Atmospherics

doi:10.1117/3.2553485.ch2

Atmospherics

Book: Photonics Rules of Thumb, Third Edition

Author(s): John Lester Miller, Katie Schwertz, Edward J. Friedman, John N. Sanders-Reed, Brian K. McComas

Published: 2020

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.2553485.ch2

Author Affiliations +

Abstract

It is hard to imagine a subject more complex, and yet more useful, than the study of the propagation of light in the atmosphere. Because of its importance in a wide variety of human enterprises, considerable attention has been paid to this topic for several centuries. Initially, the effort was dedicated to learning how the apparent size and shape of distant objects depend on the properties of the atmosphere. The advent of modern science provided new tools for measuring and theorizing about the optical properties of the atmosphere. Much of the motivation for progress was related to the military, astronomy, and navigation at sea. Modern applications are still important, and the prospect of laser communication links has provided continued impetus for progress.