Articles | Volume 26, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1277-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1277-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
26 Jan 2026
Research article |
| 26 Jan 2026
| 26 Jan 2026
Cloud Chamber Studies on the Linear Depolarisation Ratio of Small Cirrus Ice Crystals
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Aerosol Research (IMKAAF), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Martin Schnaiter
Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Research, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
schnaiTEC GmbH, Wuppertal, Germany
Masanori Saito
Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA
Robert Wagner
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Aerosol Research (IMKAAF), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Institute for Atmospheric and Environmental Research, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
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Short summary
The depolarisation ratio of ice clouds is commonly measured by satellites and ground-based instruments to learn about ice particle shapes. In our cloud chamber experiments, we found that for small ice crystals, the depolarisation ratio is more strongly influenced by particle size than by nano-scale structure. The measured trends could be reproduced with numerical simulations. This result helps improve the interpretation of remote sensing data and the accuracy of light scattering models.
The depolarisation ratio of ice clouds is commonly measured by satellites and ground-based...
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