A Scintillometer is a scientific device used to measure atmospheric optical disturbances called scintillations, which are caused by fluctuations of the refractive index of air.[1] The air's refractive index is influenced by temperature, humidity, and pressure. The device thus allows measurements of the transfer of heat between the Earth's surface and the air above it called the "sensible heat flux"[2]. Scintillation or twinkling are generic terms for rapid variations in apparent brightness or color of a distant luminous object viewed through the atmosphere. ... The refractive index of a material is the factor by which electromagnetic radiation is slowed down (relative to vacuum) when it travels inside the material. ... Air is a name for the mixture of gases present in the Earths atmosphere. ...

The term Scintillometer has been used, in its original sense (though relatively infrequently today) to refer to a Scintillation counter, which measures ionizing radiation. A scintillation counter measures ionizing radiation. ...

External links

• The scintillation method by W.M.L. Meijninger, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
• A review of the relationships describing the signal of a Large Aperture Scintillometer - by A.F. Moene, W.M.L. Meijninger, O.K. Hartogensis, W. Kohsiek, H.A.R. de Bruin, Wageningen University, The Netherlands