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Updated: May 5, 2026

Simultaneous Measurement of Turbulence and Particle Kinematics Using Flow Imaging Techniques
Published on: March 12, 2019
Does turbulence affect light depolarization in oceanic particle-laden flows?
Abstract:
With the increasing use of polarimetric remote sensing in oceanic environments, it is critical to understand how turbulent flows depolarize light. We present laboratory measurements of near-forward depolarization in a Rayleigh-Bénard convection tank that reproduces key features of oceanic turbulence. A linearly polarized beam traversing 26 cm of turbulent water exhibits depolarization ratios between 1.0 × 10-4 and 2.3 × 10-3, which systematically vary with turbulence strength. Introducing suspended particles substantially enhances the depolarization ratio relative to nearly particle-free conditions: the depolarization ratio depends on both particle concentration and turbulent flow parameters, indicating a particle-mediated depolarization mechanism. Guided by these observations, we formulate a hypothesis for the coupled particle-turbulence control of the depolarization ratio and test it against available laboratory data. These results advance our understanding of polarimetric signal attenuation in oceanic turbulence and support improved interpretation of polarization-sensitive remote sensing measurements.
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