The effect of variations in the refractive index of industrial air upon the uncertainty of precision length measurement.

The extent and causes of air refractivity differences in industrial environments have been assessed at the level of less than 1 part in 107 by the PTB and the NPL using a refractometer instrumentation package capable of both direct measurement and calculation of the refractive index of the atmosphere using an interference refractometer and atmospheric sensor measurements. The results of these measured and calculated values are discussed, together with the comparison of a number of industrial air refractivity measurement sensors.