Dependence of the radiation just above and below the ocean surface on atmospheric and oceanic parameters

Abstract

Radiance and degree of linear polarization of the upwelling and the downwelling radiation just above and below a ruffled ocean surface in a model atmosphere-ocean system are computed at the wavelengths of 0.5 and 0.75 microm with the doubling-adding method. Computational results show that: (1) maximum degree of polarization (P(max))a nd radiance in the corresponding direction (R(max)) f the upwelling radiation below the ocean surface are strongly dependent on the oceanic condition and that P(max) is affected by the atmospheric condition. The effect of surface wind is negligible. (2) P(max) and R(max) of the downwelling radiation just above the ocean surface are strongly dependent on the atmospheric condition, but are little affected by oceanic and surface conditions. A combined measurement of P(max) and R(max) is expected to provide useful information to infer atmospheric and oceanic conditions.