Engineering topics

Heymsfield, Andrew J.

Publications and source records attributed to Heymsfield, Andrew J..

46 records · Page 3

NASA NTRS1990

The radiation budget of a Cirrus layer deduced from simultaneous aircraft observations and model calculations

Several aircraft were employed during the FIRE Cirrus IFO in order to make nearly simultaneous observations of cloud properties and fluxes. A segment of the flight data collected on 28 October 1988 during which the NASA Ames ER-2 overflew the NCAR King Air was analyzed. The ER-2 flew at high altitude making observations of visible and infrared radiances and infrared flux and cloud height and thickness. During this segment, the King Air flew just above the cloud base making observations of ice crystal size and shape, local meteorological variables, and infrared fluxes. While the two aircraft did not collect data exactly coincident in space and time, they did make observations within a few minutes of each other. For this case study, the infrared radiation balance of the cirrus layer is of primary concern. Observations of the upwelling 10 micron radiance, made from the ER-2, can be used to deduce the 10 micron optical depth of the layer. The upwelling broadband infrared flux is also measured from the ER-2. At the same time, the upwelling and downwelling infrared flux at the cloud base is obtained from the King Air measurements. Information on cloud microphysics is also available from the King Air. Using this data in conjunction with atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles from local radiosondes, the necessary inputs for an infrared radiative transfer model can be developed. Infrared radiative transfer calculations are performed with a multispectral two-stream model. The model fluxes at the cloud base and at 19 km are then compared with the aircraft observations to determine whether the model is performing well. Cloud layer heating rates can then be computed from the radiation exchange.

Ackerman, Thomas P.↗

NASA NTRS1990

FIRE Cirrus on October 28, 1986: LANDSAT; ER-2; King Air; theory

A simultaneous examination was conducted of cirrus clouds in the FIRE Cirrus IFO-I on 10/28/86 using a multitude of remote sensing and in-situ measurements. The focus is cirrus cloud radiative properties and their relationship to cloud microphysics. A key element is the comparison of radiative transfer model calculations and varying measured cirrus radiative properties (emissivity, reflectance vs. wavelength, reflectance vs. viewing angle). As the number of simultaneously measured cloud radiative properties and physical properties increases, more sharply focused tests of theoretical models are possible.

Wielicki, Bruce A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Is there a cirrus small particle radiative anomaly?

Earlier studies of fundamental radiative properties of cirrus clouds suggest the presence of a significant radiative effect produced by small ice crystals of sizes below the detection thresholds of currently available in situ probes. This paper examines visible versus IR radiation relationships to explain the nature and implications of the cirrus small-particle radiative anomaly. It is concluded that the apparent phenomenon of cirrus small particle radiative anomaly is likely due to the approximate treatment of the radiative properties of actual cirrus particles.

Sassen, Kenneth↗

NASA NTRS1989

Aggregation of ice crystals in cirrus

Results are given from analysis of the aggregation of thick plate, columnar, and bullet rosette ice crystals in cirrus. Data were obtained from PMS 2D-C images, oil coated slides, and aircraft meteorological measurements. Crystal size ranged from 100 to 900 microns in temperatures from -30 to -45 C. The results indicate that the ratio of the sizes of aggregating crystals and the difference of their terminal velocities are important in aggregation. The collection efficiency was calculated for the thick plate crystals from the same data.

Kajikawa, Masahiro↗

NASA NTRS1989

Cirrus crystal nucleation by homogeneous freezing of solution droplets

A numerical model consisting of a system of differential equations is used to study cirrus crystal nucleation in a rising parcel containing a distribution of cloud condensation nuclei. The evolution of the particle population and the thermodynamic variables in the parcel are examined. The results suggest that, if homogeneous freezing is not considered, liquid water should be detected below -40 C. If homogeneous freezing is considered, the rapid growth of ice crystals and vapor depletion prevent water saturation from being reached. It is shown that the likelihood of a droplet being frozen is increased by lower temperatures, larger droplet diameter, or lower solution density.

