Measuring Temperature Structure Parameter Profiles with an Acoustic Sounder

Abstract

A preliminary evaluation of acoustic sounders for measuring C_T² has been completed. Results show that the radar equation used to derive C_T² from sounders must be modified to include the effects of excess attenuation due to turbulence and beam bending due to horizontal winds. Both effects are strongly dependent on beam width and, taken together, can lead to errors of 400% or more in C_T² estimates.