Development of a Narrow Field of View Infrared Cloud Imager System for Optical Propagation Studies

摘要

As NASA's communication networks upgrade to higher frequencies, such as Ka-band and optical, atmospheric attenuation becomes substantial. When considering the atmospheric channel at optical bands, clouds in particular play a significant role and cloud attenuation becomes one of the most dominant impairments. To properly assess the role and impact of clouds on communication links, it is important to characterize the cloud coverage statistics along the communication path. To that end, this paper describes the development and deployment of a fourth-generation, narrow-field-of-view, long-wave Infrared Cloud Imager (ICI) system to image atmospheric-emitted radiance for the identification and classification of clouds. Some initial results are presented from the camera's current location in Cleveland, OH, with the final installation of the camera planned for Svalbard, Norway later this year.