Heymsfield, Andrew J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Evaluation of liquid water measuring instruments in cold clouds sampled during FIRE

Airborne liquid water content (LWC) measurements were conducted with an icing detector and a forward-scattering spectrometer probe during 10 flights into cold clouds, as part of the First ISCCP Research Experiment (FIRE). The LWC measurements thus obtained compare favorably with those from the hot-wire probes in the range where LWC is above the detection limits of the latter; the hot-wire probes have detection thresholds about one order of magnitude higher than is possible with the icing detector and spectrometer probe. FIRE experiment data indicate that LWC should be taken into consideration in cloud studies at temperatures down to at least 35 C.

Heymsfield, Andrew J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The 27-28 October 1986 FIRE IFO Cirrus case study: Comparison of radiative transfer theory with observations by satellite and aircraft

Observations of cirrus and altocumulus clouds during the First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project Regional Experiment (FIRE) are compared to theoretical models of cloud radiative properties. Three tests are performed. First, LANDSAT radiances are used to compare the relationship between nadir reflectance ot 0.83 micron and beam emittance at 11.5 microns with that predicted for model calculations using spherical and nonspherical phase functions. Good agreement is found between observations and theory when water droplets dominate. Poor agreement is found when ice particles dominate, especially using scattering phase functions for spherical particles. Even when compared to a laboratory measured ice particle phase function, the observations show increased side scattered radiation relative to the theoretical calculations. Second, the anisotropy of conservatively scattered radiation is examined using simultaneous multiple angle views of the cirrus from LANDSAT and ER-2 aircraft radiometers. Observed anisotropy gives good agreement with theoretical calculations using the laboratory measured ice particle phase function and poor agreement with a spherical particle phase function. Third, Landsat radiances at 0.83, 1.65, and 2.21 microns are used to infer particle phase and particle size. For water droplets, good agreement is found with King Air FSSP particle probe measurements in the cloud. For ice particles, the LANDSAT radiance observations predict an effective radius of 60 microns versus aircraft observations of about 200 microns. It is suggested that this descrepancy may be explained by uncertainty in the imaginary index of ice and by inadequate measurements of small ice particles by microphysical probes.

Wielicki, Bruce A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

A scheme for parameterizing ice cloud water content in general circulation models

A method for specifying ice water content in GCMs is developed, based on theory and in-cloud measurements. A theoretical development of the conceptual precipitation model is given and the aircraft flights used to characterize the ice mass distribution in deep ice clouds is discussed. Ice water content values derived from the theoretical parameterization are compared with the measured values. The results demonstrate that a simple parameterization for atmospheric ice content can account for ice contents observed in several synoptic contexts.

Heymsfield, Andrew J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Hydrometeor development in cold clouds in FIRE

The microphysical characteristics of cold clouds were examined using aircraft. The clouds investigated ranged in temperature from minus 20 to minus 46 C. Liquid water was detected in these clouds at minus 35 C and may exist at even colder temperatures. Aircraft patterns in the form of Lagrangian spirals were used to interpret particle growth processes. Significant broadening of the particle size spectra is observed with minor changes in the spectra at small sizes. Virtually all of the broadening observed is attributable to ice particle aggregation which occurs at all temperatures. The crystals comprising the aggregates are of comparable size, joined either at tips or edges, and are usually 2 in number at temperatures lower than minus 25 C, increasing to 3 or more at warmer temperatures. The data strongly suggest that sintering is the mechanism through which the crystals aggregate. Aggregation appears to be important in the transfer of water mass from upper to lower levels in clouds.

Heymsfield, Andrew J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Cirrus microphysics and infrared radiative transfer: A case study

Coincident measurements of cirrus cloud microphysical properties such as particle size distribution and particle shape and morphology, and measurements of infrared intensity and flux were made. Data was acquired nearly simultaneously in space and time by a KingAir in cloud and by an ER-2 at an altitude of 19 km. Upwelling infrared intensities and fluxes measured from the ER-2 and observations of cloud particle size distributions and particle phase and morphology made from the KingAir are discussed. Broad-band flux measurements were available both in and below the cirrus layer from the KingAir.

Ackerman, Thomas P.↗