A transmissometer or transmissiometer is an instrument for measuring the extinction coefficient of the

atmosphere An atmosphere () is a layer of gases that envelop an astronomical object, held in place by the gravity of the object. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A stellar atmosph ...

and sea water, and for the determination of visual range. It operates by sending a narrow, collimated beam of energy (usually a

laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word ''laser'' originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radi ...

) through the propagation medium. A narrow

field of view The field of view (FOV) is the angle, angular extent of the observable world that is visual perception, seen at any given moment. In the case of optical instruments or sensors, it is a solid angle through which a detector is sensitive to elec ...

receiver at the designated measurement distance determines how much energy is arriving at the detector, and determines the path transmission and/or extinction coefficient. In a transmissometer the extinction coefficient is determined by measuring direct light transmissivity, and the extinction coefficient is then used to calculate visibility range. Atmospheric extinction is a

wavelength In physics and mathematics, wavelength or spatial period of a wave or periodic function is the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. In other words, it is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same ''phase (waves ...

dependent phenomenon, but the most common wavelength in use for transmissometers is 550 nm, which is in the middle of the visible waveband, and allows a good approximation of visual range. Transmissometers are also referred to as telephotometers, transmittance meters, or hazemeters. Transmissometers are also used by oceanographers and limnologists to measure the optical properties of natural water. In this context, a transmissometer measures the

transmittance Electromagnetic radiation can be affected in several ways by the medium in which it propagates. It can be Scattering, scattered, Absorption (electromagnetic radiation), absorbed, and Fresnel equations, reflected and refracted at discontinui ...

attenuation In physics, attenuation (in some contexts, extinction) is the gradual loss of flux intensity through a Transmission medium, medium. For instance, dark glasses attenuate sunlight, lead attenuates X-rays, and water and air attenuate both light and ...

of incident radiation from a light source with a wavelength of around 660 nm, generally through a shorter distance than in air, as water has a smaller maximum visibility distance.

EMOR - Extended MOR Technology

Latest generation transmissometer technology makes use of a co-located forward scatter visibility sensor on the transmitter unit to allow for higher accuracies over an Extended Meteorological Optical Range or EMOR. After 10,000 meters the accuracy of transmissometer technology diminishes, and at higher visibilities forward scatter visibility sensor technology is more accurate. The co-location of the two sensors allows for the most accurate technology to be used when reporting current visibility. The forward scatter sensor also enables auto-alignment and auto-calibration of the transmissometer device. Hence it is very useful for oceanography and water optics study.

References

Spectroscopy {{optics-stub

EMOR - Extended MOR Technology

See also

References