Optical Turbulence

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Optical Turbulence

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Irregular and fluctuating gradients of optical refractive index in the atmosphere. </dd>
Optical turbulence is caused mainly by mixing of air of different temperatures, and particularly by thermal gradients which are sufficient to reverse the normal decrease in density with altitude, so that convection occurs. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use