The book is a brief introductory text on satellite-based polarimetric remote sensing of cloud and aerosol properties. It addresses upper-division graduate students and professionals in the atmospheric sciences who wish to learn basic concepts of polarimetric scattering and radiative transfer, and applications of polarmetric measurements to cloud and aerosol remote sensing. The material is presented at a level that is typical of upper-division graduate courses in physics, or topical short course in remote sensing.





Being a short and concise treatment, the book lacks the additional detail that others have included. It is tightly focused on the remote sensing of cloud and aerosol properties, and streamlined to facilitate the cover-to-cover walk-through of a 10-week course.





The book distinguishes itself from others existing books on remote sensing and radiative transfer in three ways:


First, the uniqueness of this book is its focus on the application of polarimetric remote sensing on cloud and aerosol properties. The book will start with an overview of the climatic importance of cloud and aerosol and a brief introduction of their key properties, which help the readers to understand the motivations behind the polarimetric remote sensing of cloud and aerosol. The book will cover basic definitions of polarimetric parameters, polarimetric signatures of scattering by cloud and aerosol particles, polarimetric radiative transfer in planetary atmosphere, sources and boundary conditions, and examples of polarimetric remote sensing of key cloud and aerosol properties.





Second, the book will maintain an appropriate balance between the basic concepts and practical applications related to polarimetric remote sensing of cloud and aerosols. The purpose is to provide the reader to achieve a high-level conceptual understanding of basic principles behind polarimetric remote sensing, without overloading the readers with complicated equations or technical details. Many existing books are demoted to the polarimetric radiative transfer or scattering. These books are too technical for broad educational purpose.





This book provides a bridge between the classic textbooks on polarimetric scattering and radiative transfer, and the large volume of scientific literature on remote sensing of cloud and aerosol properties.





Third, the material in the book will be condensed and focused. The book will be approximately 200∼250 pages, short enough to promote reading. It was designed to cover the essence of polarimetric scattering, radiative transfer and remote sensing, which fits a 10-week topical course on satellite remote sensing allotted to graduate students majoring in the atmospheric sciences.