Polarized light in animal vision : polarization patterns in nature

TLDR: Horvath and Varju as discussed by the authors presented a short introduction into imaging polarimetry, an efficient technique for measuring light polarization, and various polarization patterns occurring in nature, including the polarizational characteristics of water surfaces, mirages and the underwater light field.

Abstract: http://www.springer.de 783540 4045 76 9 ISBN 3-540-40457-0 While the human eye can practically cope only with two aspects of light, brightness and colour, for many animals polarization is a further source of visual information. This fascinating phenomenon of polarization sensitivity is comprehensively treated by Horvath and Varju. Starting with a short introduction into imaging polarimetry – an efficient technique for measuring light polarization – various polarization patterns occurring in nature are presented. Among them are the polarizational characteristics of water surfaces, mirages and the underwater light field as well as the celestial polarization patterns affected by the illumination conditions of sunrise, sunset, clear or cloudy skies, moonshine and total solar eclipses.