The effect of the surface roughness of ice crystals is not routinely accounted for in current cloud retrieval algorithms that are based on pre-computed lookup libraries. In this study, we investigate the effect of ice crystal surface roughness on the retrieval of ice cloud effective particle size, optical thickness and cloud-top temperature. Three particle surface conditions, smooth, moderately rough and deeply rough, are considered in the visible and near-infrared channels (0.65 and 3.75 µm). The discrete ordinates radiative transfer (DISORT) model is used to compute the radiances for a set of optical thicknesses, particle effective sizes, viewing and illumination angles, and cloud temperatures. A parameterization of cloud bi-directional reflectances and effective emittances is then developed from a variety of particle surface conditions. This parameterization is applied in a 3-channel retrieval method for Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data at 0.65, 3.75, and 10.8 µm. Cloud optical properties are derived iteratively for each pixel that contains ice clouds. The impact of ice crystal surface roughness on the cloud parameter retrievals is examined by comparing the results for particles with smooth surfaces and rough surfaces. Retrieval results from two granules of MODIS data indicate that the retrieved cloud optical thickness is significantly reduced if the parameterization for roughened particles is used, as compared with the case of smooth particles. For the retrieval of cloud effective particle size, the inclusion of the effect of surface roughness tends to decrease the retrieved effective particle size if ice crystals are small. The reversed result is noticed for large ice crystals. It is also found that surface roughness has a very minor effect on the retrieval of cloud-top temperatures.

The dissertation first investigates the single-scattering properties of inhomogeneous ice crystals containing air bubbles. Specifically, a combination of the ray-tracing technique and the Monte Carlo method is used to simulate the scattering of light by randomly oriented large hexagonal ice crystals containing spherical or spheroidal air bubbles. The effect of the air bubbles within ice crystals is to smooth the phase functions, diminish the 22° and 46° halo peaks, and reduce the backscatter in comparison with the case of bubble-free ice crystals. Cloud reflectance look-up tables were generated at the wavelengths of 0.65 μm and 2.13 μm to examine the impact of accounting for air bubbles in ice crystal morphology on the retrieval of ice cloud optical thickness and effective particle size. To investigate the effect of the representation of aggregates on electromagnetic scattering calculations, an algorithm is developed to efficiently specify the geometries of aggregates and to compute some of their geometric parameters such as the projected area. Based on in situ observations, aggregates are defined as clusters of hexagonal plates with a chain-like overall shape. An aggregate model is developed with 10 ensemble members, each consisting of between 4-12 hexagonal plates. The scattering properties of an individual aggregate ice particle are computed using the discrete dipole approximation or an Improved Geometric Optics Method, depending upon the size parameter. The aggregate model provides an accurate and computationally efficient way to represent all aggregates occurring within ice clouds. We developed an algorithm to determine an appropriate ice cloud model for application to satellite-based retrieval of ice cloud properties. Collocated Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) data are used to retrieve the optical thicknesses of ice clouds as a function of scattering angle in the nine MISR viewing directions. The difference between cloud optical thickness and its averaged value over the nine viewing angles can be used to validate the ice cloud models. Using the data obtained on 2 July 2009, an appropriate ice cloud model is determined. With the presence of all the uncertainties in the current operational satellite-based retrievals of ice cloud properties, this ice cloud model has excellent performance in terms of consistency in cloud property retrievals with the nine MISR viewing angles.

