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A proposed method for wind velocity measurement from spaceAn investigation was made of the feasibility of making wind velocity measurements from space by monitoring the apparent change in the refractive index of the atmosphere induced by motion of the air. The physical principle is the same as that resulting in the phase changes measured in the Fizeau experiment. It is proposed that this phase change could be measured using a three cornered arrangement of satellite borne source and reflectors, around which two laser beams propagate in opposite directions. It is shown that even though the velocity of the satellites is much larger than the wind velocity, factors such as change in satellite position and Doppler shifts can be taken into account in a reasonable manner and the Fizeau phase measured. This phase measurement yields an average wind velocity along the ray path through the atmosphere. The method requires neither high accuracy for satellite position or velocity, nor precise knowledge of the refractive index or its gradient in the atmosphere. However, the method intrinsically yields wind velocity integrated along the ray path; hence to obtain higher spatial resolution, inversion techniques are required.
Document ID
19810007123
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Censor, D. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Levine, D. M. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1980
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-82053
Meeting Information
Meeting: USNC/URSI Radio Sci. Meeting
Location: Boulder, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: January 12, 1981
End Date: January 15, 1981
Accession Number
81N15638
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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