Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Huang, Huo-Jin

Publications and source records attributed to Huang, Huo-Jin.

Global atmospheric moisture variability

Research efforts during FY-88 have focused on completion of several projects relating to analysis of FGGE data during SOP-1 and on expanded studies of global atmospheric moisture. In particular, a revised paper on the relationship between diabatic heating and baroclinicity in the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) was submitted. A summary of completed studies on diagnostic convective parameterization was presented at the Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography Convergence last February. These investigations of diabatic heating in the SPCZ have demonstrated the requirement for a more quantitative description of atmospheric moisture. As a result, efforts were directed toward use of passive remote microwave measurements from the Nimbus-7 SMMR and the DOD's Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSMI/I) as critical sources of moisture data. Activities this year are summarized.

Robertson, Franklin R.↗

Atmospheric moisture and cloud structure determined from SSM/I and global gridpoint analyses

Data from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/I on the DMSP satellite are used to study atmospheric moisture and cloud structure. Column-integrated water vapor and total liquid water retrievals are obtained using an algorithm based on a radiative model for brightness temperature (Wentz, 1983). The results from analyzing microwave and IR measurements are combined with independent global gridpoint analyses to study the distribution and structure of atmospheric moisture over oceanic regions.

Robertson, Franklin R.↗

Daily spectral energy conversions of the global circulation during 10-27 January 1979

A modified version of ECMWF Level III-b analyses is used to examine the energetics of the daily low and middle latitude wave activity that occurred over the globe during part of FGGE. The results indicate that the eddy available potential is increased by sensible heat transport down the temperature gradient at all wavenumbers; it is immediately converted to eddy kinetic energy through warmer air rising and/or colder air sinking. In the present study, particular attention is given to Southern Hemispheric energetics.

Huang, Huo-Jin↗

Precipitable water derived from Nimbus-7 SMMR measurements and its comparison to FGGE III-B data during January 10-February 13, 1979

An effort is presently made to employ Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer measurements to estimate the total precipitable water in the atmosphere over the tropical oceans. It is found that these passive microwave measurements, in conjunction with appropriately realistic algorithms, can furnish a data base of global total precipitable water that can serve as an adequate indicator of convection. The long-term variations of outgoing longwave radiation in the tropics demonstrate a close relationship between tropical convections and 40-50 day oscillations. The vertical profile of water vapor may be determined by combining both IR and microwave measurements.

Huang, Huo-Jin↗

A comparison of global FGGE analyses and energetics (GLA vs ECMWF) for January 1979

The differences and similarities between ECMWF and NASA/Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres (GLA) analyses and resultant energetics for the South Pacific Convergence Zone and the South Atlantic Convergence Zone are studied, as well as the global circulation patterns. The horizontal wind components, temperature, geopotential height, vertical p-velocity, velocity potential, streamlines, and mean sea level pressure derived from ECMWF and GLA analyses at different pressure levels are compared. It is observed that the mean sea level pressure, temperature, streamlines, and vertical velocity are nearly identical, and the least correlation is detected for the vertical velocity patterns. The energy contents and conversion obtained using the two analyses are examined, and the correlations between the data sets are described.

Huang, Huo-Jin↗

Comparison between the South Pacific Convergence Zone and South Atlantic Convergence Zone in January 1979

Using one of the FGGE data sets, the eddy potential and eddy kinetic energy budgets during the period of January 10-27, 1979 were derived for the regions containing the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) and the South Atlantic Convergence Zone. A complete set of energy equations developed by Brennan and Vincent (1980) was partitioned into zonal and eddy components; the eddy forms of energy were derived from a grid point's departure from the zonal average over a 5-deg latitude belt. The results of the analysis indicate that the eddy kinetic energy content (KE) is greater than the eddy available potential energy content (AE) throughout the period. Both AE and KE show large losses beginning when the SPCZ enters a decaying state: AE shows a gradual but slow decrease until after January 22, when it decreases rapidly; KE oscillates, reaching a maximum on January 22 before a rapid decrease.

Vincent, Dayton G.↗

Northern vs. Southern Hemisphere energy conversions in January 1979

The methodology applied by Huang and Vincent (1985) for the diagnosis of the zonal and eddy energy conversions in the Southern Hemisphere was used to diagnose the energetics of the Northern Hemisphere for the same period (i.e., January 10-27, 1979). It was found that, in both hemispheres, the larger synoptic-scale waves are important in the AZ-AE-KE conversion. However, in the Northern Hemisphere, the long waves make the most significant contribution to this conversion cycle, whereas in the Southern Hemispere, the intermediate waves dominate.

Hurrell, James W.↗