Experimental evaluation of several refractivity correctors for microwave slant-range data

Harris B. Janes et al.

Abstract: An evaluation of three refractivity variables in terms of their value in correcting microwave slant-range data for atmospheric effects is described. Experiments were conducted in Hawaii in 1967 on a fixed, 65 km overwater propagation path. The data output from 14-day runs consisted of continuous recordings of microwave range variations, surface refractivity from meteorological data taken at the lower path terminal, and average path refractivity computed both from radiosonde data and from airborne refractometer data. Correlation coefficients between range and each of the several refractivity variables ranged from 0.5 to O. 8, with the radiosonde and airborne refractometer data showing slightly higher correlations than did the surface refractivity. The correlation analysis is discussed in terms of the implied value of the several refractivity variables as slant-range correctors.

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