Feasibility of an airborne TV camera as a size spectrometer for cloud droplets in daylight

Roscoe, Howard K; Lachlan-Cope, Tom A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0657-3235; Roscoe, John. 1999 Feasibility of an airborne TV camera as a size spectrometer for cloud droplets in daylight. Applied Optics, 38 (3). 441-450. 10.1364/AO.38.000441

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/AO.38.000441

Abstract/Summary

Photographs of clouds taken with a camera with a large aperture ratio must have a short depth of focus to resolve small droplets. Hence the sampling volume is small, which limits the number of droplets and gives rise to a large statistical error on the number counted. However, useful signals can be obtained with a small aperture ratio, which allows for a sample volume large enough for counting cloud droplets at aircraft speeds with useful spatial resolution. The signal is sufficient to discriminate against noise from a sunlit cloud as background, provided the bandwidth of the light source and camera are restricted, and against readout noise. Hence, in principle, an instrument to sample the size distribution of cloud droplets from aircraft in daylight can be constructed from a simple TV camera and an array of laser diodes, without any components or screens external to the aircraft window.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1364/AO.38.000441
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	0003-6935
NORA Subject Terms:	Electronics, Engineering and Technology
Date made live:	12 Nov 2013 10:33 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503787

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1364/AO.38.000441

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme

ISSN:

0003-6935

NORA Subject Terms:

Electronics, Engineering and Technology

Date made live:

12 Nov 2013 10:33 +0 (UTC)