Retrieval of Particle Size Distribution of Polar Stratospheric Clouds Based on Wide-Angle Color and Polarization Analysis

TL;DR

This study introduces a new polarimetry and multi-color photometry method using all-sky cameras to determine particle size distribution in polar stratospheric clouds, validated against lidar and balloon data.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach combining wide-angle color and polarization analysis for cloud particle size retrieval in the polar stratosphere.

Findings

Successful retrieval of particle size distribution from polar stratospheric clouds.

Validation of the method with lidar and balloon measurements.

Insights into conditions leading to bright polar stratospheric clouds.

Abstract

The intensive polar stratospheric vortex in the Arctic that shifted to northern Europe in the winter of 2019-2020 caused low temperatures and the frequent occurrence of polar stratospheric clouds followed by a significant decrease in the total ozone content. Polarimetry and multi-color photometry using all-sky cameras in Lovozero (Murmansk Region, Russia, 68.0 deg N, 35.1 deg E) together with a new method of cloud field separation against the twilight background allowed for finding the light scattering characteristics related to the particle size distribution of polar stratospheric clouds. The results are compared with lidar and balloon experiments. The conditions of the appearance of visually bright polar stratospheric clouds of type I are discussed.