Remote sounding of cirrus cloud optical depths and ice crystal sizes from AVHRR data: verification using FIRE II IFO measurements

Using the data obtained from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) a retrieval scheme has been developed to simultaneously infer cirrus cloud optical depth and mean effective ice crystal size based on the theory of radiative transfer and parameterizations. A numerical scheme is further developed to remove the solar component. Validation of the algorithm has been performed by using various datasets that were collected during the FIRE-II IFO (Nov-Dec 1991) at Coffeyville, Kansas. For validation the authors analyze the photomicrograph data collected by the balloonborne replicator, determine the microphysical and optical properties of the sampled cirrus clouds.