With the launch of CloudSat, direct observations of cloud vertical structure became possible on the global scale. This thesis utilizes over two years of CloudSat data to study large-scale variations of clouds. We compose a global data set of contiguous clouds (echo objects, EOs) and the individual pixels comprising each EO. For each EO many attributes are recorded. EOs are categorized according to cloud type, time of day, season, surface type, and region. From the categorization we first look at gross global climatology of clouds. Maps of cloud cover are subdivided by EO (cloud) type, and results compare well with previous CloudSat work. The seasonality of cloud cover is also examined. Focus topics studied in this thesis include: (1) mid-level clouds, (2) stratocumulus clouds, and (3) clouds across the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). The mid-level cloud work found an unexpected frequency peak in EO top heights between 7-8 km in the tropics, further shown to correspond to a global peak in EO top temperature between -15°C ? -20°C. Hypotheses are discussed regarding cause of this feature. Stratocumulus clouds are defined as low-level (tops < 4.5 km), wide (width > 11 km) EOs. Stratocumulus cloud cover agrees (with understandable differences) with other estimates (ISCCP and CALIPSO). The seasonal cycle of stratocumulus over the main stratocumulus decks is examined. The Peruvian and Namibian decks have increased cloud cover in austral spring in 2007 vs. 2006, corresponding sensibly to sea surface temperature differences and changes in lower static stability. Looking at rain and drizzle statistics, wider EOs are found to drizzle more. Clouds across the MJO are defined relative to temporally filtered OLR data. Cloud cover (volume) doubles (triples) from suppressed to active MJO phases, with some shifts of the relative contributions of different EO types from the front to back of the MJO. Pixel statistics in dBZ-height space correspond to these cloud-type shifts. High anvils and low clouds in front lead deep convection followed by relatively lower anvils in the back.

An investigation is presented into methods of characterising cirrus ice crystals from in-situ light scattering data. A database of scattering patterns from modelled crystals was created using the Ray Tracing with Diffraction on Facets (RTDF) model from the University of Hertfordshire, to which experimental and modelled data was fitted. Experimental data was gathered in the form of scattering patterns from ice analogue crystals with similar optical properties and hexagonal symmetry to ice, yet stable at room temperature. A laboratory rig is described which images scattering patterns from single particles while allowing precise control over the orientation of the particle with respect to the incident beam. Images of scattering patterns were captured and compared to patterns from modelled crystals with similar geometry. Methods for introducing particles en-masse and individually to the Small Ice Detector (SID) instruments are discussed, with particular emphasis on the calibration of the gain of the SID-2 instrument. The variation in gain between detector elements is found to be significant, variable over the life of the detector, and different for different detectors. Fitting was performed by comparison of test scattering patterns (either modelled or experimental) to the reference database. Representation of the two dimensional scattering patterns by asymmetry factor, moment invariants, azimuthal intensity patterns (AIP) and the Fourier transform of the AIP are compared for fitting accuracy. Direct comparison of the AIP is found to be the most accurate method. Increased resolution of the AIP is shown to improve the fitting substantially. Case studies are presented for the fitting of two ice analogue crystals to the modelled database. Fitting accuracy is found to be negatively influenced by small amounts of surface roughness and detail not currently considered by the RTDF model. Fitting of in-situ data gathered by the SID-3 instrument during the HALO 02 campaign at the AIDA cloud chamber in Germany is presented and discussed. Saturation of detector pixels is shown to affect pattern fitting. In-flight operation of the instrument involves the variation of gain of the whole detector (as opposed to individual elements) in order to obtain unsaturated images of both large and small particles.

