EARTH’S CURVATURE and ATMOSPHERIC REFRACTION

Horizontal line – a straight line tangent to a level surface

Level surface – a curved surface every element of which is normal to the plumb line
Level line – a line in a level surface

An object actually at C would appear to be at B, due to the atmospheric refraction, where in the
. rays of light transmitted along the surface of the earth is bent downward slightly. The value of h
. represents the effect of earths curvature and atmospheric refraction and has the following values.

Derivation of curvature: R = radius of earth = 6400 km.

. h = K2 = K2 ( 1000 ) = 0.078K2
. 2R 2 ( 6400 )

. h r = 1 h = 1 ( 0.078 K2 ) = 0.011K2
. 7 7

. h cr = h – hcr = 0.078K2 – 0.011K2 = 0.067K2

. h cr = 0.067K2 where hcr = in meters K = in thousand of meters

. h = hcr + hr

Problem 1. Considering the effects of curvature and refraction, the difference in elevation of
. points B and C is found to be 111.356 m. from point A in between B and C is the angle
. of elevation of B and C are 18 0 30’ and 80 15’ respectively.
1) If C is 2000 m. from A, how far is B from A?
2) If the elevation of A is equal to 2000 m., find the elevation of B.
3) Find also the elevation of C.

SOLUTION: As we understand B is higher than C and A is the lowest in elevation and it is located
. between B and C. The angle of elevation from A to B is 18 0 30’ while the angle of
. elevation from A to C is 8 0 15’.
. x is the distance from A to B and 2000 m. is the distance from A to C. While h cr1 is the
. distance from the curvature of Earth up to the horizontal line projected from A at B and
. h cr2 is the distance from the curvature of Earth up to the same horizontal line projected
. from A at C.
. h 1 is the vertical distance from the horizontal line up to the elevation height of B while
. h 2 is the vertical distance from the horizontal line up to the elevation height of C.

. 1) Distance of B from A, h cr1 = 0.067x2 hcr2 = 0.067(2)2 = 0.268 m. where 2 = 2000 m.

0
. h 1 = x tan 18 30’ = 0.3346 x km. h2 = 2000 tan 80 15’ = 289.99 m.

. h 1 + hcr1 = 111.356 + h2 + hcr2

. 334.6 x + 0.067 x 2 = 111.356 + 289.99 + 0.268 simplify and rearrange the equation
. x2 + 4994 x – 5994.24 = 0 using quadratic formula to find x
.
. x = - b + - √ b2 – 4ac x = 1.2 km = 1,200 m. answer
. 2a
. 2) Elevation of B: elev. of B = elev. of A + h 1 + hcr1 = 200 + 0.3346(1,200) + 0.067(1.2)2
. elev. of B = 601.616 m. answer

. 3) Elevation of C: elev. of C = elve. of B – 111.356 = 601.616 – 111.356 = 490.26 m. answer

EXERCISE 5 CURVATURE OF EARTH – LEVELING ( 50 POINTS )

 Considering the effects of curvature and refraction, the difference in elevation of points B and C is 124.25 m. From
point A in between B and C is the angle of elevation of B and C are 17 0 15’ and 70 30’ respectively.
1) If C is 2450 m. from A, how far is B to A? 2) If the elevation of A 225 m., find the elevation of B. 3) Find the elev. of C

HINT: point B is higher than C and A is between B and C. 17 015’ is the angle of elev. from A to B and 7 0 30’ is the angle of
elev. from A to C. x is the distance from A to B while 2450 m. is the distance from A to C and h cr1 + h1 = hcr2 + h2 + 124.25 m.