Surface layer atmospheric turbulence differential image motion measurement

摘要

Apparatus and methods for surface layer atmospheric turbulence differential image motion measurement provide the ability to measure and characterize the atmospheric turbulence in a surface boundary layer with applications to a wide variety of technical areas including, but not limited to, astronomy and atmospheric conditions for take-off and landing at airports. Methods and apparatus include multiple optical sources and a receiver having sub-apertures for detecting light traveling along independent paths from the optical sources to the sub-apertures. The sub-apertures of the receiver are arranged, including relative spacing, to match the geometric arrangement of the multiple optical sources, where there is one sub-aperture for each optical source. Appropriate images received by the sub-apertures are analyzed using differential image motion measurement techniques.