Abstract

The quality of aerial photography is seriously reduced by the effects of the turbid atmosphere. One important effect is the reduction in photographic image contrast, which can render a target indistinguishable from the background or decrease the resolution capability of a photographic system. The problem of atmospheric contrast reduction has been studied previously but primarily for horizontal paths at ground level and little was done in these studies to correlate atmospheric turbidity with meteorological conditions.

The purpose of this experiment was to obtain data from which a correlation could be derived between atmospheric turbidity as it effects aerial photography and atmospheric meteorological conditions.

The phenomenon of contrast reduction is briefly described. The experimental procedure is presented along with a description of the equipment used. A typical set of results and a summary of the results of 27 experiments are presented.

© 1965 Optical Society of America

A Comparison of Photographic and Photoelectric Measurements of Atmospheric Attenuation of Brightness Contrast*

Howard S. Coleman and Harold E. Rosenberger
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 39(12) 990-993 (1949)

The Reduction of Apparent Contrast by the Atmosphere

Seibert Q. Duntley
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 38(2) 179-191 (1948)

The Attenuation of Brightness Contrast Caused by Atmospheric Optical Haze*

Howard S. Coleman and Harold E. Rosenberger
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 40(8) 507-508 (1950)

A Photoelectric Method of Measuring the Atmospheric Attenuation of Brightness Contrast Along a Horizontal Path for the Visible Region of the Spectrum*

Howard S. Coleman, Fred J. Morris, Harold E. Rosenberger, and Marshall J. Walker
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 39(7) 515-521 (1949)

Contrast reduction of broadband optical signals by the atmosphere

L. J. Pinson and C. E. Kulas
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 68(6) 754-756 (1978)