The dependence of optical turbulence on thermal and mechanical forces over the sea

van Eijk, A.M.J.; Sprung, D.; Sucher, E.; Eisele, C.; Seiffer, D.; Stein, K.

doi:10.1117/12.2239324

The dependence of optical turbulence on thermal and mechanical forces over the sea

Title

The dependence of optical turbulence on thermal and mechanical forces over the sea

Author

van Eijk, A.M.J.
Sprung, D.
Sucher, E.
Eisele, C.
Seiffer, D.
Stein, K.

Contributor

van Eijk, A.M.J. (editor)
Davis C. (editor)
Hammel, S.M. (editor)

Publication year

2016

Abstract

Optical turbulence for over-water conditions was investigated in a long-term experiment over False Bay near Cape Town, South Africa. A sonic anemometer and two boundary-layer scintillometers were deployed to access in-situ turbulence as well as the integrated turbulence over two 1.8 and 8.7 km paths. Statistical analysis reveals spatial temporal variations of the turbulence conditions over False Bay, which might be related to differences in the atmospheric conditions and/or the surface (water) temperatures. An analysis in terms of mechanical and thermal forcing reveals that the latter factor is more dominant in determining the turbulence strength. © 2016 SPIE. The Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Subject

2015 Observation, Weapon & Protection Systems
EM - Energetic Materials
TS - Technical Sciences
C2 n
experiment
maritime environment
scintillometer
sonic anemometer
Turbulence
Anemometers
Boundary layers
Experiments
Scintillation
Turbulence
Atmospheric conditions
Cape Town , South Africa
Long-term experiments
Maritime environment
scintillometer
Sonic anemometer
Turbulence conditions
Turbulence strength
Atmospheric thermodynamics