Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Atmospheric and Earth Science
Committee Chair
Udaysankar Nair
Committee Member
Sean Freeman
Committee Member
Jay Land
Research Advisor
Udaysankar Nair
Subject(s)
Atmospheric turbulence--Measurement, Turbulent boundary layer, Scientific apparatus and instruments--Design and construction, Detectors--Design and construction
Abstract
The propagation of electromagnetic energy through the Earth’s atmosphere is significantly modulated by spatial variability of the refractive index structure function (Cn2). In situ estimates of vertical profiles of Cn2 in the boundary layer are critical for evaluating model predictions and ground-based remote sensing retrievals of Cn2. This thesis describes the development of a sensor system that produces high frequency measurements of differential temperature between two points in space separated by a distance of 0.3m using two 5 𝜇𝑚 diameter platinum resistance temperature sensors with 10-4K resolution. The platinum wire sensors are connected to two legs of a Wheatstone Bridge producing an analog voltage signal proportional to the temperature difference. Analog to digital conversion yields ensembles of differential temperature observations acquired at sampling rates of 200 Hz, which are averaged onboard the sensor system to compute CT2 and combined with other observations to estimate Cn2.
Recommended Citation
Yurovchak, Michael C., "Development of a high speed differential temperature sensor for in situ estimations of Cn2 in the planetary boundary layer" (2024). Theses. 714.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/714