Design and instrumentation of an airborne far infrared radiometer for in-situ measurements of ice clouds

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Proulx ◽  
Linh Ngo Phong ◽  
Frédéric Lamontagne ◽  
Min Wang ◽  
Bruno Fisette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Far Infrared ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Infrared Radiometer

scholarly journals A microbolometer-based far infrared radiometer to study thin ice clouds in the Arctic

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Libois ◽  
C. Proulx ◽  
L. Ivanescu ◽  
L. Coursol ◽  
L. Pelletier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Far Infrared ◽  
Frame Rate ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Spatial Average ◽  
Electronic Noise ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Detector Resolution ◽  
In Situ Experiments ◽  
Infrared Radiometer

Abstract. A far infrared radiometer (FIRR) dedicated to measure radiation emitted by clear and cloudy atmospheres was developed as a breadboard for the Thin Ice Clouds in Far InfraRed Experiment (TICFIRE) satellite project. The FIRR detector is an array of 80×60 uncooled microbolometers coated with gold black to enhance the absorptivity and responsivity. A filter wheel is used to select atmospheric radiation in 9 spectral bands ranging from 8 to 50 µm. Calibrated radiances are obtained using two well-calibrated blackbodies. Images are acquired at a frame rate of 120 Hz, and temporally averaged to reduce electronic noise. A complete measurements sequence takes about 120 seconds. With a field-of view of 6°, the FIRR is not intended to be an imager. Hence spatial average is computed over 193 illuminated pixels to increase the signal-to-noise ratio and consequently the detector resolution. This results in an improvement by a factor of 5 compared to individual pixel measurements. Another threefold increase in resolution is obtained using 193 non-illuminated pixels to remove correlated electronic noise, leading an overall resolution of approximately 0.015 W m–2 sr–1. Laboratory measurements performed on well known targets suggest an absolute accuracy close to 0.02 W m–2 sr–1, which ensures to retrieve atmospheric radiance with an accuracy better than 1%. Preliminary in situ experiments performed from the ground in winter and in summer on clear and cloudy atmospheres are compared to radiative transfer simulations. They point out the FIRR ability to detect clouds and changes in relative humidity of a few percent in various atmospheric conditions, paving the way for the development of new algorithms dedicated to ice cloud characterization and water vapor retrieval.

scholarly journals A microbolometer-based far infrared radiometer to study thin ice clouds in the Arctic

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1817-1832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Libois ◽  
Christian Proulx ◽  
Liviu Ivanescu ◽  
Laurence Coursol ◽  
Ludovick S. Pelletier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Far Infrared ◽  
Frame Rate ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Spatial Average ◽  
Electronic Noise ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Detector Resolution ◽  
In Situ Experiments ◽  
Infrared Radiometer

Abstract. A far infrared radiometer (FIRR) dedicated to measuring radiation emitted by clear and cloudy atmospheres was developed in the framework of the Thin Ice Clouds in Far InfraRed Experiment (TICFIRE) technology demonstration satellite project. The FIRR detector is an array of 80 × 60 uncooled microbolometers coated with gold black to enhance the absorptivity and responsivity. A filter wheel is used to select atmospheric radiation in nine spectral bands ranging from 8 to 50 µm. Calibrated radiances are obtained using two well-calibrated blackbodies. Images are acquired at a frame rate of 120 Hz, and temporally averaged to reduce electronic noise. A complete measurement sequence takes about 120 s. With a field of view of 6°, the FIRR is not intended to be an imager. Hence spatial average is computed over 193 illuminated pixels to increase the signal-to-noise ratio and consequently the detector resolution. This results in an improvement by a factor of 5 compared to individual pixel measurements. Another threefold increase in resolution is obtained using 193 non-illuminated pixels to remove correlated electronic noise, leading an overall resolution of approximately 0.015 W m−2 sr−1. Laboratory measurements performed on well-known targets suggest an absolute accuracy close to 0.02 W m−2 sr−1, which ensures atmospheric radiance is retrieved with an accuracy better than 1 %. Preliminary in situ experiments performed from the ground in winter and in summer on clear and cloudy atmospheres are compared to radiative transfer simulations. They point out the FIRR ability to detect clouds and changes in relative humidity of a few percent in various atmospheric conditions, paving the way for the development of new algorithms dedicated to ice cloud characterization and water vapor retrieval.

Bulk Scattering Properties for the Remote Sensing of Ice Clouds. Part I: Microphysical Data and Models

2005 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1885-1895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan A. Baum ◽  
Andrew J. Heymsfield ◽  
Ping Yang ◽  
Sarah T. Bedka
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Particle Size ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Cloud Particle ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Sensing Applications ◽  
Airborne Sampling ◽  
Bulk Scattering

Abstract This study reports on the use of in situ data obtained in midlatitude and tropical ice clouds from airborne sampling probes and balloon-borne replicators as the basis for the development of bulk scattering models for use in satellite remote sensing applications. Airborne sampling instrumentation includes the two-dimensional cloud (2D-C), two-dimensional precipitation (2D-P), high-volume precipitation spectrometer (HVPS), cloud particle imager (CPI), and NCAR video ice particle sampler (VIPS) probes. Herein the development of a comprehensive set of microphysical models based on in situ measurements of particle size distributions (PSDs) is discussed. Two parameters are developed and examined: ice water content (IWC) and median mass diameter Dm. Comparisons are provided between the IWC and Dm values derived from in situ measurements obtained during a series of field campaigns held in the midlatitude and tropical regions and those calculated from a set of modeled ice particles used for light-scattering calculations. The ice particle types considered in this study include droxtals, hexagonal plates, solid columns, hollow columns, aggregates, and 3D bullet rosettes. It is shown that no single habit accurately replicates the derived IWC and Dm values, but a mixture of habits can significantly improve the comparison of these bulk microphysical properties. In addition, the relationship between Dm and the effective particle size Deff, defined as 1.5 times the ratio of ice particle volume to projected area for a given PSD, is investigated. Based on these results, a subset of microphysical models is chosen as the basis for the development of ice cloud bulk scattering models in Part II of this study.

