Estimating the refractive index structure parameter within atmospheric surface layer

A model of atmospheric boundary layer, which has adopted Bulk method, is used to estimate the refractive index structure parameter in southeast seashore and Hefei. A high resolution three dimensional sonic anemometers was used instead of micro-thermal probes to compute the refractive index structure parameter. This avoids sea salt contaminating metal wire. The main input parameters are air temperature, surface temperature, humidity, wind speed and the measurement height of these variables. Analysis shows that applying Bulk method model to estimate the refractive index structure parameter is feasible. Meanwhile, applying Frederickson’s formula or Thiermann’s formula for empirically determining Monin-Obukhov similarity functions have little difference. It is difficult to get the refractive