Fast Stochastic Radiative Transfer Models for Trace Gas and Cloud Property Retrievals Under Cloudy Conditions

The stochastic radiative transfer models based on the analytical procedure of statistical averaging of the radiative transfer equation are reviewed. For broken clouds , the first-order stochastic model for a two-dimensional radiance vector , whose entries are the mean radiance field and the covariance of the radiance and the indicator fields, is derived. An algorithm for accurate retrieving ozone and clouds parameters under broken cloud conditions is designed. Because the independent pixel approximation fails to predict accurate radiances, the retrieval algorithm uses a stochastic radiative transfer model. The accuracy of the stochastic model in forward models and retrieval algorithms is analyzed