scholarly journals A two-habit model for the microphysical and optical properties of ice clouds

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 13719-13737 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Liu ◽  
P. Yang ◽  
P. Minnis ◽  
N. Loeb ◽  
S. Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Cloud Model ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Ice Cloud ◽  
Sensing Applications ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. To provide a better representation of natural ice clouds, a novel ice cloud model is developed by assuming an ice cloud to consist of an ensemble of hexagonal columns and 20-element aggregates with specific habit fractions at each particle size bin. The microphysical and optical properties of this two-habit model (THM) are compared with both laboratory and in situ measurements, and its performance in downstream satellite remote sensing applications is assessed. The ice water contents and median mass diameters calculated based on the THM closely agree with in situ measurements made during 11 field campaigns. In this study, the scattering, absorption, and polarization properties of ice crystals are calculated with a combination of the invariant imbedding T matrix, pseudo-spectral time domain, and improved geometric-optics methods over an entire practical range of particle sizes. The phase functions, calculated based on the THM, show close agreement with counterparts from laboratory and in situ measurements and from satellite-based retrievals. When the THM is applied to the retrievals of cloud microphysical and optical properties from MODIS (the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) observations, excellent spectral consistency is achieved; specifically, the retrieved cloud optical thicknesses based on the visible/near infrared bands and the thermal infrared bands agree quite well. Furthermore, a comparison between the polarized reflectivities observed by the PARASOL satellite and from theoretical simulations illustrates that the THM can be used to represent ice cloud polarization properties.

scholarly journals A two-habit model for the microphysical and optical properties of ice clouds

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 19545-19586 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Liu ◽  
P. Yang ◽  
P. Minnis ◽  
N. Loeb ◽  
S. Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Cloud Model ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Ice Cloud ◽  
Sensing Applications ◽  
Phase Functions ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. To provide a better representation of natural ice clouds, a novel ice cloud model containing two particle habits is developed. The microphysical and optical properties of the two-habit model (THM) are compared with both laboratory and in situ measurements, and its performance in downstream satellite remote sensing applications is tested. The THM assumes an ice cloud to be an ensemble of hexagonal columns and twenty-element aggregates, and to have specific habit fractions at each particle size. The ice water contents and median mass diameters calculated based on the THM closely agree with in situ measurements made during 11 field campaigns. In this study, the scattering, absorption, and polarization properties of ice crystals are calculated with a combination of the invariant imbedding T-matrix, pseudo-spectral time domain, and improved geometric-optics methods over an entire range of particle sizes. The phase functions, calculated based on the THM, show excellent agreement with counterparts from laboratory and in situ measurements and from satellite retrievals. For downstream applications in the retrieval of cloud microphysical and optical properties from MODIS observations, the THM presents excellent spectral consistency; specifically, the retrieved cloud optical thicknesses based on the visible/near infrared bands and the thermal infrared bands agree quite well. Furthermore, a comparison between the polarized reflectivities observed by the PARASOL satellite and from theoretical simulations illustrates that the THM can be used to represent ice cloud polarization properties.

Far-infrared radiometer to map OH in the middle atmosphere

1985 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. NOLT ◽  
J. RADOSTITZ ◽  
K.V. CHANCE ◽  
W. TRAUB ◽  
P. ADE
Keyword(s):  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Far Infrared ◽  
Infrared Radiometer

The Carbon:²³⁴Thorium ratios of sinking particles in the California Current Ecosystem 2: Examination of a thorium sorption, desorption, and particle transport model

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Stukel ◽  
Thomas Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Particulate Organic Carbon ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
California Current ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Power Law Distribution ◽  
Sinking Particles ◽  
Organic Carbon Concentration

Thorium-234 (234Th) is a powerful tracer of particle dynamics and the biological pump in the surface ocean; however, variability in carbon:thorium ratios of sinking particles adds substantial uncertainty to estimates of organic carbon export. We coupled a mechanistic thorium sorption and desorption model to a one-dimensional particle sinking model that uses realistic particle settling velocity spectra. The model generates estimates of 238U-234Th disequilibrium, particulate organic carbon concentration, and the C:234Th ratio of sinking particles, which are then compared to in situ measurements from quasi-Lagrangian studies conducted on six cruises in the California Current Ecosystem. Broad patterns observed in in situ measurements, including decreasing C:234Th ratios with depth and a strong correlation between sinking C:234Th and the ratio of vertically-integrated particulate organic carbon (POC) to vertically-integrated total water column 234Th, were accurately recovered by models assuming either a power law distribution of sinking speeds or a double log normal distribution of sinking speeds. Simulations suggested that the observed decrease in C:234Th with depth may be driven by preferential remineralization of carbon by particle-attached microbes. However, an alternate model structure featuring complete consumption and/or disaggregation of particles by mesozooplankton (e.g. no preferential remineralization of carbon) was also able to simulate decreasing C:234Th with depth (although the decrease was weaker), driven by 234Th adsorption onto slowly sinking particles. Model results also suggest that during bloom decays C:234Th ratios of sinking particles should be higher than expected (based on contemporaneous water column POC), because high settling velocities minimize carbon remineralization during sinking.

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