Abstract
SCHWERDTFEGER1 has recently directed attention to the mechanism underlying the dependence of short-wave or optical albedo on solar elevation and the presence or absence of cloud cover. He cites as one of the major causes of this dependence the polarization of incident radiation (solar) on reflexion at terrestrial surfaces. The few comments made here are intended to bring out the rather involved interrelation between polarization and albedo, which plays a very prominent part in the solution of radiant -energy transfer problems in the Earth's atmosphere.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Schwerdtfeger, P., Nature, 202, 894 (1964).
Chandrasekhar, S., Radiative Transfer (Oxf. Univ. Press, 1950).
Coulson, Kinsell L., Jitendra, V. Dave, and Zdenek, Sekera, Tables Related to Radiation Emerging from a Planetary Atmosphere with Rayleigh Scattering (Univ. California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1960).
Holzworth, G. C., and Nagaraja Rao, C. R. (unpublished results).
Sekera, Z., Proceedings of I.U.G.G. Symp. Radiant Energy in the Sea, Helsinki, 66 (1960).
Soret, J. L., C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 107, 867 (1888).
Coulson, Kinsell L., Sci. Rep. No. 2, Contract AF 19(604)–1303, Dept. Meteorology, Univ. California, Los Angeles (1956).
Final Rep., Contract AF 19(122)–239, Dept. Meteorology, Univ. California, Los Angeles (1955).
Mullama, Yu, three papers on radiative transfer from Investigations of the Physics of the Atmosphere, No. 3 (Acad. Sci., Estonian S.S.R., 1962). English translation by Deirmendjian, D., et al., Mem. RM–3869–PR, Rand Corp., Santa Monica, California (September 1963).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
NAGARAJA RAO, C. Polarization and Albedo. Nature 204, 277–278 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/204277a0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/204277a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.