Advance prediction of effects of atmosphere on image quality

Using atmospheric modulation transfer function area (MTFA) as a single-valued numerical criterion for image quality propagated through the atmosphere, a statistical study of atmospheric imaging data accumulated over a three year period has led to the determination of regression coefficients with which to quantitatively predict effects of windspeed, air temperature, and relative humidity on image quality propagated through the atmosphere as a function of wavelength over the 400-1000 nm wavelength region. Utilization of this procedure is quite simple. One simply plugs in expected values for windspeed, air temperature, and relative humidity ii the regression coefficient expression for MTFA. The larger the expected MTFA, the better the expected image quality. Two sets of regression coefficient data have been obtained, one each for desert and non-non climates, corresponding to summer and winter data here. Preliminary experimentation over a different line-line-line indicates the accuracy of the model is fairly reliable.