The PHIPS (Particle Habit Imaging and Polar Scattering) probe is a unique aircraft mounted instrument to investigate microphysical properties of real cloud particles. It acquires high resolution stereo images and measures the light scattering properties of single cloud particles of ca. 50 – 700µm.

Depending on the ambient conditions (such as temperature, pressure, humidity), ice particles form in various different habits as seen above. The habit of ice crystals directly affects a cloud’s optical properties and life cycle and hence ultimately also climate.

The main tasks of the master thesis is to

• develop an automated method to classify the habit of ice particles based on PHIPS’ microscopic images and
• work on further developing the microscopic imaging, e.g. by testing dark field microscopy.

The master thesis takes place at the IMK-AAF (Prof. T. Leisner) at CN.