Inhomogeneity of optical turbulence over False Bay (South Africa)

Atmospheric turbulence impacts on the propagation of electro-optical radiation. Typical manifestations of optical turbulence are scintillation (intensity fluctuations), beam wander and (for laser systems) reduction of beam quality. For longer propagation channels, it is important to characterize the vertical and horizontal distribution ...

Investigation of the height dependency of optical turbulence in the surface layer over False Bay (South Africa)

Atmospheric turbulence impacts on the propagation of electro-optical radiation. Typical manifestations of optical turbulence are scintillation (intensity fluctuations), beam wander and (for laser systems) reduction of beam quality. For longer propagation channels, it is important to characterize the vertical and horizontal distribution ...

Comparison of integrated optical turbulence over the sea in different coastal regions in the world

Electro-optical and laser systems are presently deployed in naval operations around the world. The performance of these systems is negatively affected by optical turbulence in the atmosphere, quantified by the parameter Cn 2. The strength of the integrated optical turbulence Cn 2 was investigated for several coastal locations in different...

Aerosol optical properties inferred from in-situ and path-averaged measurements

This paper compares in-situ and path-averaged measurements of the electro-optical transmission, with emphasis on aerosol effects. The in-situ sensors consisted of optical particle counters (OPC) and a visibility meter, the path-averaged data was provided by a 7-wavelength transmissometer (MSRT) and a scintillometer (BLS). Data was collected at a...

In-situ and path-averaged measurements of aerosol optical properties

This paper compares in-situ and path-averaged measurements of the electro-optical transmission, with emphasis on aerosol effects. The in-situ sensors consisted of optical particle counters (OPC), the path-averaged data was provided by a 7-wavelength transmissometer (MSRT) and scintillometers (BLS). Data were collected at two sites: a homogeneous...

Comparison of MODTRAN simulations and transmission measurements by path-integrated and in-situ techniques over a rural site in northwestern Germany

A transmission experiment has been performed over an optical path of 1.53 km at a rural test site in Meppen, Northwest Germany. Direct transmission measurements were made by a 7-wavelength transmissometer. Transmission was further estimated from the average voltage received by a BLS2000 scintillometer, and evaluated with Mie theory from in-situ...

First results on the Experiment FESTER on optical turbulence over False Bay South Africa: Dependencies and consequences

The experiment FESTER (First European South African Transmission ExpeRiment) took place in 2015 to investigate the atmospheric influence on electro-optical systems performance across False Bay / South Africa on a long term basis. Several permanent stations for monitoring electro-optical propagation and atmospheric parameters were set up around...

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

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...

Scintillation measurements over False Bay, South Africa

A commercial long-range scintillometer was deployed over a 2-km path in False Bay, South Africa, for a timeframe of one year. The turbulence data retrieved from the instrument are compared to turbulence parameters inferred from micrometeorological data and models, and the relation between experimental and model-data is explored.