ABSTRACT: The single scattering properties of ice crystals are fundamental in the radiative transfer simulations of ice clouds, in assessing the radiative forcing of ice clouds, and in retrieval of the microphysical and optical properties of ice clouds from satellite sensors. According to the in-situ observations, the particles of ice clouds are formed from the complex non-spherical ice crystals. However, effective ice cloud habit is required to exactly calculate the microphysical and optical properties of ice clouds from satellite remote sensing data.

　　The aim of this study is to determine the effective ice crystal habit for ice cloud remote sensing using ADEOS/POLDER measurements. First we developed the ice crystal scattering properties database with varied habits. Five ice crystal habits (Plate, Colum, Voronoi, Droxtal, and Bullet rosettes) were selected for developing the scattering properties database, based on the ice crystal habit used in MODIS collection 5 product and aircraft observation samples. The single scattering properties were calculated by a combination of three scattering computational models: FDTD, Geometric-Optics-Integral-Equation (GOIE) and GOM. For determination the ice crystal habits used in the ice cloud retrievals, we then performed using a Spherical Albedo Difference (SAD) analysis. It is proved that plate and Voronoi habits model with moderate and large particles are efficient for applying in ice cloud remote sensing.