Polarimetry of twilight sky and stratospheric aerosol

Morozhenko, AV
Kinemat. fiz. nebesnyh tel (Online) 2010, 26(1):74-78
Language: Russian
Abstract: 

To investigate physical properties of the stratospheric aerosol at heights more than 30 km, we propose a modification of the method for polarimetric measurements of twilight sky. Such measurements were customary made in zenith, which restricts the values of the phase angle to 80—100°. We propose to mount a telescope in the δ-coordinate on the Sun’s declination and to measure the polarization degree for various hour angle. It will enables one not only to increase phase angle range, but also to plane observations in such a way as to obtain data on phase dependences of the polarization degree of the light scattered by the atmosphere layers at various heights.

Keywords: polarimetry, stratospheric aerosol