Understanding micro-physical scattering properties of cirrus clouds crystals is fundamental to development of numerical radiative transfer model. Due to large varieties of crystal in morphology and size, numerical solutions to scattering characteristics by ice crystal is still a challenge in weather and climate research. Based on the convex hull construction algorithm, a geometrical model of ice crystals is proposed to investigate the scattering properties of cirrus clouds particles. Light scattering matrices involving complete polarization information are calculated in geometric optics approximation for randomly oriented large crystals with random and given convex polyhedron shape. The proposed model construction method and computational scheme of light scattering matrix works for any convex polyhedron within the scope of geometrical optics. The crystal model and scattering matrix computational framework developed in this study are applicable to radiative transfer simulations and remote sensing data interpretation in terrestrial and planetary atmospheres.

Atmospheric Optics, Cirrus Clouds, Non-Spherical Particles, Monte Carlo Method, Scattering Matrix, Polarization, Geometric Optics Approximation