Abstract

The intensity and degree of polarization of the radiation diffusely transmitted and reflected by a plane-parallel, homogeneous Rayleigh atmosphere were computed for scattering optical thicknesses τ₁ from 1.0 to 10.0. The results show that the distribution of the intensity of the radiation diffusely reflected by an atmosphere of τ₁ = 10.0 is similar to that reflected by an atmosphere of infinite optical depth. The distributions of the degree of polarization are identical for τ₁ = 10.0 and ∞ when the sun is at the zenith; otherwise, they are significantly different. Except for the magnitude of the intensity which decreases with increasing solar zenith distance, the distributions of the intensity and polarization of the diffusely transmitted radiation are independent of the sun’s position when τ₁ ~ 10.0 or greater. An interesting feature displayed by the polarization of the transmitted radiation for 1.0≤τ₁≤2.0 is the simultaneous appearance of four neutral points at low elevations of the sun. For higher values of τ₁, neutral points are nonexistent.

© 1966 Optical Society of America

Multiple scattered radiation emerging from Rayleigh and continental haze layers. 1: Radiance, polarization, and neutral points

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Importance of Higher Order Scattering in a Molecular Atmosphere

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Effect of Specular Reflection at the Ground on Light Scattered from a Rayleigh Atmosphere

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Computed Intensity and Polarization of Light Scattered Outwards from the Earth and an Overlying Aerosol

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