Measurements and modeling of optical turbulence in a maritime environment

Paul A. Frederickson; Stephen Hammel; Dimitris Tsintikidis

doi:10.1117/12.683017

1 September 2006 Measurements and modeling of optical turbulence in a maritime environment

Paul A. Frederickson, Stephen Hammel, Dimitris Tsintikidis

Proceedings Volume 6303, Atmospheric Optical Modeling, Measurement, and Simulation II; 630307 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.683017
Event: SPIE Optics + Photonics, 2006, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Turbulence can be a dominant factor in image and laser beam degradation for optical systems operating in the near-surface maritime environment. A long-term propagation field experiment was conducted at Zuniga Shoal (near San Diego) to study the impact of environmental conditions on low-altitude laser propagation above the ocean surface. Test periods of one month duration were conducted at various points of the year, during which scintillometer measurements were obtained along a 7.2 km over-water path and a 'flux' research buoy deployed along the propagation path collected concurrent mean meteorological, atmospheric turbulence, and wave data. We use the refractive index structure parameter (C_n²) as the critical parameter for quantifying the effects of atmospheric turbulence on laser system performance, including received power fluctuations, beam spread and beam wander. Bulk estimates of C_n² were derived from the buoy mean meteorological measurements using the Navy Surface Layer Optical Turbulence (NSLOT) model. C_n² was also determined from atmospheric turbulence measurements obtained from a sonic anemometer on the buoy. These independent C_n² values derived from the buoy data are compared with C_n² values computed from the infrared propagation measurements to determine how the NSLOT model performs under different environmental conditions. In addition, the optical measurements and bulk estimates of C_n² are used to study the effects of the atmospheric turbulence on operational optical systems.

Citation Download Citation

Paul A. Frederickson, Stephen Hammel, and Dimitris Tsintikidis "Measurements and modeling of optical turbulence in a maritime environment", Proc. SPIE 6303, Atmospheric Optical Modeling, Measurement, and Simulation II, 630307 (1 September 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.683017

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available