Impact of atmospheric turbulence on shock detection using background-oriented Schlieren

Background-Oriented Schlieren is a widely adopted optical technique for flow visualization, with increasing applications in aero-optical diagnostics. However, its outdoor performance is often affected by atmospheric turbulence, which distorts flow-induced features. To quantify this influence, we present a simulation framework based on anisoplanatic image degradation, which not only models the coupled effects of turbulence and shocks, but also supports the extraction of flow field information. Simulation results reveal that even moderate turbulence induces nonlinear degradation in shock visibility, with a threshold beyond which reliable detection fails. Contrary to traditional assumptions, smoother natural backgrounds enhance shock detectability under turbulence due to lower gradient noise. These findings provide guidance for BOS deployment in airborne and remote sensing scenarios.