L'objectif de cette étude était d'étudierl'effet d’un procédé innovant de congélation assistéepar micro-ondes (CAPMO) à faible énergie sur letemps de congélation, la qualité (microstructure,texture, perte de masse, et couleur) de la pomme etde la pomme de terre. La CAPMO des pommes etdes pommes de terre a été effectuée à unepuissance micro-onde constante (167 W/kg) et unepuissance micro-ondes appliquée par créneaux (500et 667 W/kg avec 10 s de micro-ondes sur unepériode de 30 s). Les températures ont été mesuréespendant le processus de congélation et lamicrostructure a été examinée en utilisant latomographie à rayons X et les techniques de cryo-SEM. D'autres paramètres de qualité tels que latexture, la perte de masse et la couleur ont étéévalués après décongélation de l'échantillon àtempérature ambiante.Les résultats ont montré que le processus deCAPMO n’affectait pas le temps de congélation.L'application de micro-ondes pendant le processusde congélation a produit une microstructure dequalité supérieure à celle de l'échantillon témoin ; LaCAPMO a réduit de manière significative la taillemoyenne des cristaux de glace dans les échantillonsde pommes et de pommes de terre. De plus, laCAPMO de la pomme et de la pomme de terre aentrainé une perte de masse moindre. La réductionde la fermeté / dureté et du module de Young aégalement été diminué par rapport à l'échantillontémoin. La couleur n'a pas été significativementinfluencée par la CAPMO. Parmi toutes lesconditions de congélation testées, la condition microondepulsée de 667 W/kg a donné le meilleur résultaten termes de réduction de la taille des cristaux deglace et de qualité. Ces résultats prometteursindiquent donc que l’application de micro-ondespendant la congélation permettrait d’obtenir desproduits congelés de meilleure qualité. / The objective of this study was toinvestigate the effect of innovative low energymicrowave assisted freezing (MAF) on freezing time,quality attributes (microstructure, texture, drip lossand colour) of apple and potato. MAF of apples andpotatoes was performed by applying constantmicrowave power (167 W/kg) and pulsed microwavepower (500 and 667 W/kg with 10 s pulse width and20 s pulse interval) during the freezing process. Thetemperature profile was monitored during thefreezing process, and the microstructure wasexamined using X-ray tomography and cryo-SEMtechniques. Other quality parameters such astexture, drip loss and colour were evaluated afterthawing frozen sample at room temperature.Results showed that the freezing time was notaffected by the MAF process. The application ofmicrowaves during freezing process producedsuperior microstructure than the control sample; MAFsignificantly reduced the mean ice crystal size inapple and potato sample. Moreover, MAF of appleand potato resulted in a lower drip loss, meanwhile,it also led to a lower reduction in firmness/hardnessand Young's modulus value if compared to controlsample. The colour was not significantly influencedby MAF. Among all the tested freezing conditions, the667 W/kg pulsed microwave condition yielded thebest result in terms of reduction in ice crystals sizeand retention of other quality parameters. Lastly,these results indicate that the application ofmicrowave during freezing would result in higherquality frozen products.

The 2013 meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that the coupling of clouds to the Earth's climate is one of the biggest uncertainties faced in predicting climate change today. Cirrus clouds are of particular interest because the extensive variability in particle size, shape and complexity poses a number of challenges in the accurate modelling of optical properties. The dependence of the single-scattering properties on particle shape demand accurate representation of the crystal geometries in scattering models, geometries which can vary from simple hexagonal prisms to complex multi-branched aggregates. This work, presented as a series of papers, uses laboratory studies to investigate the single scattering properties of ice crystals. Of particular focus here are columns with internal cavities. The first paper investigates the phase function, P11 and asymmetry parameter, g of varying crystal habits, whilst the second paper focuses on polarised scattering. One of the main findings is the difference in internal structure between hollow columns grown at warmer temperatures (-7 degrees C) and those grown at colder temperatures (-30 degrees C). Measurements were used to create new particle geometries for use in scattering models. The third paper makes use of findings from papers 1 &amp; 2 to create an optical parametrization for cirrus, utilizing the new particle geometry.

An imaging spectrometer (AisaEAGLE) is applied for ground-based measurements of downward spectral radiance fields with high spatial (1024 spatial pixels within 36.7° field of view), spectral (488 spectral pixels, 400-970 nm, 1.25 nm full width at half maximum) and temporal (4-30 Hz) resolution. The calibration, measurement, and data evaluation procedures are introduced. A method is presented that retrieves the cirrus optical thickness tci using the spectral radiance data collected by AisaEAGLE. On the basis of four measurement cases during the second campaign of the Cloud Aerosol Radiation and tuRbulence of trade wInd cumuli over BArbados (CARRIBA) project in 2011 the spatial inhomogeneity of the investigated cirrus is characterized by the standard deviation of the retrieved tci, as well as the width of the frequency distribution of the retrieved tci. By comparing measured and simulated downward solar radiances as a function of scattering angle, a first estimation of the detected cirrus ice crystal shape is given and used in the retrieval of tci. / Ein abbildendes Spektrometer (AisaEAGLE) wurde bodengebunden zur Messung von Feldern abwärts gerichteter spektraler Strahldichten mit hoher räumlicher (1024 Raumpixel auf 36.7° FOV), spektraler (488 spektrale Pixel, 400-970 nm, 1.25 nm FWHM) und zeitlicher (4-30 Hz) Auflösung verwendet. Die Kalibrierungsprozedur, das Messverfahren sowie die Datenauswertung werden hier vorgestellt. Weiter wird eine Methode zur Ableitung der Zirrus optischen Dicke tci unter Verwendung dieser bodengebundenen spektralen Strahldichtedaten vorgestellt. Auf der Grundlage von vier Messzeiträumen während der zweiten Kampagne des Cloud Aerosol Radiation and tuRbulence of trade wInd cumuli over BArbados (CARRIBA) Projektes in 2011 wird die räumliche Inhomogenität der untersuchten Zirren durch die Standardabweichung der abgeleiteten tci, wie auch der Breite ihrer Häufigkeitsverteilungen charakterisiert. Vergleiche der gemessenen Strahldichten mit Simulationen abwärts gerichteter solarer Strahldichten als Funktion der Streuwinkel ermöglichen eine erste Abschätzung der Eiskristallform im detektierten Zirrus und gehen in die Ableitung der tci ein.

