Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Gordon, J. I..
A nomogram is presented for predicting the sighting range for white, steady-burning signal lights. The theoretical and experimental bases are explained and instructions are provided for its use for a variety of practical problems concerning the visibility of signal lights. The nomogram is appropriate for slant path as well as horizontal sightings, and the gain of range achieved by utilizing binoculars can be predicted by use of it.
Inherent object and background radiance, beam transmittance through the atmosphere, and sky radiance are all measurable from a ground station. It is shown how, in the visible spectrum, the sky radiance and beam transmittance may be used to compute the path radiance for orbital downward paths of sight. Thus, the components for calculating apparent radiance, apparent contrast, and the contrast transmittance from earth to space are measurable from a ground station. Four in-flight experiments were conducted to obtain measurements of contrast transmittance for comparison with measurements made simultaneously at ground stations. The in-flight and ground-based measurements are in good agreement.
Clear atmosphere model based on path of sight equilibrium radiance and nonabsorption permitting integration of equation of transfer