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Access Type

Open Access

Document Type

thesis

Degree Program

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Degree Type

Master of Science (M.S.)

Year Degree Awarded

2011

Month Degree Awarded

September

Keywords

Atmospheric Turbulence, Optical Wave Propagation, Wind Estimation, Angle-of-Arrival, Time-Delay-to-Peak, Slope-at-Zero-Lag

Abstract

For optical propagation through the turbulent atmosphere, the angle of arrival (AOA) cross-correlation function obtained from two spatially separated light sources carries information regarding the transverse wind velocity averaged along the propagation path. Two methods for the retrieval of the beam transverse horizontal wind velocity, v_t, based on the estimation of the time delay to the peak and the slope at zero lag of the AOA cross-correlation function, are presented. Data collected over a two week long experimental campaign conducted at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) site near Erie, CO was analyzed. The RMS difference between 10 s estimates of v_t retrieved optically, and 10 s averages of the transverse horizontal wind velocity measured by an ultrasonic anemometer, was found to be 14 cm/s for the time-delay-to- peak method and 20 cm/s for the slope-at-zero-lag method, for a 2 h period beginning 0345 MDT on 16 June, 2010, during which the transverse horizontal wind velocity varied between -1 m/s and 2 m/s.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/2108420

First Advisor

Andreas Muschinski

COinS