Atmospheric structure
Document ID: 309
Humphrey, C. H.1
Philbrick, C. Russell2
Silverman, S. M.2
Tuan, T. F.3
Anapol, M.4
Kumer, J. B.5
1 Visidyne Inc., Burlington, MA, U.S.A.
2 USAF, Geophysics Laboratory, Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA, U.S.A.
3 University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.
4 S. S. G. Inc., Waltham, MA, U.S.A.
5 Lockheed Missles and Space Corp. Palo Alto, CA, U.S.A.
Abstract
In addition to the long-term variations of the atmospheric species concentrations and temperature described in Chapter 3, the atmosphere is subject to variations that have shorter periods and smaller spatial wavelengths. These variations in species concentrations and temperature can result in fluctuations of the resultant infrared intensity that can effect the interpretation of infrared measurements. In this chapter we review information concerning these variations and draw some conclusions as to the magnitude and size of the spatial structures as functions of altitude.
A preliminary model for the calculation of the noise (that is, the clutter) created in infrared measuring systems due to the effects of random spatial structures on the radiant intensity is also discussed. In addition, we shall briefly discuss auroral emissions and a model showing how spatial fluctuations in TV all-sky photometric measurements of visible aurora radiation can be used to generate spatial power spectral densities of the auroral infrared radiance.
| Citation: | "Atmospheric structure", Humphrey, C. H., C. R. Philbrick, S. M. Silverman, T. F. Tuan, M. Anapol, J. B. Kumer, Atmospheric Infrared Radiance Variability, U.S. Air Force, 1981, pp. 73 - 116, Environmental Research Papers, No. 748, Bibliographic Code: 1981visi.rept...73H |