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Detailed Reference Information
Wang et al. 2005
Wang, Z., Heymsfield, G.M., Li, L. and Heymsfield, A.J. (2005). Retrieving optically thick ice cloud microphysical properties by using airborne dual-wavelength radar measurements. Journal of Geophysical Research 110: doi: 10.1029/2005JD005969. issn: 0148-0227.

An algorithm to retrieve optically thick ice cloud microphysical property profiles is developed by using the GSFC 9.6 GHz ER-2 Doppler Radar (EDOP) and the 94 GHz Cloud Radar System (CRS) measurements aboard the high-altitude ER-2 aircraft. In situ size distribution and total water content data from the CRYSTAL-FACE field campaign are used for the algorithm development. To reduce uncertainty in calculated radar reflectivity factors (Ze) at these wavelengths, coincident radar measurements and size distribution data are used to guide the selection of mass-length relationships and to deal with the density and nonspherical effects of ice crystals on the Ze calculations. The algorithm is able to retrieve microphysical property profiles of optically thick ice clouds, such as deep convective and anvil clouds, which are very challenging for single-wavelength radar and lidar. Examples of retrieved microphysical properties for deep convective clouds are presented, which show that EDOP and CRS measurements provide rich information to study cloud structure and evolution. Good agreement between IWPs derived from an independent submillimeter-wave radiometer, CoSSIR, and dual-wavelength radar measurements indicates accuracy of the IWC retrieved from the dual-wavelength radar algorithm.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Cloud physics and chemistry, Atmospheric Processes, Clouds and cloud feedbacks, Atmospheric Processes, Remote sensing, optically thick ice clouds, dual-frequency or dual-wavelength radars, microphysical properties
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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