Statistical analysis of measurements of atmospheric turbulence in different climates

Karin Weiss-Wrana; Leslie Salem Balfour

doi:10.1117/12.454395

29 January 2002 Statistical analysis of measurements of atmospheric turbulence in different climates

Karin Weiss-Wrana, Leslie Salem Balfour

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4538, Optics in Atmospheric Propagation and Adaptive Systems IV; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.454395
Event: International Symposium on Remote Sensing, 2001, Toulouse, France

Abstract

Atmospheric turbulence may have a strong impact on the imaging quality of long range warning sensors and other electro-optical systems. Major effects are beam broadening, intensity fluctuations (or scintillation) and angle-of- arrival fluctuations. The structure constant of refractive index fluctuations, C_n², is the parameter most commonly used to describe the strength of atmospheric turbulence. FGAN-FOM measured C_n² values in two different climates, moderate climate in mid-Europe, Germany and arid climate in Israel. The measurements in arid climate were carried out in cooperation with the EORD (Electro-Optics Research & Development Foundation Ltd.), TECHNION, Haifa, Israel. The measurements were performed with identical laser scintillometers along a horizontal optical path of about 100 m, above grassland in mid-Europe, and above stony ground without vegetation in Israel. The data were collected continuously for a time period of at least one year at a time resolution of 5 minutes. For both climates examples of the diurnal cycle of C_n² are given. Since C_n² usually changes as a function of time-of-day and of season its influence on electro-optical systems can only be expressed in a statistical way. Therefore the cumulative frequencies of occurrence of C_n² were calculated for a time period of one month for both climates. These results were used to calculate the corresponding turbulence modulation transfer function (MTF) and point spread function (PSF) for a typical IR sensor with a Cadmium Mercury Telluride detector (CMT) and a UV sensor.

Citation Download Citation

Karin Weiss-Wrana and Leslie Salem Balfour "Statistical analysis of measurements of atmospheric turbulence in different climates", Proc. SPIE 4538, Optics in Atmospheric Propagation and Adaptive Systems IV, (29 January 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.454395

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

;

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE