Non-conservative Rayleigh scattering in a finite atmosphere - II. Polarization in telluric lines

Abstract

We consider non-conservative Rayleigh scattering in finite atmospheres and study the polarization in the molecular lines both in the transmitted and reflected sunlight. We first investigate the parameterized models to estimate the effects of optical thickness, line strength, continuous absorption etc. on line polarization. This study helped us to analyse some typical O2 and H20 band lines in the earth's atmosphere. For the chosen parameters, we find that the polarization is more sensitive to optical thickness than the line strength. The continuous absorption affects the wing polarization selectively.