Information content of cloud physical properties derived from satellite active remote sensors

A method to analyze multiply scattering in the space-borne lidar returns had been developed. It was shown that the estimated excessive photon path length within a certain time-delayed lidar return compared well with Monte Carlo calculations. Such information was used to estimate lidar returns from inhomogeneous cloud layers using look up tables based on Monte Carlo simulations for homogenous profiles. The estimated time-spatial distribution of the depolarized lidar returns in two dimensions for an inhomogeneous cloud profile also showed good correspondence with the truth. The method will be evaluated by the Multi-Field of view-Multiple-Scattering-Polarization Lidar (MFMSPL), which is capable of measuring similar lidar depolarized signals as space-borne lidars from ground in the future.