Vol. 17, issue 09, article # 9

Abstract:

The effect of vertical distribution of the refractive index, depending on weather conditions, in the surface atmospheric layer on the trajectory of visual observation of surface objects from an aircraft, as well as the difference from the straight-line observation geometry, are analyzed. Analytical equations are derived and used to calculate refraction errors in visual ranging of objects with respect to the aircraft location. It is shown that the curvature of the earth's surface should necessarily be taken into account.