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Polarization of light scattered by cloverThis study was undertaken in order to better understand the factors that govern the polarization of light scattered from vegetation and soils. This phenomenon is not well understood but is potentially of interest for remote sensing of the earth. The intensity and polarization of light scattered by clover in vivo and soil were measured at a number of different angles of incidence and reflectance. Both individual leaves and natural patches of vegetation were measured. The Umov effect, or inverse relation between polarization and reflectance noted by many earlier workers, was observed here and is shown to be a very general property of diffusely scattering surfaces. The light transmitted through the leaves was found to be negatively polarized. The polarization of light scattered from aggregations of leaves is affected by this negatively polarized, transmitted light. The light scattered from the upper leaf surfaces was found to be positively polarized in a manner which could be accounted for quantitatively by specular Fresnel reflection from small, randomly oriented facets on the surfaces of the leaves.
Document ID
19870050818
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Woessner, Paul
(Pittsburgh Univ. Pittsburgh, PA, United States)
Hapke, Bruce
(Pittsburgh, University PA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: Remote Sensing of Environment
Volume: 21
ISSN: 0034-4257
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Accession Number
87A38092
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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