Abstract: A system and method involve transmitting, using an optical device, a plurality of optical pulses into an atmospheric propagation channel towards a target object. Using an imaging device, more than one optical signals and an image of the target object are detected from the atmospheric propagation channel. The optical signals are produced by interaction between the transmitted optical pulses and the atmospheric propagation channel and include elastic backscatter return signals, inelastic backscatter return signals, and polarization signals. A processor simultaneously processes the elastic and inelastic backscatter return signals, the polarization signals, and information contained within the image of the target to determine estimates of one or more physical parameters of the atmospheric propagation channel.

Abstract: A system and method involve transmitting, using an optical device, a plurality of optical pulses into an atmospheric propagation channel towards a target object. Using an imaging device, more than one optical signals and an image of the target object are detected from the atmospheric propagation channel. The optical signals are produced by interaction between the transmitted optical pulses and the atmospheric propagation channel and include elastic backscatter return signals, inelastic backscatter return signals, and polarization signals. A processor simultaneously processes the elastic and inelastic backscatter return signals, the polarization signals, and information contained within the image of the target to determine estimates of one or more physical parameters of the atmospheric propagation channel.

Abstract: A system and method involve detecting a modulated optical signal from an atmospheric propagation channel, wherein the modulated optical signal comprises an optical signal from an optical source modulated with a periodic signal at a modulation frequency greater than the bandwidth of the turbulence within the atmospheric propagation channel, and converting the detected modulated optical signal into a digitized electrical signal. The method also includes determining the root mean square signal power of an AC component of the digitized electrical signal at the modulation frequency. The method further includes determining the power spectral density of the digitized electrical signal, determining the magnitude of the peak component at the modulation frequency, and determining the effective optical depth of the atmospheric propagation channel using the magnitude of the peak component at the modulation frequency.

Abstract: A system and method involve detecting a modulated optical signal from an atmospheric propagation channel, wherein the modulated optical signal comprises an optical signal from an optical source modulated with a periodic signal at a modulation frequency greater than the bandwidth of the turbulence within the atmospheric propagation channel, and converting the detected modulated optical signal into a digitized electrical signal. The method also includes determining the root mean square signal power of an AC component of the digitized electrical signal at the modulation frequency. The method further includes determining the power spectral density of the digitized electrical signal, determining the magnitude of the peak component at the modulation frequency, and determining the effective optical depth of the atmospheric propagation channel using the magnitude of the peak component at the modulation frequency.