Inferences of Gross Microphysical Properties of Clouds from Spectral Reflectance Measurements

S. Twomey University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

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K. J. Seton Division of Cloud Physics, CSIRO, Sydney, Australia

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Abstract

Spectral reflectances have been calculated by accepted methods for water cloud layers having various microphysical properties.

We show that spectral reflectance measurements carried out with realistic accuracy at wavelengths free from interference by absorbers other than water, can yield information about scaled optical thickness [τ′=(1−gτ] and mean drop radius R̄

Abstract

Spectral reflectances have been calculated by accepted methods for water cloud layers having various microphysical properties.

We show that spectral reflectance measurements carried out with realistic accuracy at wavelengths free from interference by absorbers other than water, can yield information about scaled optical thickness [τ′=(1−gτ] and mean drop radius R̄

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