Refractive Turbulence Measurements and Analysis
Abstract
Airborne military microwave radar surveillance systems (AWACS & JSTAR) and long-range communication systems have sensitivities to atmospheric refraction that can adversely affect their expected performance. Couple that with the fact that airborne platforms operate in all seasons; are continually in motion during operations; have extended operational ranges; and operate in varying geographical locations and the problem of measurement and generalization (modeling) both the mean and turbulent structure of atmospheric refraction is a formidable task. In the context of this project, a series of globally distributed airborne measurement campaigns of turbulent structure in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere were conducted using a unique high altitude research aircraft, the Grob G52OT Egrett of ARA - Airborne Research Australia. Three independent turbulence probes that measure temperature and the three components of atmospheric velocity were mounted on the Egrett. The specific aim of these measurements was to generate datasets which help to set bounds on the magnitude of refractive turbulence, particularly the index-of-refraction structure parameter, which is important in model studies of laser scintillation that support ABL design, and will allow investigation of the spatial and temporal variation of that parameter with the large-scale variation of meteorological structure. Measurement campaigns were carried out in the jetstream over Southern Australia, Japan and the UK.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 26, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA398813
Entities
People
- Joerg M. Hacker
Organizations
- Flinders University