Light Scattering in Planetary Atmospheres

Book excerpt: Light Scattering in Planetary Atmospheres details the theory of radiative transfer for anisotropic scattering. The title emphasizes more on the theoretical aspects, and such focuses more on the fundamental concepts and basic principles rather than the practical application. The text first presents the basic equations, and then proceeds to tackling specific concepts in the subsequent chapters. Chapter 2 discusses the semi-infinite atmospheres, while Chapter 3 tackles atmospheres of finite optical thickness. Next, the selection talks about atmospheres overlying a reflecting surface. The next two chapters in the title discuss the general theory. The seventh chapter details the linear integral equation, while the eighth chapter covers the approximate formulas. The text also deals with the determination of the physical characteristics of planetary atmospheres, along with the theory of radiative transfer in spherical atmospheres. The book will be of great use to scientists involved in the study of celestial bodies, such as astronomers and astrophysicists.