Influence of Single Scattering Albedo on Reflected and Transmitted Light from Clouds

Plass, Gilbert N. · George W. Kattawar

Jan. 1967 · Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, Office of Aerospace Research, United States Air Force

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The dependence of the reflected and transmitted light from clouds on the single scattering albedo wo is studied. The multiply scattered path of the photon in the cloud is accurately simulated by Monte Carlo techniques. When the cloud is thin and the surface albedo A = 0, the reflected and transmitted radiances vary nearly as wo for fixed angles of incidence and observation and they depend strongly on the value of A. As wo becomes small and for thick clouds, the reflected radiance approaches more closely the value calculated from the single scattering phase function. As the absorption increases the transmitted radiance at the zenith becomes larger relative to the value near the horizon. Also as the optical thickness increases, the maximum of the transmitted radiance moves from the incident direction toward the zenith. The variations in the flux and the mean optical path are also discussed. (Author).