Numerical results for polarized light scattering in a spherical atmosphere. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Korkin, S.; Yang, E.-S.; Spurr, R.; Emde, C.; Zhai, P.; Krotkov, N.; Vasilkov, A.; Lyapustin, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of quantitative spectroscopy & radiative transfer. Volume 287(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Spherical atmosphere -- Multiple scattering of solar light -- Polarization -- Validation of radiative transfer software; A&K reference to Adams and Kattawar [1] -- BOA Bottom Of Atmosphere -- LOS Line Of Sight (used only in the Appendix) -- MC Monte Carlo, numerical technique -- MCSSA MC RT code for Spherical Shell Atmosphere -- MS Multiple Scattering -- MSST Multiple Scattering Source Term (used only in the Appendix) -- MYSTIC Monte-Carlo RT code for the physically correct tracing of photons in cloudy atmospheres -- NL Number of Layers -- OT Optical Thickness -- RAz Relative Azimuth -- RT Radiative Transfer -- SZA Solar Zenith Angle -- TOA Top Of Atmosphere -- VLIDORT Vector LInearized Discrete Ordinate RT code -- VLPS VLIDORT Pseudo-Spherical correction -- VLSC VLIDORT MS Spherical Correction -- VZA View Zenith Angle; Spectrum analysis -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Periodicals; Analyse spectrale -- Périodiques; Rayonnement -- Périodiques; Radiation; Spectrum analysis; Periodicals; 543.0858
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2022.108194
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4073

Abstract

Highlights: We report numerical results for light reflection from the top of a Rayleigh scattering spherical atmosphere over a dark surface. We account for polarization of light and height-dependent single scattering albedo. We report single and multiple scattering data separately to support validation and development of RT codes for spherical atmospheres. Abstract: We report numerical results for polarized light reflection from the top of a Rayleigh scattering spherical atmosphere with height-dependent single scattering albedo over a dark surface. Michael Mishchenko considered this scenario back in the 1990's, for a plane-parallel atmosphere of unit optical thickness (OT = 1), for which radiance errors arising from neglecting polarization reaches their highest values. To further extend Mishchenko's results, we consider a value of OT = 0.25, for which the effect of atmospheric curvature is pronounced. New results are generated using three state-of-the art radiative transfer (RT) codes. These are: the MYSTIC and MCSSA models, which simulate light scattering in a true-spherical atmosphere using Monte Carlo methods; and the discrete ordinate code VLIDORT, operating with a new multiple-scatter spherical correction designed to deliver reasonable approximations to spherical-medium scattering. In this work, we report results for both single and multiple scattering; this will help to support the validation of existing and future polarized spherical RT codes, especially those using approximative methods to deal with sphericity.