Development of an Airborne Visibility Meter

Abstract

A light-weight, compact nephelometer for the detection of cloud presence and the estimation of visual range was designed, fabricated, and tested. The device is intended for airborne deployment for use in a tactical weather observation system and in support of precision guided munition missions. The sensor is a fixed angle nephelometer utilizing an infrared diode at 0.88 micrometers and a silicon photovoltaic detector. The sensor was calibrated in an environmental fog chamber over a wide range of fog and haze conditions. The sensor was found to have a very wide dynamic range of sensitivity (over the decades of attenuation coefficient) and, within operational requirements for accuracy, its performance can be described by a universal algorithm. The nephelometer was field tested at AFGL's Weather Test Facility at Otis AFB; high correlations were observed with transmissometers and other forward-scatter meters.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 15, 1982
Accession Number
ADA124276

Entities

People

  • D. F. Hansen

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Climate Change
  • Detectors
  • Dynamic Range
  • Electromagnetic Scattering
  • Electronic Components
  • Light Sources
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Munitions
  • Optics
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Recording Systems
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Facilities

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.