Numerical scene simulation for cloudy atmospheric background

Methods for cloud scene simulation are analyzed and studied based on the properties of real cloud edge and distribution of the atmospheric background radiance. A new method is proposed to simulate cloud scene by means of the fractal geometry algorithm after effects of clouds on the atmospheric background radiation are analyzed. Firstly, spectral radiance of cloudless and cloudy atmospheric background is respectively calculated according to the radiative transfer theory. Secondly, a simulation method for cloud edge is developed based on the improved random generator after studying the properties of real cloud edge and self-similar character of the fractal principle. Finally, an algorithm implemented to create cloud texture is designed by employing the radiance distribution of cloudy atmospheric background, quadric random method and Diamond-Square interpolation. All 2-D atmospheric background radiance within given view filed has been computed with the mixed modified delta-Eddington approximation method. Some numerical scenes for cloudy atmospheric background are triumphantly simulated with the radiative transfer theory and the fractal geometry algorithm. © 2009 Copyright SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.