Evolution of near-ground optical turbulence over concrete runway throughout multiple days in summer and winter.

Abstract

Experimental data are presented that demonstrate the evolution of the anisotropy/isotropy of atmospheric statistics throughout the course of four days (two winter, two summer) near the ground over a concrete runway in Florida. In late January and early February of 2017, a 532nm near-plane-wave beam was propagated 1 and 2km at a height of 2m above the runway, and irradiance fluctuations were captured on a CCD array. In August of 2017, a 532nm Gaussian beam was propagated 100m at a height of near 2m, and fluctuation data were captured on a CCD array. Winter data were processed to calculate the covariance of intensity and summer data processed to calculate the scintillation index. The resulting contours indicated a consistent pattern of anisotropy early in the day, evolving into isotropy midday, and returning to anisotropy in late afternoon. Accompanying atmospheric and wind data are presented throughout the measurement days.