Scattering Properties of Oriented Hexagonal Ice Crystals

Abstract

To interpret the data from spaceborn lidar measurements, one must have a basic understanding of the backscattering of oriented ice particles. The conventional raytracing method is not applicable to the scattering of light by oriented particles. In this study, the dipole approximation (DDA) method is employed to the scattering of light on oriented hexagonal ice columns and plates with various tilting angles. It is found that the oriented hexagonal ice particles tend to have strong backscattering intensity with low depolarization ratios which are strongly dependant on the tilting angle of oriented particles. The present results show that the e ffect of particle orientation plays an important role in determining the optical properties of ice clouds consisting of horizontally oriented ice crystals.