Transmission of linearly polarized light in seawater: implications for polarization signaling
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2004-07-12
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Citation of Original Publication
Nadav Shashar, Shai Sabbah, Thomas W. Cronin, Transmission of linearly polarized light in seawater: implications for polarization signaling, Journal of Experimental Biology 2004 207: 3619-3628; doi: 10.1242/jeb.01187
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Abstract
Partially linearly polarized light is abundant in the
oceans. The natural light field is partially polarized
throughout the photic range, and some objects and
animals produce a polarization pattern of their own.
Many polarization-sensitive marine animals take
advantage of the polarization information, using it for
tasks ranging from navigation and finding food to
communication. In such tasks, the distance to which
the polarization information propagates is of great
importance. Using newly designed polarization sensors, we
measured the changes in linear polarization underwater as
a function of distance from a standard target. In the
relatively clear waters surrounding coral reefs, partial
(%) polarization decreased exponentially as a function of
distance from the target, resulting in a 50% reduction of
partial polarization at a distance of 1.25–3·m, depending
on water quality. Based on these measurements, we
predict that polarization sensitivity will be most useful for
short-range (in the order of meters) visual tasks in water
and less so for detecting objects, signals, or structures
from far away. Navigation and body orientation based on
the celestial polarization pattern are predicted to be
limited to shallow waters as well, while navigation based
on the solar position is possible through a deeper range.