Engineering topics

House, F.

Publications and source records attributed to House, F..

3 records

NASA NTRS1984

The earth radiation budget derived from the Nimbus 7 ERB experiment

The earth radiation budget as determined from the ERB experiment aboard the Nimbus-7 polar-orbiting satellite is presented in the form of time-latitude cross sections, hemispherically and globally averaged time plots, and annual global averages for the time period spanning November 1978 through October 1979. Comparisons are made between results derived from the fixed wide-field-of-view (WFOV) radiometers and those derived from the scanning narrow-field-of-view (NFOV) radiometers. While there is excellent agreement in regard to the spatial and temporal variations, the absolute magnitudes differ. The NFOV yields outgoing longwave fluxes and albedos that are about 4W/sq m and 2.5 percent, respectively, greater than those derived from the WFOV sensors. Also, limited simultaneous comparisons are made between ERB results and those from the AVHRR on the NOAA-7 operational satellite.

Jacobowitz, H.↗

NASA NTRS1981

N-stream approximations to radiative transfer

Schuster's two-stream approximation (1905) is first derived from Chandrasekhar's radiative transfer equation (1950), and then extended to an arbitrary number of streams. The resulting technique for solving the transfer function similar to the discrete ordinate and spherical harmonic methods, is useful for modeling atmospheres with complicated phase functions and moderate optical depths. The resulting n coupled linear differential equations are simple and consume less computer time than other approximations, yet have the same required accuracy. The approximation is also flexible with respect to the choice of patch functions, and no approximations are made on the form of the phase function, other than its expansion into Legendre polynomials. A four-stream approximation is evaluated for a Henyey-Greenstein phase function with an asymmetry factor equal to 0.5.

Acquista, C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Measurements of the earth radiation budget from satellites during the first GARP global experiment

Radiation budget data (which will aid in climate model development) and solar constant measurements (both to be used for the study of long term climate change and interannual seasonal weather variability) are presented, obtained during Nimbus-6 and Nimbus-7 satellite flights, using wide-field-of-view, scanner, and black cavity detectors. Data on the solar constant, described as a function of the date of measurement, are given. The unweighed mean amounts to 1377 + or - 20 per sq Wm, with a standard deviation of 8 per sq Wm. The new solar data are combined with earlier measurements, and it is suggested that the total absolute energy output of the sun is a minimum at 'solar maximum' and vice versa. Attention is given to the measurements of the net radiation budget, the planetary albedo, and the infrared radiant exitance. The annual and semiannual cycles of normal variability explain most of the variance of energy exchange between the earth and space. Examination of separate ocean and atmospheric energy budgets implies a net continent-ocean region energy exchange.

Vonder Haar, T. H.↗