An investigation was carried out into light scattering by Gaussian rough ice crystals. Gaussian rough crystal geometries were generated using roughness parameters derived from mineral dust grains, which have been reported to be suitable proxies for rough ice crystals. Light scattering data for these geometries was computed using the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) method. Phase functions, 2D scattering patterns, degree of linear polarisation patterns and asymmetry parameters were computed for smooth, moderately rough and highly rough crystals with a variety of orientations and size parameters. A sodium fluorosilicate ice analogue crystal with three partially roughened prism facets was created using focused ion beam (FIB) milling and 2D scattering patterns were collected from it using the small ice detector (SID) 3 cloud probe. It was found that roughness reduces features in the phase function compared to scattering by smooth hexagonal prisms, particularly when the roughness features were horizontally much larger than the wavelength. However, the most effective roughness model also takes account of horizontal features whose size is closer to that of the wavelength. Horizontal features smaller than the wavelength have very little effect.

[pt] Um sistema térmico de armazenamento da energia com pasta de cristais de gelo foi desenvolvido para aplicações de condicionamento de ar e resfriamento de processos. O sistema usa um evaporador orbital de haste, um trocador de calor vertical do tipo tubo e carcaça com intensificação mecânica de transferência de calor. A pasta de gelo é produzida continuamente sem acumulação no evaporador e é compatível com unidades condensadoras convencionais, tanques de armazenamento e bombas. Soluções aquosas diluídas ou soluções inorgânicas de salmoura promovem a formação de cristais de gelo, e o gelo líquido resultante pode ser bombeado ou por gravidade alimentar um tanque de armazenamento. O circuito hidráulico de refrigeração (carga térmica) pode ser desacoplado da produção do gelo utilizando-se o tanque de armazenamento. O armazenamento de gelo líquido fornece temperaturas consistentemente baixas à medida que se derrete o gelo, que por sua forma pode ser derretido também muito rapidamente. Com suas altas temperaturas características de evaporação e elevados fluxos do calor, os sistemas de geração de gelo líquido apresentam potencial para reduzir significativamente os custos de capital inicial e operação, quando comparados com tecnologias de sistemas estáticos de gelo ou ice harvesting. / [en] New ice crystal slurry thermal energy storage (TES) system has been developed for both HVAC and process cooling applications. The system uses an orbital rod evaporator (ORE), a vertical shell-and-tube heat exchanger with mechanical heat transfer augmentation, as a dynamic ice maker to generate liquid ice. Ice forms continuously without accumulation in the ORE and is compatible with conventional condensing units, storage tanks, and pumps. Dilute glycol or inorganic brine solutions promote formation of ice crystals, and the resulting liquid ice may be pumped or gravity fed to a storage tank. The cooling load circuit can be hydraulically decoupled from ice production at the storage tank. Stored liquid ice provides consistently low solution supply temperatures over significant portions of the ice melt period and may be melted very rapidly. With its characteristic high evaporator temperatures and high heat fluxes, ORE TES systems have the potential for significantly lower capital and operating costs than static ice or ice harvesting technologies.

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