Rayleigh Sky Model

Rayleigh sky model - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
12/21/15, 13:12
Rayleigh sky model

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Rayleigh sky model describes the observed polarization pattern of the daytime sky. Within the atmosphere
Rayleigh scattering of light from air molecules, water, dust, and aerosols causes the sky's light to have a defined
polarization pattern. The same elastic scattering processes cause the sky to be blue. The polarization is
characterized at each wavelength by its degree of polarization, and orientation (the e-vector angle, or scattering
angle).
The polarization pattern of the sky is dependent on the celestial position of the sun. While all scattered light is
polarized to some extent, light is highly polarized at a scattering angle of 90 from the light source. In most
cases the light source is the sun, but the moon creates the same pattern as well. The degree of polarization first
increases with increasing distance from the sun, and then decreases toward the anti-sun. Thus, the maximum
degree of polarization occurs in a circular band 90 from the sun. In this band, degrees of polarization near 80%
are typically reached.
When the sun is located at the zenith, the band of maximal
polarization wraps around the horizon. Light from the sky is
polarized horizontally along the horizon. During twilight at
either the Vernal or Autumnal equinox, the band of maximal
polarization is defined by the North-Zenith-South plane, or
meridian. In particular, the polarization is vertical at the
horizon in the North and South, where the meridian meets
the horizon. The polarization at twilight at an equinox is
represented by the figure to the right. The red band
represents the circle in the North-Zenith-South plane where
the sky is highly polarized. The cardinal directions N, E, S,
W are shown at 12-o'clock, 9 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 3
o'clock (counter-clockwise around the celestial sphere since
the observer is looking up at the sky).
The Rayleigh sky at sunset or sunrise
Note that because the polarization pattern is dependent on the sun, it changes not only throughout the day but
throughout the year. When the sun sets toward the South, in the winter, the North-Zenith-South plane is offset,
with "effective" North actually located somewhat toward the West. Thus if the sun sets at an azimuth of 255
(15 South of West) the polarization pattern will be at its maximum along the horizon at an azimuth of 345
(15 West of North) and 165 (15 East of South).
During a single day, the pattern rotates with the changing position of the sun. At twilight it typically appears
about 45 minutes before local sunrise and disappears 45 minutes after local sunset. Once established it is very
stable, showing change only in its rotation. It can easily be seen on any given day using polarized sunglasses.
Many animals use the polarization patterns of the sky at twilight and throughout the day as a navigation tool.
Because it is determined purely by the position of the sun, it is easily used as a compass for animal orientation.
By orienting themselves with respect to the polarization patterns, animals can locate the sun and thus determine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_sky_model
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the cardinal directions.
Contents
1 Theory
1.1 Geometry
1.2 Degree of polarization
1.3 Polarization angle
1.4 Q and U Stokes parameters
1.5 Neutral points and lines
1.6 Depolarization
2 Uses
2.1 Navigation
2.2 Non-polarized objects
3 Notes and references
4 External links
Theory
Geometry
The geometry for the sky polarization can be represented by a celestial triangle based on the sun, zenith, and
observed pointing (or the point of scattering). In the model, is the angular distance between the observed
pointing and the sun, s is the solar zenith distance (90 solar altitude), is the angular distance between the
observed pointing and the zenith (90 observed altitude), is the angle between the zenith direction and the
solar direction at the observed pointing, and is the angle between the solar direction and the observed
pointing at the zenith.
Thus, the spherical triangle is defined not only by the three points located at the sun, zenith, and observed point
but by both the three interior angles as well as the three angular distances. In an altitude-azimuth grid the
angular distance between the observed pointing and the sun and the angular distance between the observed
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pointing and the zenith change while the angular distance between the sun and the zenith remains constant at
one point in time.
The figure to the left shows the two changing angular distances as mapped onto an altitude-azimuth grid (with
altitude located on the x-axis and azimuth located on the y-axis). The top plot represents the changing angular
distance between the observed pointing and the sun, which is opposite to the interior angle located at the zenith
(or the scattering angle). When the sun is located at the zenith this distance is greatest along the horizon at every
cardinal direction. It then decreases with rising altitude moving closer toward the zenith. At twilight the sun is
setting in the west. Hence the distance is greatest when looking directly away from the sun along the horizon in
the east, and lowest along the horizon in the west.
The bottom plot in the figure to the left represents the
angular distance from the observed pointing to the zenith,
which is opposite to the interior angle located at the sun.
Unlike the distance between the observed pointing and the
sun, this is independent of azimuth, i.e. cardinal direction. It
is simply greatest along the horizon at low altitudes and
decreases linearly with rising altitude.
The figure to the right represents the three angular distances.
The left one represents the angle at the observed pointing
between the zenith direction and the solar direction. This is
thus heavily dependent on the changing solar direction as
the sun moves across the sky. The middle one represents the
angle at the sun between the zenith direction and the
pointing. Again this is heavily dependent on the changing
pointing. This is symmetrical between the North and South
hemispheres. The right one represents the angle at the zenith
between the solar direction and the pointing. It thus rotates
around the celestial sphere.
The geometry representing the Rayleigh sky
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The angular distances between the observed pointing and the sun (top
plot) and between the observed pointing and the zenith (bottom plot)
The three interior angles of the celestial triangle.
Degree of polarization
The Rayleigh sky model predicts the degree of sky polarization as:
As a simple example one can map the degree of polarization on the horizon. As seen in the figure to the right it
is high in the North (0 and 360) and the South (180). It then resembles a cosine function and decreases
toward the East and West reaching zero at these cardinal directions.
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The degree of polarization is easily understood when mapped onto an altitude-azimuth grid as shown below. As
the sun sets due West, the maximum degree of polarization can be seen in the North-Zenith-South plane. Along
the horizon, at an altitude of 0 it is highest in the North and South, and lowest in the East and West. Then as
altitude increases approaching the zenith (or the plane of
maximum polarization) the polarization remains high in the
North and South and increases until it is again maximum at
90 in the East and West, where it is then at the zenith and
within the plane of polarization.
The polarization along the horizon.
The degree of sky polarization as mapped onto the celestial sphere.
Click on the image to the right to view an animation that represents the degree of polarization as shown on the
celestial sphere. Black represents areas where the degree of polarization is zero, whereas red represents areas
where the degree of polarization is much larger. It is approximately 80%, which is a realistic maximum for the
clear Rayleigh sky during day time. The video thus begins when the sun is slightly above the horizon and at an
azimuth of 120. The sky is highly polarized in the effective North-Zenith-South plane. This is slightly offset
because the sun's azimuth is not due East. The sun moves across the sky with clear circular polarization patterns
surrounding it. When the sun is located at the zenith the polarization is independent of azimuth and decreases
with rising altitude (as it approaches the sun). The pattern then continues as the sun approaches the horizon once
again for sunset. The video ends with the sun below the horizon.
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The degree of polarization. Red is

