Articles | Volume 15, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-11909-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-11909-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
27 Oct 2015
Research article |
| 27 Oct 2015
A method to retrieve super-thin cloud optical depth over ocean background with polarized sunlight
W. Sun
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Science Systems and Applications Inc., Hampton, VA 23666, USA
Mail Stop 420, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
R. R. Baize
Science Division, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
G. Videen
Space Science Institute, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA
Science Division, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681, USA
Q. Fu
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Cited
12 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Technique to separate lidar signal and sunlight W. Sun et al. 10.1364/OE.24.012949
- Calculated radiance errors induced by neglecting the polarization of the irradiation beam exposed to an atmosphere C. Wang 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2020.106995
- Technical note: A simple method for retrieval of dust aerosol optical depth with polarized reflectance over oceans W. Sun et al. 10.5194/acp-19-15583-2019
- Aerosol-induced changes in sky polarization pattern: potential hint on applications in polarimetric remote sensing W. Chen et al. 10.1080/01431161.2019.1685724
- Ten-year global particulate mass concentration derived from space-borne CALIPSO lidar observations X. Ma et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137699
- Atmospheric Instability Dominates the Long‐Term Variation of Cloud Vertical Overlap Over the Southern Great Plains Site J. Li et al. 10.1029/2019JD030954
- The PACE-MAPP algorithm: Simultaneous aerosol and ocean polarimeter products using coupled atmosphere-ocean vector radiative transfer S. Stamnes et al. 10.3389/frsen.2023.1174672
- An Investigation of the Ice Cloud Detection Sensitivity of Cloud Radars Using the Raman Lidar at the ARM SGP Site M. Wang et al. 10.3390/rs14143466
- Modeling polarized solar radiation from a snow surface for correction of polarization-induced error in satellite data W. Sun et al. 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2018.10.011
- Cloud heights retrieval from passive satellite measurements using lapse rate information W. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2025.114622
- A development of cloud top height retrieval using thermal infrared spectra observed with GOSAT and comparison with CALIPSO data Y. Someya et al. 10.5194/amt-9-1981-2016
- Diurnal cycles of cloud cover and its vertical distribution over the Tibetan Plateau revealed by satellite observations, reanalysis datasets, and CMIP6 outputs Y. Zhao et al. 10.5194/acp-23-743-2023
12 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Technique to separate lidar signal and sunlight W. Sun et al. 10.1364/OE.24.012949
- Calculated radiance errors induced by neglecting the polarization of the irradiation beam exposed to an atmosphere C. Wang 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2020.106995
- Technical note: A simple method for retrieval of dust aerosol optical depth with polarized reflectance over oceans W. Sun et al. 10.5194/acp-19-15583-2019
- Aerosol-induced changes in sky polarization pattern: potential hint on applications in polarimetric remote sensing W. Chen et al. 10.1080/01431161.2019.1685724
- Ten-year global particulate mass concentration derived from space-borne CALIPSO lidar observations X. Ma et al. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137699
- Atmospheric Instability Dominates the Long‐Term Variation of Cloud Vertical Overlap Over the Southern Great Plains Site J. Li et al. 10.1029/2019JD030954
- The PACE-MAPP algorithm: Simultaneous aerosol and ocean polarimeter products using coupled atmosphere-ocean vector radiative transfer S. Stamnes et al. 10.3389/frsen.2023.1174672
- An Investigation of the Ice Cloud Detection Sensitivity of Cloud Radars Using the Raman Lidar at the ARM SGP Site M. Wang et al. 10.3390/rs14143466
- Modeling polarized solar radiation from a snow surface for correction of polarization-induced error in satellite data W. Sun et al. 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2018.10.011
- Cloud heights retrieval from passive satellite measurements using lapse rate information W. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2025.114622
- A development of cloud top height retrieval using thermal infrared spectra observed with GOSAT and comparison with CALIPSO data Y. Someya et al. 10.5194/amt-9-1981-2016
- Diurnal cycles of cloud cover and its vertical distribution over the Tibetan Plateau revealed by satellite observations, reanalysis datasets, and CMIP6 outputs Y. Zhao et al. 10.5194/acp-23-743-2023
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 04 Nov 2025
Short summary
A method is reported for retrieving super-thin cloud optical depth with polarized light. It is found that near-backscatter p-polarized light is sensitive to clouds, but not to ocean conditions. Near-backscatter p-polarized intensity linearly relates to super-thin cloud optical depth. Based on these findings, super-thin cloud optical depth can be retrieved with little effect from surface reflection.
A method is reported for retrieving super-thin cloud optical depth with polarized light. It is...
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