Exploring the relation between polarized light fields and physical-optical characteristics of the ocean for remote sensing applications

Measurements of light intensity, often from space borne sensors, have been used to investigate the optical properties of the constituents of Earth's ecosystem. In ocean color research, water-leaving radiance can give useful information about inherent optical properties (IOPs). Additional consideration of polarization of the water-leaving radiance can lead to a better understanding of the physical and optical characteristics of the water body. Polarization properties strongly depend on particle microphysics, such as refractive index, effective radius, size distribution, and single scattering albedo. Using radiative transfer simulations of the polarized light field for various ranges of water constituents, we were able to develop relationships between the degree of polarization (DOP) and the ratio of hydrosol absorption to attenuation coefficient. This relationship was then studied for different viewing geometries of the polarized light and for different sun positions. A Neural Network sensitivity analysis was also performed to better understand the dependence of DOP on microphysical parameters.

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