Vertical refraction angle derived from the variance of the angle-of-arrival fluctuations

Abstract

A theory is developed for evaluating the vertical refraction angle from the variance of the angle-of-arrival fluctuations, assuming a horizontally homogeneous turbulent atmospheric surface layer. The vertical refraction angle is mainly a function of the vertical temperature gradient, and the variance of the angle-of-arrival is related to the temperature structure parameter CT2. However, surface layer similarity theory states that both the mean vertical temperature gradient and CT2 are functions of the same scaling temperature T* and a thermal stability parameter. This therefore provides an indirect method of determining the vertical refraction angle from a measurement of the variance of the angle-of-arrival and an estimate of the thermal stability parameter. Advantages of this method over other techniques of evaluating vertical refraction are discussed.