The effects of non-sphericity on geostationary satellite retrievals of dust aerosols

Using data collected during the Puerto Rico Dust Experiment ( PRIDE), we examine the effect of non-spherical phase functions on dust aerosol retrievals from geostationary satellites. We utilize a statistical model based on Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) analysis of individual dust particles. Using T-matrix calculations and assuming that dust particles are randomly-orientated oblate spheroids we compute the dust phase function and scattering properties. Although the non-spherical function developed in this study compares well with the synthetic non-spherical phase functions [Liu et al., 2003], new retrievals using the non-spherical phase function only show slight improvement at scattering angles (Theta) from 110degrees similar to 150degrees, and become worse for Theta between 150degrees similar to 170degrees. However the retrievals are greatly improved at all angles when retrieval algorithms account for the combined effect of both spherical and non-spherical phase functions.