Abstract

The influence of internal inhomogeneities within hydrosol particles on the characteristics of the underwater light polarization pattern is investigated by combining an accurate coated sphere (core-shell) single scattering model with a radiative transfer model that employs Stokes formalism and considers refraction of direct solar radiation at the air-water interface followed by single scattering. Variations in what we call the “linear polarization phase function” (LPPF; the degree of linear polarization and E-vector orientation as a function of scattering angle) are examined as a function of variations in the characteristics of the hydrosol particles (i.e., the real and imaginary parts of the refractive index of both the core and shell, and the ratio between the core radius and shell radius (Rcs)). In addition, we present the LPPF for specific cases of the most important groups of hydrosols, namely phytoplankton, gas bubbles, carbonaceous hydrosols, and mineral hydrosols. Possible implications for aquatic animal polarization vision, for light polarization pollution, and for remote sensing are discussed.

© 2018 The Author(s)