Ten fundamental polarimetric principles sufficient to characterize a
quasi-monochromatic electro-magnetic field are presented. Although many
of these may be familiar to readers, when collected together as an
ordered set, they expose the inherent elegant simplicity that undergirds
space-based radar polarimetry. Selected consequences are summarized.
Appendices are included, one that reviews theoretical foundations that
justify the claims made in the principles, and a second that briefly
comments on traditional quad-pol radar polarimetry. The novel approach
in Appendix I to normalization of polarimetric child parameters reveals
simple proofs for several of the key principles.