Abstract: A technique for measuring atmospheric conditions includes: at a computing device, receiving, from an imager, image data representing an image of an atmospheric region; creating a cloud mask from the image data, the cloud mask including a cloud area corresponding a first area in the image that is cloud covered and a non-cloud area corresponding a second area in the image that is substantially without cloud cover; determining a measurement location in the non-cloud area that is spaced apart from a boundary of the cloud area and from edges of the cloud mask; steering a line of sight of a sensor to correspond to the measurement location; and measuring an atmospheric condition with the sensor at the measurement location within the non-cloud area.

Abstract: A technique for measuring atmospheric conditions includes: at a computing device, receiving, from an imager, image data representing an image of an atmospheric region; creating a cloud mask from the image data, the cloud mask including a cloud area corresponding a first area in the image that is cloud covered and a non-cloud area corresponding a second area in the image that is substantially without cloud cover; determining a measurement location in the non-cloud area that is spaced apart from a boundary of the cloud area and from edges of the cloud mask; steering a line of sight of a sensor to correspond to the measurement location; and measuring an atmospheric condition with the sensor at the measurement location within the non-cloud area.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for an image processing device to receive image information comprising image data for a plurality of mid-wave infrared region (MWIR) channels, where the image data is obtained during a first imaging period and during a second imaging period temporally different from the first imaging period. A plurality of sets of atmospheric wind vectors are calculated using differences between image data obtained during the first imaging period and the image data obtained during the second imaging period for corresponding sets of MWIR channels. An altitude is assigned to the plurality of atmospheric wind vectors in each set based on a brightness temperature of each wind vector and a pre-computed atmospheric temperature profile to generate a set of two-dimensional wind fields comprising one two-dimensional wind field for each set of MWIR channels.

Abstract: Volcanic ash is identified within a field of regard (FOR) by obtaining spectral radiance data comprising brightness temperature values over a specified spectral range for each field of view (FOV) within the FOR, determining a baseline brightness temperature value over the specified spectral range that is identified as representing no volcanic ash, and assigning one or more FOVs having brightness temperature values that deviate from the baseline brightness temperature value by a predetermined amount with an indication of containing volcanic ash.