The knowledge of atmospheric refractive-index structure constant (Cn2) profiles is fundamental to determine the intensity of turbulence, and hence the impact of the scintillation impairment on the signals propagating in the troposphere. However, their relation with atmospheric variables is not straightforward, and profiles based on statistical considerations are normally employed. This can be a shortcoming when performing simulations for which scintillation disturbances need to be consistent with the assumed atmospheric conditions. In order to overcome this limitation, this work describes a procedure to obtain an estimate of the refractive-index structure constant profile under given atmospheric conditions. The procedure is based on the application of the vertical gradient approach to high resolution radiosonde data. The fact that turbulence is confined to vertically thin layers is accounted for by identifying the turbulent layers through the analysis of the Richardson number profiles, and the value of the outer scale length is estimated using the Thorpe length calculated from potential temperature profile. The procedure is applied to high resolution radiosonde data from the SPARC Data Center and the obtained results are consistent with measured Cn2 profiles previously published in the literature.

Derivation of Clear-Air Turbulence Parameters from High-Resolution Radiosonde Data / Martini, E.; Freni, A.; Cuccoli, F.; Facheris, L.. - In: JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC TECHNOLOGY. - ISSN 0739-0572. - ELETTRONICO. - 34:(2017), pp. 277-293. [10.1175/JTECH-D-16-0046.1]

Derivation of Clear-Air Turbulence Parameters from High-Resolution Radiosonde Data

MARTINI, ENRICA;FRENI, ANGELO;CUCCOLI, FABRIZIO;FACHERIS, LUCA
2017

Abstract

The knowledge of atmospheric refractive-index structure constant (Cn2) profiles is fundamental to determine the intensity of turbulence, and hence the impact of the scintillation impairment on the signals propagating in the troposphere. However, their relation with atmospheric variables is not straightforward, and profiles based on statistical considerations are normally employed. This can be a shortcoming when performing simulations for which scintillation disturbances need to be consistent with the assumed atmospheric conditions. In order to overcome this limitation, this work describes a procedure to obtain an estimate of the refractive-index structure constant profile under given atmospheric conditions. The procedure is based on the application of the vertical gradient approach to high resolution radiosonde data. The fact that turbulence is confined to vertically thin layers is accounted for by identifying the turbulent layers through the analysis of the Richardson number profiles, and the value of the outer scale length is estimated using the Thorpe length calculated from potential temperature profile. The procedure is applied to high resolution radiosonde data from the SPARC Data Center and the obtained results are consistent with measured Cn2 profiles previously published in the literature.
2017
34
277
293
Martini, E.; Freni, A.; Cuccoli, F.; Facheris, L.
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1069352
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