the z the
sphere. Considering both the
"! # " # "! #
n symmetry
theEpropagation
k,e
ik(R direction
eof z) S of
0 theEincident
[4] D.wave
the particle and the boundary
2 k,i and
Rosenfeld,
S3 = S4 the
Aerosols, clouds, and climate, Science 312 (2006), 1323.
= 0 sphere not
constraints at depolarizing
the surface, a
! = ! (1.3)
description ikR
E ?,e of scattering0 is Sthen reduced
E ?,i [5] to theThird
IPCC, derivation
assessment report of the intergovernmental panel
spherical coordinate system (r, ✓, ) onis climate
1 appropriate to describe the solution,
change: Summary for policymakers., Tech. report,
diagonal
that canterms S3 and S4 toin zero
be decomposed expresses
terms the absence
of http://www.ipcc.ch/,
spherical harmonics.
2001.

After
during the scattering bya the
change of coordinates
sphere. Considering [ (x,y,z) ->the
(r, phi, theta) ],
The observed intensity [6] C. F. Bohrenboth
Ie scattered in result
the direction (✓, ) by a sphere, illu-
and D. R. Hu↵man, Absorption and scattering of light by
the observed intensity I_e, smallthe
of
particles,
the illumination
Wiley, 1998.
of a
particle
tering and
by the
a boundary
sphere
sphere by constraints
I_i can be at
written as: surface, a
minated by the intensity Ii can be written as:
ate system (r, ✓, ) is appropriate to describe thede solution,
[7] H. C. van Hulst, Light scattering by small particles, Wiley, 1957.
Ii 2 solvable
2 2 2
oduced in the previous
I (✓, section
) = is analytically
mposed in terms of espherical harmonics. (|S (✓)| sin + for
|S
1 [8] M. Kerker, The scattering a
(✓)| cos ) electromagnetic(1.4)
2 of light and other radiation,
2
k R 2
of the particle
ensity of any
Ie scattered in size. Its solution
the direction (✓, was
) byfound
a sphere,by Gus-
Academic Press. New York, 1969.
illu-
The symmetry
ntensity of written
Ii can be the particle
as: allows to[9]simplify the
G. Mie, Beiträge equa-
zur optik trüber medien, speziell kolloidaler metallö-
sungen, Ann. der Physik 25 (1908), 377.
g S3 = S4 I=
i 0 and two
2
relations
2
are 2found
2
for the electric
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Rayleigh and Mie scattering

Forward peak

Refractions and internal reflections

Rayleigh Mie

Figure 1.3: Plot of A = |S1 (✓)2 + S2 (✓)2 | for a spherical water particle as
function of size parameter x and four di↵erent scattering angles for .
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Mie scattering
Bigger particles > more scattering.

Large particles > consider the fine-scale scattering from the surface
microstructure and then integrate over the larger scale structure.

If the surface isn’t smooth, the scattering is incoherent.

If the surfaces are smooth, then we use Snell’s Law

Incident E
and angle-of-incidence-equals-angle-of-reflection.

Add up all the waves resulting from all the input waves, taking into size parameter 43
account their coherence, too (Mie theory) refractive index 1.40
24 Kapitel 2. Elastische Lichtstreuung:parallel
Mie-Theorie
polarization

Mie regime Geometrical optics Ray tracing

Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Forward Diffraction Mie scattering phase function
Peak

Secondary Rainbow

Primary Rainbow x=100

x=10,000

Rainbow: for large particles (x = 10,0000), the

forward and backward peaks in the scattering
phase function become very narrow (almost
non-existent). Light paths are best predicted
using geometric optics and ray tracing

Primary rainbow: single internal reflection

Secondary rainbow: double internal reflection
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Mie scattering phase function

Glory

Glory Fogbow x=30

Corona

Forward Diffraction
Peak

ondary Rainbow Fogbow

ary Rainbow x=100

Fogbow
spikes in scattering phase function
present but not sharp as for
rainbows. Hence the separation of
colors (due to varying refractive
index) is not as vivid as a normal
rainbow.
x=10,000
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Mie scattering phase function

Glory

Glory Fogbow x=30

Corona

Forward Diffraction
Peak

ondary Rainbow Fogbow

Glory
ary Rainbow x=100

Glory
opposite end of the phase function from
the corona. Sun at the back.

Glories have vivid colors if the range of

drop sizes in the fog is relatively
narrow, otherwise white
x=10,000
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Mie scattering phase function

LunarGlory
corona

Glory Fogbow x=30

Corona

Forward Diffraction
Peak

ondary Rainbow Fogbow

Glory
ary Rainbow x=100
Corona
for intermediate values of the size parameter (x), the forward scattering peak is
accompanied by weaker sidelobes.

If you were to view the sun through a thin cloud composed of identical spherical
droplets (with x = 100 or less), you would see closely spaced rings around the
light source. The angular position of the rings depends on wavelength, so the
rings would be colored. This is a corona.

Because few real clouds have a sufficiently narrow distribution of drop sizes,
x=10,000

coronas are usually more diffuse and less brightly colored.

Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Extinction

Extinction = removal of light from its travel path due to both

absorption and scattering
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014 Extinction
5.3 Transmittance and Optical Thickness
Extinction = removal of light from its travel path due to both
absorption and scattering

I Incident light intensity

I (s) Outgoing light intensity

ds Differential travel path through a

medium of volume dV, section area
dA and radius r

bext ( ) Coefficient (or strength) of attenuation

Figure 5.4: Illustration of law by Lambert and Bouguer.

The Beer-Lambert-Bouguer extinction law

R
bext ( )ds ⌧( )
I (s) = I (0) e = I (0) e

⌧( ) Optical thickness of the volume (unitless).

Depends on the medium: absorption and scattering of
both molecules and particles
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)

0.5
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)

0.5
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

0.4 I -4.08

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

0.4 I -2.35

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

0.4 I -1.90

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss

0.4 I -1.85

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4 I -1.83

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4 Cloud =1, ms

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4 -0.43 Cloud =1, ms
I

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4 Cloud =1, ms
Cloud =5, ms

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4 -0.13 Cloud =1, ms
I
Cloud =5, ms

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4 Cloud =1, ms
Cloud =5, ms
Cloud =10, ms
0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4 -0.02 Cloud =1, ms
I
Cloud =5, ms
Cloud =10, ms
0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4 Cloud =1, ms
Cloud =5, ms
Cloud =10, ms
0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
 Aerosol and Clouds WS2014
0.6
Clear atmosphere (Rayleigh scattering)
Aerosol layer =0.05
0.5 Cloud =1, ss
Reflection top-of-atmopshere [-]

Cloud =5, ss
Cloud =10, ss
0.4 Cloud =1, ms
Cloud =5, ms
Blue Green Red Cloud =10, ms
0.3

0.2

0.1

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Wavelength [nm]
Aerosol and Clouds WS2014

Conclusions to be drawn from the analysis of the spectra

4
- For a pure molecular atmosphere (clear sky), Rayleigh scattering follows

- Aerosol layer enhances scattering and the signal at top-of-atmosphere increases

- Clouds as perfect reflectors (i.e. single-scattering) shield the atmosphere below

- Consistently, the spectra are independent on optical thickness (i.e. light is not
allowed to penetrate clouds)

- Clouds as real objects (i.e. multiple scattering) enhances scattering

- Clouds are spectrally neutral

- Clouds are Mie scattering objects in this spectral range

- The thicker the cloud, the stronger is multiple scattering, the higher is absorption
of gases inside the cloud (i.e. oxygen around 760 nm is deeper)