The effect of atmospheric turbulence on air to ground photography
Abstract
The theory of optical effects of atmospheric turbulence is summarized and the derivation of an equation relating the modulation transfer function of an optical path through the atmosphere to a weighted integral of the structure constant of refractive index along that path is outlined. Methods of estimating the structure constant from meteorological parameters are discussed and FORTRAN subroutines for evaluating the integral and estimating the modulation transfer function of the path under any required conditions are given. High aperture optical systems are considered preferable because they permit shorter exposures, thereby reducing or eliminating turbulent image movement.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- May 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981STIN...8218555B
- Keywords:
-
- Aerial Photography;
- Atmospheric Effects;
- Atmospheric Turbulence;
- Image Resolution;
- Optical Paths;
- Apertures;
- Fortran;
- Meteorological Parameters;
- Modulation Transfer Function;
- Refractivity;
- Subroutines;
- Weighting Functions;
- Instrumentation and Photography