Infrared radiances from water become partially polarized at oblique viewing angles through both emission and reflection. I describe computer simulations that show how the state of polarization for water varies with environmental conditions over a wavelength range of 3–15 ?m with 0.05-?m resolution. Polarization at wavelengths longer than approximately 4 ?m generally is negative (p, or vertical) and increases with incidence angle up to approximately 75°, beyond which the horizontally polarized reflected atmospheric radiance begins to dominate the surface emission. The highest p polarization (~4–10%) is found in the atmospheric window regions of approximately 4–5 and 8–14 ?m. In the 3–5-?m spectral band, especially between 3 and 4 ?m, reflected atmospheric radiance usually is greater than surface emission, resulting in a net s polarization (horizontal). The results of these simulations agree well with broadband measurements of the degree of polarization for a water surface viewed at nadir angles of 0–75°.

© 1999 Optical Society of America

[Optical Society of America ]

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