Refractive turbulence profiling using synthetic aperture spatial filtering of scintillation.
High spatial resolution vertical profiles of refractive turbulence C(2)(n) can be obtained using a translating airborne light source. From spatially filtered observations of the optical scintillation pattern on the ground, caused by atmospheric density fluctuations, it is possible to infer both vertical profiles of C(2)(n) and the shape of the refractive turbulence spectrum. Profiles of key parameters such as the turbulence microscale are thereby accessible from ground-based measurements. The required signal-to-noise ratio and resultant spatial and spectral resolutions are determined.
Clifford
S F
SF
Churnside
J H
JH