Whole Sky Imaging of Clouds in the Visible and IR for Starfire Optical Range

Whole Sky Imaging of Clouds in the Visible and IR for Starfire Optical Range
Author: Janet E. Shields
Publisher:
Total Pages: 68
Release: 2007
Genre: Clouds
ISBN:

This report describes the work done for the Starfire Optical Range, Kirtland Air Force Base under Contract N00014-01-D-043 DO #11, between 02 September 2004 and 30 April 2006. This work relates to the Air Force's need to characterize the cloud distribution during day and night, for a variety of applications, including support of research into impact of clouds on laser communication and support of satellite tracking. This contract followed Contract N00014-01-D-0043 DO #4, which will be discussed in Section 2, and is documented in Shields et al 2007, Technical Note 271. Under this contract, we began preparing Whole Sky Imager systems for field experiments in support of program goals, adapting the software and refurbishing the hardware. Significant progress was made both in the related cloud algorithms and in methods to assess their accuracy. A related contract was funded through Boeing during 31 January 2005 - 30 November 2005. The tasks completed under that contract are closely related to these tasks, and will also be reported here. In particular, early portions of the night algorithm work reported in Section 7, and early portions of the hardware and software refurbishment were completed partly under the ONR contract and partly under the Boeing contract. The work under this Boeing contract was finished in May 2005. A follow-on contract, ONR N00014-0l-D-0043 DO #13 was funded on 20 April 2006. The work under DO #13 will be reported under a separate report upon completion of the contract.

Continuing Support of Cloud Free Line of Sight Determination Including Whole Sky Imaging of Clouds

Continuing Support of Cloud Free Line of Sight Determination Including Whole Sky Imaging of Clouds
Author: Janet E. Shields
Publisher:
Total Pages: 62
Release: 2007
Genre: Clouds
ISBN:

This report describes the work done for the Starfire Optical Range, Kirtland Air Force base, under ONR Contract N00014-01-D-0043 DO #13, between 20 April 2006 and 31 July 2007. This work relates to the Air Force's need to characterize the cloud distribution during day and night, for a variety of applications

Analysis and Measurement of Cloud Free Line of Sight and Related Cloud Statistical Behavior

Analysis and Measurement of Cloud Free Line of Sight and Related Cloud Statistical Behavior
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2003
Genre:
ISBN:

The Atmospheric Optics Group at the Marine Physical Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, has been developing Whole Sky Imagers (WSI) for many years. A Day/Night WSI which had 24-hour a day capability was initially developed in the early 1990's, and has been significantly upgraded in capability since that time. One of these instruments, Day/Night WSI Unit 2, was delivered to the Air Force Starfire Optical Range. This work was funded by the Air Force Phillips Lab under Contract N00014-89-D-0142 DO #18.

Harnessing Light

Harnessing Light
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 358
Release: 1998-09-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309059917

Optical science and engineering affect almost every aspect of our lives. Millions of miles of optical fiber carry voice and data signals around the world. Lasers are used in surgery of the retina, kidneys, and heart. New high-efficiency light sources promise dramatic reductions in electricity consumption. Night-vision equipment and satellite surveillance are changing how wars are fought. Industry uses optical methods in everything from the production of computer chips to the construction of tunnels. Harnessing Light surveys this multitude of applications, as well as the status of the optics industry and of research and education in optics, and identifies actions that could enhance the field's contributions to society and facilitate its continued technical development.