Particle Scattering

Single Dipole scattering (tiny particles)

Rayleigh Scattering

Multiple dipole scattering larger particles

(Mie scattering)

Extinction
Rayleigh particles and the example
of microwave measurement of cloud
liquid water
Microwave precipitation

Scattering phase function radar/lidar equation

backscattering properties
e.g. Rayleigh backscatter & calibration
of lidar, radar reflectivity
 Analogy between slab and particle scattering

Insert 13.10/ 14.1

slab

particle

Slab properties are governed by oscillations (of dipoles) that

coherently interfere with one another creating scattered
radiation in only two distinct directions - particles scatter
radiation in the same way but the interference are less
coherent producing scattered stream of uneven magnitude
in all directions
 Radiation from a single dipole*
Scattered wave is spherical in wave form (but amplitude not
even in all directions)

Scattered wave is proportional to the local dipole moment (p=E)

Basic concept of polarization

Key points to note:

parallel & perpendicular
polarizations Any polarization state can be
represented by two linearly
polarized fields superimposed
scattering angle in an orthogonal manner on one
another
* Referred to as Rayleigh scattering
Scattering Regimes

From Petty (2004)

Scattering Geometry
 Rayleigh Scattering Basics

2
8 m -12
Qs x 4 2
3 m +2
Single-particle behavior only
m 2 -1
Qa 4xm 2 Qext governed by size parameter
m + 2
and index of refraction m!
Qs
w x3
Qs + Qa
 Rayleigh Phase Function

Vertical Incoming
Polarization

Horizontal Incoming
Polarization

Incident Light Unpolarized

Polarization by Scattering

Fractional polarization for Rayleigh Scattering

The degree of polarization is

affected by multiple scattering.

Position of neutral points

contain information about the
nature of the multiple scattering
and in principle the aerosol
content of the atmosphere
(since the Rayleigh component
can be predicted with models).
 Rayleigh scattering as observed POLDER:

Radiance
Strong spatial variability

Scattering
angle
0.04

Pol. Rad Smooth pattern

650 nm Signal governed by scattering angle
0
(Deuz et al., 1993, Herman et al., 1997)
Proportional to Q
 Radiation from a multiple dipole
particle
r
ignore dipole-dipole
interactions
rcos

At P, the scattered field is

composed on an EM field
from both particles

2r
(1 cos ) size
parameter
P
E E1e i
E2 e i

For those conditions for which

I E E 2E1 E2 cos
2 2
=0, fields reinforce each other
such that I4E2
1 2
Scattering in the forward
corresponds to =0
always constructively add

Larger the particle (more

dipoles and the larger is
2r/ ), the larger is the
forward scattering

The more larger is 2r/,

the more convoluted (greater
# of max-min) is the scattering
pattern
 Phase Function of water spheres
(Mie theory)
High
Asymmetry
Properties of the phase Parameter
function
1
1
2 1
g P(cos ) cos d cos

asymmetry parameter

g=1 pure forward scatter

g=0 isotropic or symmetric (e.g
Rayleigh)
g=-1 pure backscatter

forward scattering & increase with x

rainbow and glory

Smoothing of scattering function by polydispersion

Low
Asymmetry
Parameter
 Particle Extinction

Particle scattering is defined

in terms of cross-sectional
areas & efficiency factors

ext = effective area projected

by the particle that
Geometric determines extinction
cross-section
r2 Similarly sca, abs

The efficiency factor then follows

s ext,sca,abs
Qext,sca,abs =
p r2
 Particle Extinction (single particle)
=1

Note how the spectrum

exhibits both coarse
and fine oscillations

Implications of these
for color of scattered light

How Qext2 as 2r/

extinction paradox

Rayleigh limit x 0 (x<<1)

 Extinction Paradox

shadow area
r2
shadow area
Qext 1 ??
r 2

combines the effects

of absorption and any
reflections (scattering) shadow area area filled by diffractio n
off the sphere. Qext
r 2
r 2 r 2
2
r 2
insert 14.10

Poisson spot occupies a unique

place in science by
mathematically demonstrating
the non-sensical existence of
such a spot, Poisson hoped to
disprove the wave theory of
light.
 Mie Theory Equations

Exact Qs, Qa for spheres of some x, m.

a, b coefficients are called Mie Scattering coefficients, functions

of x & m. Easy to program up.

bhmie is a standard code to calculate Q-values in Mie theory.

