Tropospheric Effect on Electromagnetically Measured Range: Prediction from Surface Weather Data.
Abstract
The height integral of tropospheric refractivity (n-1), where n is refractive index, measures the range error in a vertically arriving electromagnetic signal. Such height integrals were studied, using meteorological balloon data from widely separated locations. Although the 'dry' part of (n-1) at any point in the troposphere depends on both pressure and temperature (P/T), its height integral was found to be a linear function of surface pressure only, both theoretically and from observed data. The equivalent height for the quartic model of (n-1)dry must therefore vary as surface temperature. Height parameters were computed from balloon data and were closely the same for all stations: a 'dry' height of 40.1 km at 0C, decreasing to zero near 0K. Using these, the model predicts vertical range error (dry part) within a few millimeters rms. Study of the very much smaller but more variable 'wet' contribution is continuing. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0716774
Entities
People
- Helen S. Hopfield
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory