Validation of a bulk turbulence model with thermal images of a point source

Gerard J. Kunz; Marcel M. Moerman; Peter J. Fritz; Gerrit de Leeuw

doi:10.1117/12.254158

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14 October 1996 Validation of a bulk turbulence model with thermal images of a point source

Gerard J. Kunz, Marcel M. Moerman, Peter J. Fritz, Gerrit de Leeuw

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Proceedings Volume 2828, Image Propagation through the Atmosphere; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.254158
Event: SPIE's 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1996, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

A model was developed for the prediction of turbulence in the marine surface layer. The model requires standard meteorological values of air temperature, air humidity, wind speed each from any given height from within the surface layer and the sea surface temperature. Internally, the model is controlled by the exchange coefficients for momentum, heat and water vapor. A variant using the surface roughness length instead of the drag coefficient has also been implemented. The micrometeorological output parameters of the model are used to predict vertical profiles of the refractive index -- to predict refractivity effects -- and profiles of the refractive index structure function parameter C_n²(z). The latter is the controlling parameters to calculate optical turbulence effects such as scintillation and blurring. Experimental data were obtained from images taken of a point source over a 19 km path over the North Sea at a frame rate of 25 Hz using a 3 - 5 micrometer infrared camera system. The images were analyzed for scintillation, blur and image dancing. Predicted and measured turbulence effects are compared.

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Gerard J. Kunz, Marcel M. Moerman, Peter J. Fritz, and Gerrit de Leeuw "Validation of a bulk turbulence model with thermal images of a point source", Proc. SPIE 2828, Image Propagation through the Atmosphere, (14 October 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.254158

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