Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1994 · 20 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesOcean EngineeringOceanographyNaval ArchitecturePhysical OceanographyRemote SensingInfrared PolarimetryInfrared Remote SensingOptical Ocean SensorsPolar Remote SensingPolarization OpticsPolarization-based ImagingContrastEmission CoefficientsFresnel DiffractionPolarizationPolarization MeasurementsPolarization-based Ocean SensingRadianceTarget-to-background Contrast Analysis
In previous papers we have presented measurements of degree of polarization in the mid and far infrared both in near-horizon sun-glint and in the adjacent sea background radiance. The polarization has been related to the Fresnel reflection and emission coefficients and compared with predictions. These measurements have been extended to include target-to-background polarization contrast measurements. Target polarization was small, but sea surface emission showed moderate degree of polarization in the p-plane (vertical). Considerable ship- background contrast improvement was achieved by polarization filtering in the horizontal plane. This effect was greater in the far infrared. Values are given for the degree of polarization of target and background and the contrast improvement factor due to polarization filtering.