Open AccessApparent spatial blurring and displacement of a point optical source due to cloud scattering
Author(s) -
K. L. Brower
Publication year - 1997
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/534517
Subject(s) - monte carlo method , point source , scattering , displacement (psychology) , point cloud , cloud computing , physics , optics , point (geometry) , computational physics , remote sensing , computer science , geometry , geology , statistics , computer vision , mathematics , psychology , psychotherapist , operating system
A Monte Carlo algorithm is used to determine the apparent spatial blurring of a terrestrial 1.07 micron optical point source due to cloud scattering as seen from space. The virtual image of a point source over a virtual source plane area 22.4 x 22.4 square kilometers arising from cloud scattering was determined for stratus clouds (NASA cloud number 5) and altostratus clouds optical source arises from photon scattering by cloud water droplets. Displacement of the virtual source is due to the apparent illumination of the cloud top region directly about the actual source which when viewed at a nonzero look angle gives a projected displacement of the apparent source relative to the actual source. These features are quantified by an analysis of the Monte Carlo computational results