COMPARISON OF THE GAUSS-SEIDEL SPHERICAL POLARIZED RADIATIVE-TRANSFERCODE WITH OTHER RADIATIVE-TRANSFER CODES

Calculations that use the Gauss-Seidel method are presented of the dif fusely scattered light in a spherical atmosphere with polarization ful ly included. Comparisons are made between this method and the Monte Ca rlo calculations of other researchers for spherical geometry in a pure Rayleigh atmosphere. Comparisons with plane-parallel atmospheres are also presented. Single-scatter intensity comparisons with spherical ge ometry show excellent agreement. When all orders of scattering are inc luded, comparisons of polarization parameters I, Q and U as well as th e plane of polarization show good agreement when allowances are made f or the statistical variability inherent in the Monte Carlo method.