Cloud and aerosol multiple scattering effects for the GLAS atmospheric and surface measurements

Multiple scattering by clouds and aerosol is a significant factor for space borne laser radar measurements. Principally forward scattering within the receiver field of view increases the observed signal magnitude and causes pulse stretching. For the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System, multiple scattering effects both the retrieval of the optical properties of clouds and aerosol and the surface altitude measurements. The effects have been modeled by Monte Carlo and analytic methods. The results are summarized and approaches to errors associated with multiple scattering are presented.