Comparison of the geometrical and physical optics approximations for solving the problem of light scattering by quasi-horizontally oriented ice plates

Abstract

At the present time quasi-horizontally oriented ice plates of cirrus clouds become the object of active research. Experimental observations of such kind of objects are carried out using multiwave and polarization lidars. The interpretation of lidar signals is now based on the solutions obtained in the approximation of both physical and geometrical optics. The article compares these approximations for the solution of light backscattering by quasihorizontally oriented hexagonal ice plates. Special attention is paid to the limits of applicability of geometrical optics method for solving such problems.