Stellar Scintillometer Atmospheric Optical Turbulence Profiling Experiment: A Qualitative Comparison of two Identical Instruments at AMOS (Air Force Maui Optical Station) - 1985

摘要

Two identical atmospheric optical turbulence profiling instruments were operated. The daily average results of looking common lines-of-sight, through identical atmospheres, show systematic differences at lower altitudes and near agreement at higher altitudes. Systematic biases from background noise can significantly affect the turbulence values measured, especially at lower altitudes, and may be responsible for part of the instrument's disagreement there. But other, non-noise biases, due to nonequivalent light geometries combined with spatially non-uniform PMT photocathode responses, likely also contribute to systematic biases. The average results of looking along two different lines-of-sight, through different regions of the atmosphere, show systematic differences at higher altitudes which we interpret as horizontal structure in the distribution of atmospheric optical turbulence above the 10 km level.