In this paper it is shown that for E-O systems operating in the solar blind ultraviolet (SBUV) band, one has to consider the clutter noise since in most cases it will be the dominant factor in the sensor performance. Such clutter in various rural populated areas were sampled using a SBUV photon counter whose data was analyzed in terms of statistical and temporal characteristics. It is shown that the clutter in the SBUV can reach very high levels of counts with relatively long duration and that the properties of the so-called clutter "sources" are very similar. The temporal autocorrelation function can be approximated by two exponential functions, the first one with a short time constant and the second one with a relatively long time constant. Periodic modulation was observed in some cases. Its source is not explained at the present time. # 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. S0091-3286 (98) 04003-3 Subject terms: solar blind; clutter; statistical properties; temporal behavior. Paper 04087 received Aug. 2, 1997; revised manuscript received Oct. 10, 1997; accepted for publication Oct. 10, 1997.
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