ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the single scattering perspective. Single scattering analytic relationships are important from the multiple scattering point of view too. Single scattering quantities, such as phase function and scattering and absorption coefficients, are required as input for solving multiple scattering problems. Radiative transfer equation provides a mathematical description of electromagnetic wave propagation in a cloud of scatterers. Each scatterer is assumed to be scattering independently. Single scattering properties of dust aerosols and their effect in radiative flux calculations for spherical and spheroidal particles has been studied by many researchers. Apart from single scattering phase function, higher-order scattering phase functions are also of interest from the point of view of diagnosing/characterising the scattering media. The scattering medium is assumed to be isotropic. The measurement is called spatially resolved reflectance and can be analysed to characterise the medium.
