Abstracts Category : Other

Use of the contrast of the sea horizon to predictmeteorological range

by Walter W White

Meteorological range is commonly predicted bymeasuring the contrast reduction of known targets as seen againstthe horizon sky. The sea horizon provides an excellent contrasttarget whose range may be varied by changing the height ofobservation. </br>A method of determining theinherent contrast of the sea horizon under an overcast has beendeveloped. By comparing the apparent contrast as measured with atelephotometer to the inherent contrast as determined above, themeteorological range was predicted. Accuracy may be increased byselecting a proper height of observation. </br>Observational data revealed that the error inpredicting meteorological range by this method was less than 10percent. The possibility of extending this method to other weatherconditions was considered.