Signal of single scattering albedo in water leaving polarization

The purpose of this article is to examine whether the change in single scattering albedo in the surface layer of the sea will cause significant changes in the polarization of light emerging from the sea. The results of a polarization resolving Monte Carlo radiative transfer calculations are presented. Bubble clouds of different bubble concentrations are used to achieve a wide range of single scattering albedo variability. The variability of the polarization signal is largest in the direction looking towards the sun which is unfortunate due to sun reflection. However the variability is also significant at direction perpendicular to solar azimuth angle which should it make possible to use this signal in remote sensing. The polarization degree of water leaving radiation, together with reflectance can be used to determine the backscattering ratio of the observed sea water.