The spectral polarization characteristics of the visible
radiation reflected and scattered by a plant leaf were investigated. Measurements
of the spectral brightness coefficient, the directed reflection coefficients,
and the degree and azimuth of polarization of radiation reflected from
a leaf were performed at different angles of incidence of radiation on
the leaf and different angles of observation. More than 500 measurements
were performed for 36 samples. Maple (Acer platanoides) leaves from different
trees were used as objects of investigation. Peculiarities of the mechanism
of formation of the flux of radiation reflected from a plant leaf have
been revealed.
Key words: reflection, scattering, polarization,
radiation, plant leaf.