(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2008) Nugent, Paul Winston; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Joseph A. Shaw
The Infrared Cloud Imager (ICI) is a radiometrically calibrated thermal infrared imaging instrument currently in development at Montana State University to measure cloud cover statistics. This instrument was developed originally as part of a joint U.S.-Japan effort to study the arctic atmosphere. The ICI provides localized high-resolution data relative to satellites images and, in contrast to visible imaging systems, provides continuous day and night operation. While the original instrument proved the capabilities of using radiometrically calibrated thermal infrared images to produce cloud coverage measurements, this instrument was limited. These limits were primarily the instrument's large size, relatively high cost, narrow field of view, and need to recalibrate the camera for each image. The work presented here covers work conducted to develop two prototypes of a second-generation ICI instrument, and the work which laid the groundwork for the development of a fully deployable version of these systems. These systems are to be used to measure cloud cover statistics for the characterization of optical communication paths by the Optical Communication Group at NASA JPL.
