Estimation of Microphysical Characteristics of Contrails by Polarization Lidar Data: Theory and Experiment

Resumo

The technique and results of the study of optical and microphysical characteristics of contrails with the use of the unique high-altitude polarization lidar of the National Research Tomsk State University are described. The microstructure parameters of ensembles of crystalline particles were estimated by comparing elements of light backscattering matrices calculated theoretically and obtained experimentally. It is shown that the condensation trail appearing in the atmosphere behind the plane 30–40 min after the emission of fuel combustion products from the engines consists of small chaotically oriented ice particles, mostly of the column shape.