Classification of Polar Stratospheric Clouds Using LIDAR Measurements From the SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment

摘要

Backscatter LIDAR measurements from the stratospheric aerosol and gas experiment (SAGE) III ozone loss and validation experiment (SOLVE) have been used to identify classes of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) and their corresponding characteristics. Volume backscatter at 532 nm (Beta532) and 1064 nm (Beta1064), scattering ratio at 532 nm (R532) and 1064 nm (R1064), aerosol depolarization (delta(a)), and color ratio (Beta532/Beta1064), and temperature (T) were used to categorize PSCs via principal component analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA). The clusters found in this study are consistent with previous studies of PSCs of types Ia (R532).