PPD-2K Particle size distribution and particle phase from DOME-C, Antarctica

In-situ measurements of small atmospheric ice crystals (< 100 µm) on the Antarctic plateau are rare. Yet, small ice crystals are abundant in a region that often reaches cirrus temperatures even in the warmest season. The Particle Phase Discriminator (PPD-2K) was deployed on DOME-C, Antarctica during austral summer 2023/2024. It was used to characterize the microphysical and optical properties of individual ice fog and diamond dust ice crystals having spherical equivalent diameters between 11 and 150 µm. These properties included particle concentration, size distribution and spatial light scattering patterns in the forward direction that allow the analysis of the particle sphericity (particle phase), shape and crystal complexity.