Abstract

We have extended the Wang–Gordon [Appl. Opt. 32, 4598–4609 (1993)] and Gordon–Zhang [Appl. Opt. 34, 5552–5555 (1995)] algorithms for retrieval of ω₀ P(Θ, where ω₀ is the aerosol single-scattering albedo and P(Θ) is the aerosol phase function for scattering through an angle Θ, from measurement of the radiances exiting the top and the bottom of the atmosphere over the ocean, to include polarization. This permits derivation of the P₁₁(Θ) and P₁₂(Θ) elements of the Mueller scattering phase matrix P(Θ) from measurement of the linear polarization portion of the Stokes vectors associated with the radiance exiting the top and the bottom of the atmosphere. Simulations show that good retrievals are possible for aerosol optical thicknesses as large as 2; however, the atmosphere is required to be horizontally homogeneous. We study the influence of the elements of P(Θ) that cannot be determined in this manner. It is shown that including surface measurements of the linear polarization of the sky radiance improves the estimation of the radiance simultaneously exiting the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and also allows reasonably accurate estimates of the TOA polarization. This is important for in-orbit calibration of ocean-color sensors.

© 1997 Optical Society of America

Retrieval of the columnar aerosol phase function and single-scattering albedo from sky radiance over the ocean: simulations

Menghua Wang and Howard R. Gordon
Appl. Opt. 32(24) 4598-4609 (1993)

Columnar aerosol properties over oceans by combining surface and aircraft measurements: sensitivity analysis

Tianming Zhang and Howard R. Gordon
Appl. Opt. 36(12) 2650-2662 (1997)

Retrieval of the columnar aerosol phase function and single-scattering albedo from sky radiance over land: simulations

Haoyu Yang and Howard R. Gordon
Appl. Opt. 37(6) 978-997 (1998)

Columnar aerosol properties over oceans by combining surface and aircraft measurements: simulations

Howard R. Gordon and Tianming Zhang
Appl. Opt. 34(24) 5552-5555 (1995)

How well can radiance reflected from the ocean–atmosphere system be predicted from measurements at the sea surface?

Howard R. Gordon and Tianming Zhang
Appl. Opt. 35(33) 6527-6543 (1996)