Modeling optical turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer over sea

Volker Thiermann; Horst Lohse; Gereon Englisch

doi:10.1117/12.263168

6 January 1997 Modeling optical turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer over sea

Volker Thiermann, Horst Lohse, Gereon Englisch

Proceedings Volume 2956, Optics in Atmospheric Propagation, Adaptive Systems, and Lidar Techniques for Remote Sensing; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.263168
Event: Satellite Remote Sensing III, 1996, Taormina, Italy

Abstract

In the clear atmosphere, refractive index turbulence severely limits a variety of optical remote sensing techniques, such as imagers of laser remote sensors. To calculate the limiting effect of turbulence, the structure function constant C_n² of the refractive index fluctuations must be known. Certain cases also require knowledge of the inner scale l₀ of refractive index turbulence. The largest values of C_n² occur in the atmospheric boundary layer. For the boundary layer over land, a number of models has been developed and experimentally tested so far. However, only few data are available for the boundary layer over sea. This paper describes a simple model for the marine boundary layer. The model uses Monin-Obukhov similarity relationships between C_n² and l₀ and the turbulent fluxes of heat and momentum. The turbulent fluxes are calculated from a bulk parameterization scheme. Main input parameters are air temperature, sea surface temperature and wind speed. Model predictions are compared with experimental data from the SWAP 1993 campaign in the North Sea. Here C_n² and l₀ were measured with two scintillometers over path lengths of 100 m and 190 m. The comparison demonstrates the capability of this modelling approach.

Citation Download Citation

Volker Thiermann, Horst Lohse, and Gereon Englisch "Modeling optical turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer over sea", Proc. SPIE 2956, Optics in Atmospheric Propagation, Adaptive Systems, and Lidar Techniques for Remote Sensing, (6 January 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.263168

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