high (approximately 80%) and black
is low (0%).
Polarization angle
The relative azimuth between the observed pointing and the sun, , is
the scattering angle and can be found by applying the law of cosines to
the spherical triangle. It gives:
This equation breaks down at the zenith where the angular distance
between the observed pointing and the zenith, s is 0. Here the
orientation of polarization is defined as the difference in azimuth
between the observed pointing and the solar azimuth.
The scattering plane is the plane through the sun, the observer, and the
point observed (or the scattering point). The angle, , located at the
zenith between the solar direction and the observed pointing is the
scattering angle. This angle of polarization is always perpendicular to
the scattering plane.
The polarization angle. Red is high

(approximately 80%) and black is low
(0%).
The polarization angles show a regular shift in polarization angle with azimuth. For example, when the sun is
setting in the West the polarization angles proceed around the horizon. At this time the degree of polarization is
constant in circular bands centered around the sun. Thus the degree of polarization as well as its corresponding
angle clearly shifts around the horizon. When the sun is located at the zenith the horizon represents a constant
degree of polarization. The corresponding polarization angle still shifts with different directions toward the
zenith from different points.
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The video to the right represents the polarization angle mapped onto the celestial sphere. It begins with the sun
located in a similar fashion. The angle is zero along the line from the sun to the zenith and increases clockwise
toward the East as the observed point moves clockwise toward the East. Once the sun rises in the East the angle
acts in a similar fashion until the sun begins to move across the sky. As the sun moves across the sky the angle
is both zero and high along the line defined by the sun, the zenith, and the anti-sun. It is lower South of this line
and higher North of this line. When the sun is at the zenith, the angle is either fully positive or 0. These two
values rotate toward the west. The video then repeats a similar fashion when the sun sets in the West.
Q and U Stokes parameters

