Atmospheric Characterization for Directed Energy Applications

MZA extends its partnership with the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) during Phase II to develop an integrated optical measurement and numerical weather prediction (NWP) atmospheric turbulence characterization system and atmospheric decision assistance toolkit application (DATA). We will develop a tracking telescope optical diagnostic system which images passing satellites or star fields and includes automated image processing software enabling direct measurement of turbulence strength (Cn2) statistics by use of MZA’s Delayed Tilt Anisoplanatism (DELTA) method. The optical diagnostic system will be tested during periods where the ground station’s geographic area is under surveillance of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) satellite sensor. Emphasis will be placed on extending the AIRS weather data processing for turbulence diagnostics to later times by use of standard and research-level NWP models. This prediction/forecast mode will be continually updated by available optical turbulence measurements between AIRS passes. The optical diagnostic system is also reconfigurable to measure turbulence conditions near the ground, and will be validated against other turbulence sensors. Approved for Public Release 14-MDA-7739 (18 March 14).