Remote sensing of atmospheric turbulence and transverse atmospheric winds using optical reference sources

Steven C. Koeffler; Byron M. Welsh

doi:10.1117/12.154826

15 September 1993 Remote sensing of atmospheric turbulence and transverse atmospheric winds using optical reference sources

Steven C. Koeffler, Byron M. Welsh

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1968, Atmospheric Propagation and Remote Sensing II; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.154826
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

In the theory of atmospheric turbulence, the strength of the spatial variations of the index of refraction n is proportional to a parameter known as the atmospheric structure constant, denoted C_n², which is a function of position along the optical path z. The strength of the temporal variations of the index of refraction is directly related to the transverse velocity ^YLDV of the turbulence along z. Current optical techniques for remotely sensing C_n² and ^YLDV rely primarily upon the spatial or temporal cross-correlation properties of the intensity of the optical field. In the technique proposed here, we exploit the correlation properties of the wave front slope measured from two different point sources in order to obtain vertical profiles of C_n²(z) and ^YLDV(z). Resolution on the order of 100 meters is possible with reference sources separated by 0.2 degrees. Additionally, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) calculations for a single measurement of C_n² and ^YLDV are presented for a Hufnagel-Valley C_n² profile and a Bufton wind profile. The SNR results indicate the need for multiple measurements to obtain useful estimates of the desired quantities.

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Steven C. Koeffler and Byron M. Welsh "Remote sensing of atmospheric turbulence and transverse atmospheric winds using optical reference sources", Proc. SPIE 1968, Atmospheric Propagation and Remote Sensing II, (15 September 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.154826

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