A discrete-ordinates solution for radiative-transfer models that include polarization effects

A recently developed Version of the discrete-ordinates method is used along with elementary numerical linear-algebra techniques to establish an accurate solution for all components in a Fourier representation of the Stokes vector basic to the, scattering of polarized light. Computational aspects of the solution are discussed, and numerical results for each of the four Stokes parameters are given for a test case based on an atmosphere of randomly orientated oblate spheroids. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.