The angle of polarization can be unwrapped
into the Q and U Stokes parameters. Q and
U are defined as the linearly polarized
intensities along the position angles 0 and
45 respectively; -Q and -U are along the
position angles 90 and 45.
If the sun is located on the horizon due west,
the degree of polarization is then along the
North-Zenith-South plane. If the observer
faces West and looks at the zenith, the
polarization is horizontal with the observer.
At this direction Q is 1 and U is 0. If the
observer is still facing West but looking
North instead then the polarization is
vertical with him. Thus Q is 1 and U
remains 0. Along the horizon U is always 0.
Q is always 1 except in the East and West.
The q and u input.
The scattering angle (the angle at the zenith between the solar direction and the observer direction) along the
horizon is a circle. From the East through the West it is 180 and from the West through the East it is 90 at
twilight. When the sun is setting in the West, the angle is then 180 East through West, and only 90 West
through East. The scattering angle at an altitude of 45 is consistent.
The input stokes parameters q and u are then with respect to North but in the altitude-azimuth frame. We can
easily unwrap q assuming it is in the +altitude direction. From the basic definition we know that +Q is an angle
of 0 and -Q is an angle of 90. Therefore, Q is calculated from a sine function. Similarly U is calculated from a
cosine function. The angle of polarization is always perpendicular to the scattering plane. Therefore, 90 is
added to both scattering angles in order to find the polarization angles. From this the Q and U Stokes parameters
are determined:
and
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The scattering angle, derived from the law of cosines is with respect to the sun. The polarization angle is the
angle with respect to the zenith, or positive altitude. There is a line of symmetry defined by the sun and the
zenith. It is drawn from the sun through the zenith to the other side of the celestial sphere where the "anti-sun"
would be. This is also the effective East-Zenith-West plane.
The first image to the right represents the q input mapped onto the
celestial sphere. It is symmetric about the line defined by the sun-zenithanti-sun. At twilight, in the North-Zenith-South plane it is negative
because it is vertical with the degree of polarization. It is horizontal, or
positive in the East-Zenith-West plane. In other words, it is positive in
the altitude direction and negative in the azimuth direction. As the sun
moves across the sky the q input remains high along the sun-zenith-antisun line. It remains zero around a circle based on the sun and the zenith.
As it passes the zenith it rotates toward the south and repeats the same
pattern until sunset.
The second image to the right represents the u input mapped onto the
celestial sphere. The u stokes parameter changes signs depending on
which quadrant it is in. The four quadrants are defined by the line of
symmetry, the effective East-Zenith-West plane and the North-ZenithSouth plane. It is not symmetric because it is defined by the angles 45.
In a sense it makes two circles around the line of symmetry as opposed
to only one.
The q input. Red is high

(0%). (Click for animation)
It is easily understood when compared with the q input. Where the q

input is halfway between 0 and 90, the u input is either positive at
+45 or negative at 45. Similarly if the q input is positive at 90 or
negative at 0 the u input is halfway between +45 and 45. This can
be seen at the non symmetric circles about the line of symmetry. It then
follows the same pattern across the sky as the q input.
Neutral points and lines

Areas where the degree of polarization is zero (the skylight is
unpolarized), are known as neutral points. Here the Stokes parameters Q
and U also equal zero by definition. The degree of polarization therefore
increases with increasing distance from the neutral points.
The u input. Red is high

