Polarimetric Remote Sensing

A short and concise treatment of satellite–based polarimetric remote sensing of cloud and aerosol properties, streamlined to facilitate the cover–to–cover walk–through of a 10–week course.

The textbook starts with an overview of the climatic importance of cloud and aerosol and a brief introduction to their key properties, helping readers to understand the motivation behind their polarimetric remote sensing. As such, it covers basic definitions of polarimetric parameters, polarimetric signatures of scattering by cloud and aerosol particles, polarimetric radiative transfer in planetary atmosphere, sources and boundary conditions, as well as examples of the sensing of key cloud and aerosol properties.

Throughout, the book maintains an appropriate balance between the basic concepts and practical applications, allowing readers to achieve a high–level conceptual understanding without overloading them with complicated equations or technical details.

The result is a much–needed bridge between the classic textbooks on the topic and the large volume of scientific literature available. The material is presented at a level that is typical of upper–division graduate courses in physics, or a topical short course in remote sensing.