Abstract

The atmosphere contributes the characteristics of an electronic filter, noise generator, and gain limiter to the performance of electrooptical systems that must operate in the real world. This tutorial tells how to calculate the atmospheric spectral transmittance from the UV to the IR using system-appropriate models. The effects of gaseous and vapor absorption of aerosol and cloud particle scattering and absorption and of refractive-index turbulence are described. Understanding the optical physics involved is emphasized.

© 1988 Optical Society of America