Abstract

Space-shuttle imagery on mission STS-28 (August 20, 1989) shows a significant atmospheric-polarization effect (20-30%), which decreases as the sensing wavelength decreases. The imagery was acquired over the central United States (New Madrid, Missouri, area) in the red, green, and blue spectral regions. It appeared that the unusual polarization variation is a result of atmospheric aerosols. The Hansen-Travis vector-doubling model was used to characterize the atmospheric polarization effects. A uniform sandy surface area adjacent to the Mississippi River was used to calibrate the measurements. The polarimetric properties of a smoke plume from a coal-fired electrical plant in the same area were also imaged and modeled. The combination of a small atmospheric polarization with earth-surface polarization was analyzed by neglecting multiple scattering between the two. The atmospheric polarization was modeled with the doubling technique and was linearly combined with the earth-surface polarization to obtain the remotely sensed polarization.

© 1990 Optical Society of America