Method of estimating cloud particle sizes using lidar ratio

A method for measuring an effective size of water particles in a cloud atmosphere, the method comprising:

• generating a pulse of light of a wavelength;
• directing the generated pulse of light into the cloud atmosphere;
• detecting a portion of the pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere;
• determining, based on the detected portion of the pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere, an optical extinction coefficient and a backscatter coefficient;
• and
• estimating, based on a ratio of the determined optical extinction coefficient to the determined backscatter coefficient, the effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere;
• generating an output signal indicative of the estimated effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere.

A system for measuring an effective size of water particles in a cloud atmosphere, the system comprising:

• a laser;
• a signal detector;
• one or more processors;
• and
• computer-readable memory encoded with instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
• emit a pulse of light from the laser;
• receive, from the signal detector, a signal indicative of a detected portion of the emitted pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere;
• determine, based on the received signal indicative of the detected portion of the emitted pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere, an optical extinction coefficient and a backscatter coefficient;
• estimate, based on a ratio of the determined optical extinction coefficient to the determined backscatter coefficient, the effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere;
• and
• generate an output signal indicative of the estimated effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere.