General review of optical polarization remote sensing

Abstract

Polarization remote sensing can be used to obtain polarization data for a given target. It can be acquire not only radiation data, as also measured by conventional remote sensing, but also to quantify the polarization of the target according to its intrinsic characteristics. Polarization remote sensing allows for more accurate quantification of ground objects. The polarization pattern of the whole sky, neutral point concept, separation of ground-gas parameters, and multi-angle observation of atmospheric particles underpin atmospheric polarization remote sensing. Polarization remote sensing measurements of a target surface provide relatively reliable polarization information, which is indispensable in modern optical remote sensing. Bionic polarization-based autonomous navigation, advanced space-based polarization detection, and global change research based on the Earth polarization phenomenon are new application areas of polarization remote sensing.