Reliable model to estimate the profile of the refractive index structure parameter (Cn2) and integrated astroclimatic parameters in the atmosphere

Based on the statistical study of meteorological balloons equipped with thermosondes, a new model that estimates the profile of the refractive index structure constant ( C n 2) is proposed. Utilizing temperature, pressure, and wind shear as inputs, this new approach can estimate vertical profiles of C n 2 with 100 m vertical resolution. We used four outer scale models (Thorpe, HMNSP99, Dewan, and our proposed model) on data acquired from Rongcheng (Shandong Peninsula) and Maoming (Guangdong Province) to estimate the C n 2 profiles and compared the results with the measured C n 2 profile. The proposed method outperformed the other three models, yielding an estimation profile that matched well with the measured median C n 2 profiles, with an average relative error generally less than 3.5% and a mean correlation coefficient larger than 0.72 in Maoming, an average relative error generally less than 3.4% and a mean correlation coefficient larger than 0.84 in Rongcheng. The proposed outer scale model also shows good performance in estimating integrated atmospheric parameters.