Need to keep approximately x + 4x1/3 + 2 terms for convergence

Mie Theory Results for ABSORBING SPHERES
 4 3
V No r
3

Volumes containing clouds r 10 m 10 -3 cm

N0 100 droplets per c.c
of many particles V 100
4
10 -3
3

3
V 10 -7

Extinctions, absorptions and scatterings by all

particles simply add- volume coefficents

L-4 L half of 14.9
ext ,abs,sca n(r)r 2 Qext ,abs,sca (r, )dr
L-1 0

L2

n( r)= the particle size distribution

# particles per unit volume
per unit size r

n(r) = const e-r / a Exponential distribution (rain)

1-3b r
-
n(r) = const r b
e ab Modified Gamma distribution
(clouds)
(ln r - ln r ) 2
n(r) = const exp- 0
Lognormal distribution
2s 2
(aerosols, sometimes clouds)
 Effective Radius & Variance

r n(r) dr Mean particle radius doesnt have much

r = 0

physical relevance for radiative effects
n(r) dr
0

rp r 2
n(r) dr For large range of particle sizes, light scattering
reff = 0
goes like r2. Defines an effective radius
n(r) dr
p r 2

(r - r eff ) 2 p r 2 n(r) dr
Effective variance
n eff = 0

r 2
eff pr 2
n(r) dr
1-3b r
0 -
n(r) = const r b
e ab Modified Gamma distribution

a = effective radius
b = effective variance
 Polydisperse Cloud: Optical Depth,
Effective Radius, and Water Path
(visible/nir s)

t = s ext (z)dz Cloud Optical Depth

Dz

s ext = n(r)p r 2Qext dr Volume Extinction Coefficient [km-1]

Qext 2
t = 2 dz n(r)p r 2 dr Cloud Optical Depth
Dz

4p
rcloud = r water n(r)r 3dr Local Cloud Density [kg/m3]
3

re =
n(r)r 3dr Cloud Effective Radius [m]
n(r)r dr
2

3 p n(r)r 3dr 3 L
t 2Dz
4pr water re 2 r water re
3L 1st indirect aerosol
cloudz t effect!
2 rwater re (Twomey Effect)
Variations of SSA with wavelength

Somewhat
Absorbing
Non-
Absorbing!
 Satellite retrieve of cloud optical depth & effective
radius

Non-absorbing Wavelength Absorbing Wavelength (<1):

(~1):

Reflectivity is mainly a Reflectivity is mainly a function

function of optical depth. of cloud droplet size (for
thicker clouds).
 The reflection function of a nonabsorbing
band (e.g., 0.66 m) is primarily a function
of cloud optical thickness
The reflection function of a near-infrared
absorbing band (e.g., 2.13 m) is primarily
a function of effective radius
clouds with small drops (or ice
crystals) reflect more than those with
large particles
For optically thick clouds, there is a near
orthogonality in the retrieval of tc and re
using a visible and near-infrared band
re usually assumed constant in the vertical.
Therefore:
LWP 2 3 ret
 Cloud Optical Thickness and Effective Radius
(M. D. King, S. Platnick NASA GSFC)

Cloud Optical Thickness Cloud Effective Radius (m)

1 10 >75 1 10 >75 6 17 28 39 50 2 9 16 23 30
Ice Clouds Water Clouds Ice Clouds Water Clouds

King et al. (2003)

 Monthly Mean Cloud Effective Radius
Terra, July 2006

Liquid water clouds

Larger droplets in SH
than NH
Larger droplets over
ocean than land (less
condensation nuclei)
Ice clouds
Larger in tropics than
high latitudes
Small ice crystals at
top of deep
convection
 Aerosol retrieval from space- the MODIS aerosol algorithm

Uses bi-modal, log-normal aerosol size distributions.

