Quantitative Optical Data Analysis on Chemical Releases

A continuing program whose objective is the study of atmospheric winds and temperatures, chemical reaction processes, composition, and diffusive and turbulent transport, in the upper atmosphere and stratosphere is described. These parameters are studied through analysis and interpretation of photographic and other optically derived data on chemical and smoke tracers released from rockets and high flying aircraft. Images of the tracers were reduced by microdensitometry, and films and cameras radiometrically calibrated to determine absolute radiances and inventories of sunlight-scattering particles. Stratospheric winds were derived from photographic measurement of the transport of smoke trails released from rockets, and a means of increasing sensitivity of photographic emulsions to extremely faint glows was investigated. (Author)