Characterization of Atmospheric Optical Turbulence Using Turbulence Flux Measurements
Midshipman Researcher(s): 1/C Alex Peralta
Adviser(s): Professor Cody Brownell, Professor Charles Nelson
Poster #55
Light propagation through the atmosphere is affected by fluctuations in the refractive index along the path of propagation, called optical turbulence. In the atmospheric surface layer, these fluctuations are due to variations in temperature and humidity. To improve understanding of optical turbulence, a characterization of the atmospheric surface layer above the Severn River is presented. Using characteristics such as wind speed, temperature, and pressure, the structure parameters for temperature, humidity, and refractive index can be calculated. These parameters are the primary means of estimating turbulent effects on laser propagation. This paper describes work on the setup, calibration, and installation of a sensor suite to calculate these structure parameters.
