Some Brightness Variations in the North Sky and the Horizon Sky and Sea Measured During Daylight Hours

Abstract

Curves are presented to show measured diurnal variations in the luminance of the north sky at an arbitrary fixed point and also diurnal luminances, including their horizontal and vertical polarization components, of the sky and sea at the horizon. In both sets of measurements sky luminance data were obtained continuously with photoelectric photometers and recording equipment. Sky and sea luminances and their polarized components were measured manually at 15-min intervals. Large, rapid variations in the luminance of the north sky were observed because of cloud activity. At the horizon this was not observed for the sky. The effects of the sun's glitter pattern on the sea are shown; the ratio of polarization components and ratios of sky to sea values are given. The data indicate a need in visibility studies for measuring polarization characteristics and for continuously monitoring the background whether it be a point in the sky or the sky-sea horizon.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0727118

Entities

People

  • Elsie F. Dupre
  • Gordon L. Stamm

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Bays
  • Brightness
  • Classification
  • Daylight
  • Light Sources
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Observers
  • Optical Properties
  • Polarization
  • Polarizers
  • Polarizing Filters
  • Radiance
  • Signal Lights
  • Twilight
  • Visibility

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.