(0%). (Click for animation)
These conditions are met at a few defined locations on the sky. The
Arago point is located above the antisolar point, while the Babinet and Brewster points are located above and
below the sun respectively. The zenith distance of the Babinet or Arago point increases with increasing solar
zenith distance. These neutral points can depart from their regular positions due to interference from dust and
other aerosols.
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The skylight polarization switches from negative to positive while passing a neutral point parallel to the solar or
antisolar meridian. The lines that separate the regions of positive Q and negative Q are called neutral lines.
Depolarization
The Rayleigh sky causes a clearly defined polarization pattern under many different circumstances. The degree
of polarization however, does not always remain consistent and may in fact decrease in different situations. The
Rayleigh sky may undergo depolarization due to nearby objects such as clouds and large reflecting surfaces
such as the ocean. It may also change depending on the time of the day (for instance at twilight or night).
In the night, the polarization of the moonlit sky is very strongly reduced in the presence of urban light pollution,
because scattered urban light is not strongly polarized.[1]
Extensive research shows that the angle of polarization in a clear sky
continues underneath clouds if the air beneath the cloud is directly lit by
the sun. The scattering of direct sunlight on those clouds results in the
same polarization pattern. In other words, the proportion of the sky that
follows the Rayleigh Sky Model is high for both clear skies and cloudy
skies. The pattern is also clearly visible in small visible patches of sky.
The celestial angle of polarization is unaffected by clouds.
Polarization patterns remain consistent even when the sun is not present
Light pollution is mostly unpolarized,
in the sky. Twilight patterns are produced during the time period
and its addition to moonlight results
between the beginning of astronomical twilight (when the sun is 18
in a decreased polarization signal.
below the horizon) and sunrise, or sunset and the end of astronomical
twilight. The duration of astronomical twilight depends on the length of
the path taken by the sun below the horizon. Thus it depends on the time of year as well as the location, but it
can last for as long as 1.5 hours.
The polarization pattern caused by twilight remains fairly consistent throughout this time period. This is
because the sun is moving below the horizon nearly perpendicular to it, and its azimuth therefore changes very
slowly throughout this time period.
At twilight, scattered polarized light originates in the upper atmosphere and then traverses the entire lower
atmosphere before reaching the observer. This provides multiple scattering opportunities and causes
depolarization. It has been seen that polarization increases by about 10% from the onset of twilight to dawn.
Therefore, the pattern remains consistent while the degree changes slightly.
Not only do polarization patterns remain consistent as the sun moves across the sky, but also as the moon moves
across the sky at night. The moon creates the same polarization pattern. Thus it is possible to use the
polarization patterns as a tool for navigation at night. The only difference is that the degree of polarization is not
quite as strong.
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Underlying surface properties can affect the degree of polarization of the daytime sky. The degree of
polarization has a strong dependence on surface properties. As the surface reflectance or optical thickness
increase, the degree of polarization decreases. The Rayleigh sky near the ocean can therefore be highly
depolarized.
Lastly, there is a clear wavelength dependence in Rayleigh scattering. It is greatest at short wavelengths,
whereas skylight polarization is greatest at middle to long wavelengths. Initially it is greatest in the ultraviolet,
but as light moves to the Earth's surface and interacts via multiple-path scattering it becomes high at middle to
long wavelengths. The angle of polarization shows no variation with wavelength.
Uses
Navigation
Many animals, typically insects, are sensitive to the polarization of light and can therefore use the polarization
patterns of the daytime sky as a tool for navigation. This theory was first proposed by Karl von Frisch when
looking at the celestial orientation of honeybees. The natural sky polarization pattern serves as an easily
detected compass. From the polarization patterns, these species can orient themselves by determining the exact
position of the sun without the use of direct sunlight. Thus under cloudy skies, or even at night, animals can find
their way.
Using polarized light as a compass however is no easy task. The animal must be capable of detecting and
analyzing polarized light. These species have specialized photoreceptors in their eyes that respond to the
orientation and the degree of polarization near the zenith. They can extract information on the intensity and
orientation of the degree of polarization. They can then incorporate this visually to orient themselves and
recognize different properties of surfaces.
There is clear evidence that animals can even orient themselves when the sun is below the horizon at twilight.
How well insects might orient themselves using nocturnal polarization patterns is still a topic of study. So far, it
is known that nocturnal crickets have wide-field polarization sensors and should be able to use the night-time
polarization patterns to orient themselves. It has also been seen that nocturnally migrating birds become
disoriented when the polarization pattern at twilight is unclear.
The best example is the halicitid bee Megalopta genalis, which inhabits the rainforests in Central America and
scavenges before sunrise and after sunset. This bee leaves its nest approximately 1 hour before sunrise, forages
for up to 30 minutes, and accurately returns to its nest before sunrise. It acts similarly just after sunset.
Thus, this bee is an example of an insect that can perceive polarization patterns throughout astronomical
twilight.[2] Not only does this case exemplify the fact that polarization patterns are present during twilight, but it
remains as a perfect example that when light conditions are challenging the bee orients itself based on the
polarization patterns of the twilight sky.
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It has been suggested that Vikings were able to navigate on the open sea in a similar fashion, using the
birefringent crystal Iceland spar, which they called "sunstone", to determine the orientation of the sky's
polarization.[3][4][5][6][7] This would allow the navigator to locate the sun, even when it was obscured by cloud
cover. An actual example of such a "sunstone" was found on a sunken (Tudor) ship dated 1592, in proximity to
the ship's navigational equipment.[8]
Non-polarized objects
Both artificial and natural objects in the sky can be very difficult to detect using only the intensity of light.
These objects include clouds, satellites, and aircraft. However, the polarization of these objects due to resonant
scattering, emission, reflection, or other phenomena can differ from that of the background illumination. Thus
they can be more easily detected by using polarization imaging. There is a wide range of remote sensing
applications in which polarization is useful for detecting objects that are otherwise difficult to see.
Notes and references

