Effect of humidity on the backscattering distribution of an ensemble of small hygroscopic inhomogeneous particles

Abstract

This paper discusses the effect of humidity of the air on the scattering index (SI) and backscattering distribution (BSD) of an ensemble of small hygroscopic and inhomogeneous atmospheric particles in an approximation involving models of a polydispersed ensemble of clarified two-layer and homogeneous spherical particles. It is established that, in a variable humidity field in air, the SI is weakly sensitive to the internal structure of the particles. In the process of hydration of an ensemble of particles with internal structure of the clarifiedsphere (CS) type, clarification and clouding effects are detected for their BSD, and this can cause serious errors when interpreting the results of optical radar and laser probing of disperse media if the CS-type internal structure is neglected under conditions of variable humidity of the air.