A METHOD FOR COMPUTING VISIBLE AND INFRARED POLARIZED MONOCHROMATIC RADIATION IN PLANETARY-ATMOSPHERES

In this paper we present a computational method, based on the so-calle d adding principle, for calculating the polarized monochromatic radiat ion in plane-parallel vertically inhomogeneous atmospheres. Our comput er code is verified by comparing numerical results with those obtained by other investigators using different methods. We consider not only the well-known case of illumination by a unidirectional beam of light at the top of the atmosphere, but also illumination by isotropically r adiating internal sources and illumination by an isotropically radiati ng ground surface below the atmosphere. Numerical results for all rele vant Stokes parameters are tabulated for a two-layer atmosphere contai ning molecules and haze particles. These results pertain to the three types of illumination mentioned above. Furthermore, we describe some g eneral features of polarized radiation in an optically thick homogeneo us atmosphere containing cloud C1 water droplets. It is shown that mul tiple scattering of radiation in such a cloudy atmosphere may not be i gnored at infrared wavelengths if molecular absorption is negligible.