5 small - accumulation mode (.04-.5 m)
6 large - coarse mode (> .5 m)

Look up table (LUT) approach

15 view angles (1.5-88 degrees by 6)
15 azimuth angles (0-180 degrees by 12)
7 solar zenith angles
5 aerosol optical depths (0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2)
7 modis spectral bands (in SW)

Ocean retrievals
compute IS and IL from LUT
find ratio of small to large modes () and
the aerosol model by minimizing
1 n
Im - Ic
e =
n
I m + 0.01 and Im is the
j =1
then compute optical depth from
where measured radiance. aerosol model and mode ratio.
I c = h I S + (1 - h ) I L
Land retrievals

Select dark pixels in near IR,

assume it applies to red and blue
bands.

Using the continental aerosol model,

derive optical depth & aerosol models
(fine & course modes) that best fit obs
(LUT approach including multiple
scattering).

The key to both ocean and land

retrievals is that the surface reflection
is small.
 Deep Blue MODIS Algorithm works over Bright Surfaces

Uses fact that bright surfaces are often darker in blue wavelengths
Uses 412 nm, 470nm, and 675nm to retrieve AOD over bright
surfaces.
Still a product in its infancy
 Deep Blue MODIS Algorithm works over Bright Surfaces

Uses fact that bright surfaces are often darker in blue wavelengths
Uses 412 nm, 470nm, and 675nm to retrieve AOD over bright
surfaces.
Complements Dark Target retrieval well.
Still being improved!
MAIAC
 Scattering phase function
E sca, S2 S3 e-ikr +iw t E 0,
=
E
sca,r S4 S1 kr E 0,r

S2 S3
where is the amplitude scattering matrix
S4 S1

Polarized light is expressed by 4 Stokes parameters, and the

phase function is acordingly a 4 4 matrix. The structure of
this phase matrix depends on shape & orientaion of particles.
Each element of the matrix is a quadratic function of S1,S2, etc

For particles with certain basic symmetry, the phase function becomes :
S11 S12 0 0

1 S12 S22 0 0
P(Q) = 2
k Csca 0 0 S33 S34

0 0 -S34 S44
where
S11 = S22 , S 33 = S44
For spheres. If the rayleigh limit holds, then S12 = 0.
 spheres
spherical

Isca S11 0 0 0 I0

Q sca = 1 0 S11 0 0 Q0
U sca k 2 R 2 0 0 S33 S34 U 0

Vsca 0 0 -S34 S33 V0

Non spherical with plane

of symmetry
non spheres
Isca S11 0 0 0 I0

Q
sca 1 0 S22 0 0 Q0

U k R2 2 0 0 S33 S34 U0
sca
V 0 S34 S44 V0
sca 0

Isca S11 S12 0 0 I0

Q
sca 1 S12 S22 0 0 Q0

U k 2R 2 0 0 S33 S34 U0
sca
V 0 S34 S44 V0
sca 0
 Particle Backscatter
Cd()I0 is the power scattered
into per unit solid angle
Differential cross-section
Csca
Cd () P()
4

Bi-static cross-section
Cbi () 4Cd ()

Backscattering cross-section

Cb 4Cd ( 180)

CbI0 is the total power

assuming a particle scatters
isotropically by the amount
is scatters at =180
 Polarimetric Backscatter: LIDAR depolarization
Transmit linear
Receive parallel/perpendicular

I measured MI sca
1 1 1 1 1 1
M r
, M
2 1 1 2 1 1
S ( S12 )
I sca 11 I0 Ice
( S12 ) S22
I 1
I0 0
Q0 1
Water/Ice/Mix
I measured , S11 S 22
I measured ,r S11 S 22
linear depolarization ratio
I measured ,r S11 S22
=0 for
I measured , S11 S 22 (2 S12 )
spheres
 Polarimetric Backscatter: RADAR ZDR
Transmit both horizontal & vertical
Receive horizontal & vertical

for spheres, ZDR~0

Lidar Calibration using Rayleigh scattering

Laser backscattering
Crossection as measured
During the LITE experiment

For Rayleigh scattering

Cb b (m1ster 1 ) 8

Csca sca (m )
1
3
Lidar Calibration using Rayleigh scattering

Rayleigh scattering is well-

understood and easily calculable
anywhere in the atmosphere!

243 (ns2 1)2 63

R 2 4 2 2
Ns (ns 2) 67

ns = 1 + a * (1 + b -2)

Stephens et al. (2001)