On the Accuracy of Determining the Mean Integral Refractive Index of Air By its Values at the End Points of the Trace

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the influence of the Earth's atmosphere on the results of laser range-finder measurements on surface traces up to 5 km long. The accuracy of determining the atmospheric correction, which is frequently used in practice and takes into account the mean integral refractive index of air calculated from its local values at the end points of the trace, is studied. The prospects of reducing the methodological error within the framework of this approach by using additional information about the local values of the refractive index in discrete points uniformly placed along the measured trace are considered. As an alternative to this approach, recommendations are given for the use of a high precision gradient method, different variants of which allow taking into account the complex topography of the underlying surface with a minimum number of discrete points for determining the local values of the refractive index on the trace.