Chromatic refraction with global ozone monitoring by occultation of stars II Statistical properties of scintillations

Abstract

The statistical properties of stellar scintillations are discussed with special attention to correcting the atmospheric transmittance data for scintillations in measurements made with the Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars (GOMOS) instrument. Both anisotropic and isotropic turbulent inhomogeneities are taken into account. Calculated rms scintillation reaches several percent for altitudes of 30-35 km, an amplitude comparable with the expected absorbing features. Estimates of cross-correlation functions show that the GOMOS correction procedure can be applied efficiently for scintillations caused by anisotropic inhomogeneities, in contrast to the isotropic case. Some recommendations are given for conditions of observations with which to make better corrections of scintillations.