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Increase of error in range correction with elapsed time, evaluated by ray tracing through radiosonde‐generated atmospheric models
Author(s) -
Levine Daniel,
Cromack John C.,
Bjorn Theodore
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs008i007p00633
Subject(s) - radiosonde , atmospheric duct , altitude (triangle) , environmental science , meteorology , standard deviation , range (aeronautics) , ray tracing (physics) , elevation (ballistics) , geodesy , atmospheric sciences , remote sensing , geology , atmosphere (unit) , physics , mathematics , optics , statistics , geometry , materials science , composite material
Previous studies of range and angular errors caused by variation of atmospheric refractivity with altitude generally have used functional expressions, averaged data, or data from a small number of radiosonde ascents. In this investigation a large data base was employed consisting of radiosonde measurements made at intervals of about 2 hr for a period of 1 week. In the analysis it was assumed that the refractivity varied only as a function of altitude and that there was no ducting. Curves showing the deterioration of range correction with time for selected terminal points were developed by tracing rays at a succession of elevation angles. Thus, for a ground range of 416.7 km and an aircraft at 15.24 km, the standard deviation of the ground‐to‐plane radio distance 4 hr after a radiosonde ascent is .9 m, increasing to 1.3 m after 8 hr, and 1.6 m after 12 hr.