Snow crystal orientation effects on the scattering of passive microwave radiation

For this study, consideration is given to the role crystal orientation play s in scattering and absorbing microwave radiation. A discrete dipole scatte ring model is used to measure the passive microwave radiation at two polari ztions (horizontal and vertical), scattered by snow crystals oriented in ra ndom and nonrandom positions and having various sizes (ranging from 1 mu m to 10 000 mu m in radius) and shapes (including spheres, cylinders, hexagon s). The model results demonstrate that for the crystal sizes typically foun d in a snowpack, crystal orientation is insignificant compared to crystal s ize in terms of scattering microwave energy in the 8100 mu m (37 GHz) regio n of the spectrum, Therefore, the assumption used in radiative transfer app roaches, where snow crystals are modeled as randomly oriented spheres, is a dequate to account for the transfer of microwave energy emanating from the ground and passing through a snowpack.