Spatial and Temporal Variability of SWIR Air Glow Measurements: Postprint

Abstract

It is well know that luminance from photo-chemical reactions of Hydroxyl ions in the upper atmosphere(-85 km altitude) produces a significant amount of night time radiation in the short wave infrared (SWIR) band between 0.9 and 1.7 um wave length. This has been demonstrated as effective illumination source for night time imaging applications. In addition it has been shown demonstrated as an effective illumination and be used to characterize atmospheric tidal wave actions in the sky glow region. These spatio-temporal variations manifest themselves as traveling wave patterns whose period and velocity are related to the wind velocity at 85km as well as the turbulence induced by atmospheric vertical instabilities. Ground to space observation systems especially those employing adaptive optics are adversely affected by high altitude turbulence and winds. In this paper we propose the use of sky glow observations to predict and characterize image system degradation due to upper atmosphere turbulence.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA523589

Entities

People

  • David Dayton
  • Dennis Burns
  • Gregory Fertig
  • Ishan Mons
  • J. B. Allen
  • John Gonglewski
  • Mike Myers
  • Rudy Nolasco

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Adaptive Optics
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Altitude
  • Atmospheres
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Degradation
  • Governments
  • High Altitude
  • Illumination
  • Observation
  • Optics
  • Short-Wavelength Infrared Radiation
  • Turbulence
  • Wind
  • Wind Velocity

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Space