Effects of low clouds on terrestrial free-space optics availability

Jeff Baars; Michael Witiw; Ammar Al-Habash; Kenneth W. Fischer

doi:10.1117/12.464098

26 April 2002 Effects of low clouds on terrestrial free-space optics availability

Jeff Baars, Michael Witiw, Ammar Al-Habash, Kenneth W. Fischer

Proceedings Volume 4635, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XIV; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.464098
Event: High-Power Lasers and Applications, 2002, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Meteorological visibility data are the most commonly used data to estimate terrestrial Free Space Optics (FSO) availability in a given city. Visibility data can be used to estimate transmission efficiency at desired IR wavelengths using a semi-empirical equation, and are often archived over many years allowing the calculation of long-term averages of availability. However, these data are taken at near-surface levels (historically within a few meters of the surface) and are therefore only appropriate for estimating FSO availability near the surface. Examination of long term cloud observations, including percent frequency of cloud ceilings occurring at various heights above the ground, show the importance of including low clouds into the consideration of FSO availability for any situation above about 30-m above ground level (AGL). In most locations, low clouds occurring very near the surface are relatively common -- more so than surface-based fog (which is measured in terms of visibility). Thus, FSO availability will decrease with height, sometimes dramatically, in most cities. Cloud data is also archived over long periods of record and can thus be used to calculate long-term averages of availability.

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Jeff Baars, Michael Witiw, Ammar Al-Habash, and Kenneth W. Fischer "Effects of low clouds on terrestrial free-space optics availability", Proc. SPIE 4635, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XIV, (26 April 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.464098

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KEYWORDS

Clouds

Visibility

Visibility through fog

Fiber optic gyroscopes

Free space optics

Data modeling

Data archive systems

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