MODTRAN
Encyclopedia
MODTRAN is a computer program designed to model atmospheric
propagation of electromagnetic radiation
for the 100-50,000 cm-1 (0.2 to 100 um) spectral range.
The most recently released version of the code, MODTRAN5, provides a spectral resolution of 0.2 cm-1 using its 0.1 cm-1 band model algorithm.
Some aspects of MODTRAN are patented by Spectral Sciences
Inc. and the US Air Force, who have shared development responsibility for the code and related radiation transfer
science collaboratively since 1987. The acronym MODTRAN was registered as a trademark
of the US Government, represented by the US Air Force, in 2008.
All MODTRAN code development and maintenance is currently performed by Spectral Sciences
while the Air Force handles code validation and verification. Software sublicenses are issued by Spectral Sciences Inc., while single-user licenses are administered through Spectral Sciences' distributor, Ontar Corporation.
MODTRAN5 is written entirely in FORTRAN
. It is operated using a formatted input file. Third parties, including Ontar
, have developed graphical user interfaces to MODTRAN in order to facilitate user interaction and ease of use.
Atmosphere
An atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low...
propagation of electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
for the 100-50,000 cm-1 (0.2 to 100 um) spectral range.
The most recently released version of the code, MODTRAN5, provides a spectral resolution of 0.2 cm-1 using its 0.1 cm-1 band model algorithm.
Some aspects of MODTRAN are patented by Spectral Sciences
Spectral Sciences
Spectral Sciences Incorporated is a research and development company, located in Burlington, Massachusetts, United States.Spectral Sciences was founded in 1981. Its primary focus is the development of concepts and prototype scientific software and instrumentation...
Inc. and the US Air Force, who have shared development responsibility for the code and related radiation transfer
Radiative transfer
Radiative transfer is the physical phenomenon of energy transfer in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The propagation of radiation through a medium is affected by absorption, emission and scattering processes. The equation of radiative transfer describes these interactions mathematically...
science collaboratively since 1987. The acronym MODTRAN was registered as a trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
of the US Government, represented by the US Air Force, in 2008.
All MODTRAN code development and maintenance is currently performed by Spectral Sciences
Spectral Sciences
Spectral Sciences Incorporated is a research and development company, located in Burlington, Massachusetts, United States.Spectral Sciences was founded in 1981. Its primary focus is the development of concepts and prototype scientific software and instrumentation...
while the Air Force handles code validation and verification. Software sublicenses are issued by Spectral Sciences Inc., while single-user licenses are administered through Spectral Sciences' distributor, Ontar Corporation.
MODTRAN5 is written entirely in FORTRAN
Fortran
Fortran is a general-purpose, procedural, imperative programming language that is especially suited to numeric computation and scientific computing...
. It is operated using a formatted input file. Third parties, including Ontar
Ontar
Ontar Corporation - is a research and development company, which specializes in atmospheric sciences and other tasks.Ontar was founded in 1981, and became a reseller of software in the field of atmospheric radiation. Ontar launched PCTran in 1987, in that time it was one of the first PC based...
, have developed graphical user interfaces to MODTRAN in order to facilitate user interaction and ease of use.
See also
- HITRANHITRANHITRAN - HITRAN is a compilation of spectroscopic parameters that a variety of computer codes use to predict and simulate the transmission and emission of light in the atmosphere. The original version was compiled by the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories...
- a compilation of spectroscopic parameters - List of atmospheric radiative transfer codes
- SMARTS (The Simple Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine)SMARTS (The Simple Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine)SMARTS is a software published as a freeware by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.It is used to compute solar radiation on earth at one location/time and taking into account atmospheric conditions....
a software