Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Carter, A. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Carter, A. F..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Lidar Measurements of Aerosol and Ozone Distributions During the 1992 Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition

The LaRC airborne lidar system was operated from the ARC DC-8 aircraft during the 1992 Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (ASEE-2) to investigate the distribution of stratospheric aerosols and O3 across the Arctic vortex from Jan. to Mar. 1992. Monthly flights were made across the Arctic vortex from Anchorage, Alaska, to Stavanger, Norway, and then back to Bangor, Maine, and additional round-trip flights north into the vortex were made each month from either Stavanger or Bangor depending on the location of the vortex that month. The airborne lidar system uses the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique at laser wavelengths of 301.5 and 310.8 nm to measure O3 profiles above the DC-8 over the 12-25 km altitude range. Lidar measurements of aerosol backscatter and depolarization profiles over the 12-30 km altitude range are made simultaneously with the O3 measurements using infrared (IR) and visible (VIS) laser wavelengths of 603 and 1064 nm, respectively. The measurements of Pinatubo aerosols, polar stratospheric clouds, and O3 made with the airborne DIAL system during the AASE-2 expedition and to chemical and dynamical process that contribute to O3 depletion in the wintertime Arctic stratosphere.

Browell, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Airborne lidar observations in the wintertime Arctic stratosphere - Ozone

Large-scale distributions of ozone (O3) were measured with an airborne lidar system as part of the 1989 Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition. Measurements of O3 distributions were obtained between January 6 and February 15, 1989, on 15 long-range flights into the polar vortex from the Solar Air Station, Norway. The observed O3 distribution was found to clearly indicate the edge of the polar vortex and to be an effective tracer of dynamical processes in the lower stratosphere. On the last two flights of the expedition, large regions with reduced O3 levels were observed by the lidar inside the polar vortex. Ozone had decreased by as much as 17 percent in the center of these areas, and using the in situ measurements made on the ER-2 aircraft, it was concluded that this decline was due to chemical O3 destruction.

Browell, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Airborne lidar observations in the wintertime Arctic stratosphere - Polar stratospheric clouds

Polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) distributions in the wintertime Arctic stratosphere and their optical characteristics were measured with a multiwavelength airborne lidar system as part of the 1989 Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition. PSCs were observed on 10 flights between January 6 and February 2, 1989, into the polar vortex. The PSCs were found in the 14-27 km altitude range in regions where the temperatures were less than 195 K. Two types of aerosols with different optical characteristics (Types 1a and 1b) were observed in PSCs thought to be composed of nitric acid trihydrate. Water ice PSCs (Type 2) were observed to have high scattering ratios (greater than 10) and high aerosol depolarizations (greater than 10 percent) at temperatures less than 190 K.

Browell, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1983

NASA multipurpose airborne DIAL system and measurements of ozone and aerosol profiles

The hardware, operational characteristics, data processing system, and applications of the NASA airborne differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system are described. DIAL functions by assessing the average gas concentration over a specified range interval by analyzing the difference in lidar backscatter signals for laser wavelengths tuned on and off of the molecular absorption line of a gas under investigation. The system comprises two frequency-doubled Nd:YAG lasers pumping two high conversion efficiency tunable dye lasers emitting pulses separated by 100 microsec or less. The return signals are digitized and stored on magnetic tape. The signal collector consists of photomultiplier tubes implanted in a cassegrain telescope. Flight tests of the system involved on-measurements at 285.95 nm and off-measurements at 299.40 nm, which yielded a differential cross section of 1.74 x 10 to the -16th sq cm. In situ measurements with another plane at a nominal altitude of 3.2 km for comparison purposes showed accuracy to within 10% in and above the boundary layer. The system is considered as a test apparatus for more developed versions to be flown on the Shuttle

Browell, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Airborne differential absorption lidar system for water vapor investigations

Range-resolved water vapor measurements using the differential-absorption lidar (DIAL) technique is described in detail. The system uses two independently tunable optically pumped lasers operating in the near infrared with laser pulses of less than 100 microseconds separation, to minimize concentration errors caused by atmospheric scattering. Water vapor concentration profiles are calculated for each measurement by a minicomputer, in real time. The work is needed in the study of atmospheric motion and thermodynamics as well as in forestry and agriculture problems.

Browell, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An airborne lidar system for ozone and aerosol profiling in the troposphere and lower stratosphere

A description is presented of an airborne UV optical radar (lidar) system, taking into account also the first range-resolved ozone measurements from an aircraft using the differential absorption lidar (Dial) technique. The discussed system is the first to use an aircraft platform for ozone profile measurements. The Dial technique determines the average gas concentration over some selected range interval. The airborne Dial system uses two high conversion efficiency dye lasers which are optically pumped by two frequency-doubled Nd:YAG lasers. The first remote measurements of ozone profiles with an airborne Dial system were made during flight tests between May 22 and June 6, 1980. The UV Dial system was operated at a nominal altitude of 3.2 km. Initial measurements of ozone and aerosol profiles with the Dial system were performed on 4 flights in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay.

Browell, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Development and initial operating characteristics of the 20 megawatt linear plasma accelerator facility

A 20-megawatt linear plasma accelerator facility, a steady flow, Faraday-type plasma accelerator facility for high velocity aerodynamic testing, was constructed, developed, and brought to an operational status. The accelerator has a 63.5-mm-square and 0.5-meter-long channel and utilizes nitrogen-seeded with 2 % mole fraction of cesium vapor. Modification of the original accelerator design characteristics and the improvements necessary to make the arc heater a suitable plasma source are described. The measured accelerator electrode current distribution and the electrode-wall potential distributions are given. The computed and the measured values are in good agreement. Measured pitot pressure indicates that an accelerator exit velocity of 9.2 km/sec, is obtained with 30 of the 36 electrode pairs powered and corresponds to a velocity increase to about 2 1/4 times the computed entrance velocity. The computed stagnation enthalpy at the accelerator exit is 92 MJ/kg, and the mass density corresponds to an altitude of about 58 km. The 92 MJ/kg stagnation enthalpy corresponds to a kinetic energy content at low temperature equivalent to a velocity of 13.6 km/sec.

Carter, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Computer program for the design of axial-flow turbines

Computer program, capable of analyzing single and multispool units, computes absolute and relative flow fields within the turbine at the first stator inlet, at each interblade row plane, and at the final rotor exit. No simplifying assumptions are made which would result in restrictive design.

Carter, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1969

Geometry and design point performance of axial flow turbines

Computer program determines the alternative geometries and associated design point performance of axial-flow turbines capable of satisfying specified design requirements. The program solves the flow field within the turbine without making the simplifying assumptions that result in restrictive designs.

Carter, A. F.↗