System for modelling low resolution atmospheric propagation

US5075856A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force · US

Inventors

• Francis X. Kneizys · Burlington, US
• Eric P. Shettle · Wellesley, US
• Leonard W. Abreu · Chelmsford, US
• James H. Chetwynd · Stoneham, US
• Gail P. Anderson · Concord, US
• William O. Gallery · Winchester, US
• John E. A. Selby · Huntington, US
• Shepard A. Clough · Lexington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 17, 1989
• Grant date: Dec 24, 1991
• Expiry date: Jul 17, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2021/1793
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

LOWTRAN 7 is a low-resolution propagation model and computer code for predicting atmospheric transmittance and background radiance from 0 to 50,000 cm.sup.- at a resolution of 20 cm.sup.-. The code is based on the LOWTRAN 6 (1983) model with a number of improvements. Multiple scattered radiation has been added to the model as well as new molecular band model parameters and new ozone and molecular oxygen absorption parameters for the UV. Other modifications include a wind-dependent desert model, new cirrus cloud models, and new cloud and rain models. The code also includes new representative (geographical and seasonal) atmospheric models and updated aerosol models with options to replace them with user-derived values. An improved extra-terrestrial solar source function is also included. Six modes of program execution are allowed with the new model and computer code for a given slant path geometry.