Information content of the kernel matrix for the phase function retrieval problem.

ABSTRACT

We investigate the information content of the radiation measurements to be used in the retrieval of the scattering properties of the atmosphere with the perturbation technique that we previously introduced. Applying this technique to different sets of data, we obtained solutions with varying accuracy. An analysis of these solutions shows that selecting linearly independent data in directions corresponding to small values of the scattering angle increases the number of pieces of information. (This result is in accord with conclusions reached by other researchers, based on a variety of criteria.) This information content should be largely independent of the method or methods employed to perform the inversion procedure.