Application of year-round atmospheric transmission data, collected with the MSRT multiband transmissometer during the FATMOSE trial in the False Bay area

Arie N. de Jong; Alexander M. J. van Eijk; Leo H. Cohen; Peter J. Fritz; Willem H. Gunter; George Vrahimis; Faith J. October

doi:10.1117/12.892023

Translator Disclaimer

6 September 2011 Application of year-round atmospheric transmission data, collected with the MSRT multiband transmissometer during the FATMOSE trial in the False Bay area

Arie N. de Jong, Alexander M. J. van Eijk, Leo H. Cohen, Peter J. Fritz, Willem H. Gunter, George Vrahimis, Faith J. October

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8161, Atmospheric Optics IV: Turbulence and Propagation; 81610A (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.892023
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The FATMOSE trial (False Bay Atmospheric Experiment) is a continuation of the cooperative work between TNO and IMT on atmospheric propagation and point target detection and identification in a maritime environment (South Africa). The atmospheric transmission, being of major importance for target detection, was measured with the MSRT multiband optical/IR transmissometer over a path of 15.7 km over sea. Simultaneously a set of instruments was installed on a midpath lighthouse for collection of local meteorological data, including turbulence, scintillation, sea surface temperature and visibility. The multiband transmission data allow the retrieval of the size distribution (PSD) of the particles (aerosols) in the transmission path. The retrieved PSD's can be correlated with the weather data such as windspeed, wind direction, relative humidity and visibility. This knowledge will lead to better atmospheric propagation models. The measurement period covered nearly a full year, starting in November 2009 and ending in October 2010. The False Bay site is ideal for studies on propagation effects over sea because of the large variety of weather conditions, including high windspeed, expected from the South East with maritime air masses, as well as Northerly winds, expected to bring warm and dry air from the continent. From an operational point of view the False Bay area is interesting, being representative for the scenery around the African coast with warships in an active protecting role in the battle against piracy. The yearround transmission data are an important input for range performance calculations of electro-optical sensors against maritime targets. The data support the choice of the proper spectral band and contain statistical information about the detection ranges to be expected. In this paper details on the instrumentation will be explained as well as the methods of calibration and PSD retrieval. Data are presented for various weather conditions, showing correlations between different parameters and including statistical behaviour over the year. Examples will be shown of special conditions such as refractive gain, gravity waves and showers.

Citation Download Citation

Arie N. de Jong, Alexander M. J. van Eijk, Leo H. Cohen, Peter J. Fritz, Willem H. Gunter, George Vrahimis, and Faith J. October "Application of year-round atmospheric transmission data, collected with the MSRT multiband transmissometer during the FATMOSE trial in the False Bay area", Proc. SPIE 8161, Atmospheric Optics IV: Turbulence and Propagation, 81610A (6 September 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.892023

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE