A LOWTRAN7 Sensitivity Study in the 8-12 and 3-5 Micron Bands - Includes Comparison with LOWTRAN6 Results

Abstract

More than 750 runs of LOWTRAN7 were made to determine how variations in certain weather variables (absolute humidity, relative humidity, wind speed, meteorological range, and precipitation) affect computed atmospheric transmittance in the 8-12 and 3-5 micron bands. This was done by changing the value of each of these weather variables, in turn, and observing the resulting change in transmittance calculations. About 30 LOWTRAN6 runs were made for comparison with the LOWTRAN7 output. Results for the 8-12 micron band showed that absolute humidity and precipitation produce the greatest decreases in transmittance. When the desert aerosol is used in LOWTRAN7, high wind speeds can produce low transmittances due to heavy dust loading. Meteorological range only becomes a strong factor in lowering transmittances when it drops below 2 km. Relative humidity is important when using the maritime aerosol, especially when it exceeds 70%. (RRH)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA222094

Entities

People

  • Patrick M. Condray

Organizations

  • Air Force Technical Applications Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Climatology
  • Environment
  • Extinction
  • High Humidity
  • Humidity
  • Infrared Radiation
  • Low Humidity
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • New York
  • Standards
  • Tactical Decision Aids
  • Transmittance
  • Visibility
  • Water Vapor
  • Weather

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Mathematics or Statistics