Polarization Patterns of the Twilight Sky. Cronin T.W. et al., 2005, SPIE, 5888, 389
Polarization patterns of the summer sky and its neutral points measured by full-sky imaging polarimetry in Finnish
Lapland north of the Arctic Circle. Gl J. et al. 2001, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 457, 1385
Polarized radiance distribution measurement of skylight. Liu Y. & Voss K., 1997, ApOpt, 36, 8753
How the clear-sky angle of polarization pattern continues underneath clouds: full-sky measurements and implications
for animal orientation. Pomozi, I. et al., 2001, J. Exp. Biology, 204, 2933
1. Kyba, C. C. M.; Ruhtz, T.; Fischer, J.; Hlker, F. (17 December 2011). "Lunar skylight polarization signal polluted by
urban lighting". Journal of Geophysical Research 116 (D24). Bibcode:2011JGRD..11624106K.
doi:10.1029/2011JD016698.
2. Cronin, T.W.; Warrant, E.J.; Greiner, B. (2006). "Celestial polarization patterns during twilight". Appl. Opt. 45: 5582.
Bibcode:2006ApOpt..45.5582C. doi:10.1364/ao.45.005582.
3. Suhai, B.; Horvth, G. (2004). "How well does the Rayleigh model describe the E-vector distribution of skylight in clear
and cloudy conditions? A full-sky polarimetric study". JOSA A 21: 1669. Bibcode:2004JOSAA..21.1669S.
doi:10.1364/josaa.21.001669.
4. The Viking Sunstone (http://www.polarization.com/viking/viking.html), from Polarization.net. Retrieved February 8,
2007.
5. Secrets of the Viking Navigators, by Leif K. Karlsen. One Earth Press, 2003. ISBN 978-0-9721515-0-4
6. Could Vikings have navigated under foggy and cloudy conditions by skylight polarization? On the atmospheric optical
prerequisites of polarimetric Viking navigation under foggy and cloudy skies, by Ramn Hegeds et al.[1]
(http://rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/463/2080/1081.full)
7. Horvath, G. Et al. (2011). 'On the trail of Vikings with polarized skylight: experimental study of the atmospheric optical
prerequisites allowing polarimetric navigation by Viking seafarers' Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B (2011) 366, 772782
doi:10.1098/rstb.2010.0194
8. Wade, Lizzie (March 5, 2013). "Sunstone Unearthed From Shipwreck". Science (American Association for the
Advancement of Science). Retrieved March 11, 2013.
External links
Polarization of the sky (http://www.polarization.com/sky/sky.html)
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Blue Sky and Rayleigh Scattering (http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/blusky.html)

Polarized Light in Nature and Technology (http://polarization.com/)
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Categories: Polarization (waves) Atmospheric optical phenomena
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The Rayleigh sky at sunset or sunrise