Scattering by Ice Crystals in the Earth's Atmosphere

Dear Colleagues,

Scattering by ice crystals in the Earth’s atmosphere is still a challenging problem to solve in a physically consistent manner across the observed electromagnetic spectrum. This is because in ice crystal clouds, or cirrus, there are many differing types of shapes, sizes, areas and masses of ice crystals. There have been a few attempts at modeling the electromagnetic scattering properties of these elaborate ensembles of ice crystals by several colleagues. Recently, some of these models have been shown not to be consistent across the spectrum of measurement.

This is a very pressing problem to solve, owing to the importance of cirrus to the earth–atmosphere radiative balance, this balance being crucial to climate models. Only through the understanding of the role of cirrus in this balance can we improve the predictive quality of climate models. For this to be achieved, a fundamental understanding of the electromagnetic scattering properties of ice crystals is required. This understanding is of equal importance in weather prediction too, through the assimilation of all-sky radiance data within weather models.

To help constrain the cirrus problem outlined above, over the ensuing decade and beyond, global space-based radiance observations of cirrus are planned that will span more of the electromagnetic spectrum than achieved so far. This will be fulfilled through NASA’s support of the A-train, TROPICS and PREFIRE missions, NOAA/NASA’s GOES series, JMA’s Himawari series of satellites, and the CMA’s Feng-Yun satellite series, EUMETSAT's next generation of polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, ESA’s EarthCARE and far-infrared FORUM missions. To facilitate solutions to the fundamental problems outlined above and to prepare for these exciting remote sensing missions, colleagues are invited to submit papers to this Special Issue that may further illuminate our understanding of the radiative properties of cirrus.  

This Special Issue is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Michael Mishchenko, whose profound research greatly enriched the papers in this Special Issue, and who will influence future research in perpetuity.

The Special Issue “Scattering by Ice Crystals in the Earth's Atmosphere” is jointly organized between “Remote Sensing” and “Earth” journals. Contributors are required to check the website below and follow the specific instructions for authors:
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing/instructions
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/earth/instructions

The other special issue could be found at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing/special_issues/Scatter_Ice_Crystals

Dr. Anthony J. Baran
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• ice crystals
• scattering
• remote sensing
• polarization
• electromagnetism