Open AccessPolarized transfer functions of the ocean surface for above-surface determination of the vector submarine light field
Author(s) -
Robert Foster,
Alexander Gilerson
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
applied optics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0003-6935
DOI - 10.1364/ao.55.009476
Subject(s) - optics , radiance , diffuse sky radiation , wind speed , radiative transfer , atmospheric optics , light field , monte carlo method , remote sensing , physics , polarization (electrochemistry) , scalar (mathematics) , meteorology , geology , scattering , statistics , chemistry , mathematics , geometry
A method is developed to determine the underwater polarized light field from above sea surface observations. A hybrid approach combining vector radiative transfer simulations and the Monte Carlo method is used to determine the transfer functions of polarized light for wind-driven ocean surfaces. Transfer functions for surface-reflected skylight and upward transmission of light through the sea surface are presented for many common viewing and solar geometries for clear-sky conditions. Sensitivity of reflection matrices to environmental conditions is examined and can vary up to 50% due to wind speed, 25% due to atmospheric aerosol load, and 10% due to radiometer field-of-view. Scalar transmission is largely independent of water type and varies a few percent with wind speed, while polarized components can change up to 10% in high winds. Considerations for determining the water-leaving radiance (scalar or vector) are discussed.