Dugway Optical Climatology Study
Abstract
Atmospheric turbulence effects on optical (visible-wavelength) and millimeter-wavelength (mmw) wave propagation can be described by the refractive index structure parameter C(N)(2). Field measurements were made in February and August 1988 at U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground (DPG) to verify mathematical relationships between the optical (visible-wavelength) and millimeter-wavelength (mmw) refractive index structure parameters C(N)2 and three meteorological variables: (1) the temperature structure parameter C(t)(2), (2) the humidity structure parameter C(q)(2), and (3) the temperature-humidity structure parameter C(Tq). Using certain assumptions, these structure parameters can be estimated from measurements of the atmospheric fluxes of sensible heat and latent heat (humidity). The optical C(N)(2) computed for daytime conditions agreed well with the C(N)(2) measured by an optica scintillometer. However, because of the intermittency of turbulence in the stable nighttime atmosphere, the heat and humidity fluxes exhibited considerable variability in space and time. Consequently, the optical C(N)(2) calculated using flux measurements at a point showed considerable scatter about the path-averaged optical C(N)(2) measured by the scintillometer. Both incident short-wave and net radiation were found to be convenient indicators of temporal variations in optical C(N)(2) during the day, but not at night. Keywords: Scintillation, Millimeter-wave, Temperature flux, Humidity flux, Refractive index structure parameter, Temperature-humidity coherence, Climatology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 21, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA220136
Entities
People
- Christopher A. Biltoft
- Rick D. Ewald