The Visioceilometer: A Portable Cloud Height and Visibility Indicator

Abstract

The first experimental prototype (model-1) visioceilometer has been developed. It measures cloud height from 50 to 3000 meters with 10-meter accuracy and calculates visibility from a sample volume up to 1 kilometer in length of the lidar return. It consists of a hand-held, battery-operated lidar which uses the AN/GVS-5 laser rangefinder optics. Measurements of visibility in fog and cloud ceiling height in clear air and rain were taken at the fog dispersion test facility at Otis Air Force Base, MA. In relatively homogeneous fogs, the visibility accuracy was comparable to standard transmissometers. The cloud ceiling accuracy was also comparable to the standard rotating beam ceilometer.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1979
Accession Number
ADA078332

Entities

People

  • Robert S. Bonner
  • William J. Lentz

Organizations

  • Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artillery
  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Charge Coupled Devices
  • Cloud Height Indicators
  • Detectors
  • Laser Radar
  • Laser Rangefinding
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Military Research
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Range Finders
  • Range Finding
  • Scattering
  • Telemetry Equipment

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Geodesy

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy