Deep Optically Thin Cirrus Clouds in the Polar Regions. Part I: Infrared Extinction Characteristics

Abstract

The spectral data obtained by the Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS) flown on Nimbus 4 satellite in 1970 indicated the existence of optically thin ice clouds in the upper troposphere that probably extended into lower stratosphere, in the polar regions, during winter and early spring. The spectral features of these clouds differ somewhat from that of the optically thin cirrus clouds in the tropics. From theoretical simulation of the infrared spectra in the 8–25 μm region, we infer that these polar clouds have a vertical stratification in particle size, with larger particles (∼12 μm) in the bottom of the cloud and smaller ones (≲1 μm) aloft. Radiative transfer calculations also suggest that the equivalent ice-water content of these polar clouds is of the order of 1 mg cm−2.