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Nastrom, G. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Nastrom, G. D..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Temperature histories of commercial flights at severe conditions from GASP data

The thermal environment of commercial aircraft from a data set gathered during the Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) is studied. The data set covers a four-year period of measurements. The report presents plots of airplane location and speed and atmospheric temperature as functions of elapsed time for 35 extreme-condition flights, selected by minimum values of several temperature parameters. One of these parameters, the severity factor, is an approximation of the in-flight wing-tank temperature. Representative low-severity-factor flight histories may be useful for actual temperature-profile inputs to design and research studies. Comparison of the GASP atmospheric temperatures to interpolated temperatures from National Meteorological Center and Global Weather Central analysis fields shows that the analysis temperatures are slightly biased toward warmer than actual temperatures, particularly over oceans and at extreme conditions.

Jasperson, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Flight summaries and temperature climatology at airliner cruise altitudes from GASP (Global Atmospheric Sampling Program) data

Temperature data obtained by the Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) during the period March 1975 to July 1979 are compiled to form flight summaries of static air temperature and a geographic temperature climatology. The flight summaries include the height and location of the coldest observed temperature and the mean flight level, temperature and the standard deviation of temperature for each flight as well as for flight segments. These summaries are ordered by route and month. The temperature climatology was computed for all statistically independent temperture data for each flight. The grid used consists of 5 deg latitude, 30 deg longitude and 2000 feet vertical resolution from FL270 to FL430 for each month of the year. The number of statistically independent observations, their mean, standard deviation and the empirical 98, 50, 16, 2 and .3 probability percentiles are presented.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Cloud encounter statistics in the 28.5-43.5 KFT altitude region from four years of GASP observations

The results of an analysis of cloud encounter measurements taken at aircraft flight altitudes as part of the Global Atmospheric Sampling Program are summarized. The results can be used in estimating the probability of cloud encounter and in assessing the economic feasibility of laminar flow control aircraft along particular routes. The data presented clearly show the tropical circulation and its seasonal migration; characteristics of the mid-latitude regime, such as the large-scale traveling cyclones in the winter and increased convective activity in the summer, can be isolated in the data. The cloud encounter statistics are shown to be consistent with the mid-latitude cyclone model. A model for TIC (time-in-clouds), a cloud encounter statistic, is presented for several common airline routes.

Jasperson, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Cloud-encounter and particle-concentration variabilities from GASP data

Summary statistics, tabulations, and variability studies are presented for cloud encounter and particle concentration data taken as part of the NASA global atmospheric sampling program. Cloud encounter was experienced in about 15 percent of the data samples; however, the percentage varies with season, latitude, and altitude (particularly distance from the tropopause). In agreement with classical storm models, the data show more clouds in the upper troposphere in anticyclones than in cyclones. The concentration of particles with a diameter greater than 3 micron also varies with time and location, depending primarily on the horizontal extent of cloudiness. Some examples of the application of the statistical data to the estimation of the frequency of cloud encounter and laminar flow loss to be expected on long range airline routes are also presented.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ozone contamination in aircraft cabins: Results from GASP data and analyses

The global atmospheric sampling program pertaining to the problem of ozone contamination in commercial airplane cabins is described. Specifically, analyses of GASP data have: confirmed the occurrence of high ozone levels in aircraft cabins and documented the ratio of ozone inside and outside the cabins of two B747 airliners, including the effects of air conditioning modifications on that ratio; defined ambient ozone climatology at commercial airplane cruise altitudes, including tabulation of encounter frequency data which were not available before GASP; and outlined procedures for estimating the frequency of flights encountering high cabin ozone levels using climatological ambient ozone data, and verified these procedures against cabin measurements.

Holdeman, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ozone contamination in aircraft cabins - Results from GASP data and analyses

The paper reviews results from the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) pertaining to the problem of ozone contamination in commercial aircraft cabins. Specifically, analyses of GASP data have (1) confirmed the high ozone levels in aircraft cabins and documented the ratio of ozone inside and outside the cabins of two B747 airliners, including the effects of air conditioning modifications on that ratio; (2) defined ambient ozone climatology at commercial aircraft cruise altitudes, including tabulation of encounter frequency data; and (3) outlined procedures for estimating the frequency of flights encountering high cabin ozone levels using climatological ambient ozone data and verified these procedures against cabin measurements.

Holdeman, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Cloud encounter and particle density variabilities from GASP data

Summary statistics and variability studies are presented for cloud encounter and particle number density data as part of the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) aboard commercial Boeing 747 airliners. On the average, cloud encounter is shown on about 15% of the 52,164 data samples available; this value varies with season, latitude, synoptic weather situation, and distance from the tropopause. The number density of particles (diameter greater than 3 microns) also varies with time and location, and depends on the horizontal extent of cloudiness.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Measurements of cabin and ambient ozone on B747 airplanes

In response to recent concerns over possibly high ozone levels in the cabins of aircraft flying in the stratosphere, simultaneous measurements of the cabin and ambient ozone levels have been made as part of the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program. Examples of the data taken on commercially operated Boeing 747-100 and 747SP airplanes are given for selected flights, together with summary statistics of over 5600 observations. Cabin ozone levels vary with the ambient level and, for unmodified aircraft, are higher on the 747SP than on the 747-100. Modifications to the ventilation system of the 747SP reduced cabin ozone levels by varying amounts up to a factor of 14.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Eddy diffusion coefficients and the variance of the atmosphere 30-60 km

The results of numerical models or of new observational programs are checked by comparing them with past observations. In view of the differing analysis techniques or differing data samples, the eddy diffusivities presented here agree remarkably well with past estimates. However, in the application of K-values to two-dimensional models, the actual magnitude of the diffusivities is no more important than their spatial patterns, i.e., their gradients with height and latitude. It should thus be noted that the present patterns are often much different from those of past results.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Ozone in the upper troposphere from Gasp measurements

Several aspects of tropospheric ozone variations are examined by using ozone measurements made from commercial airliners (Gasp data). Through visual inspection of the autocorrelation function it is shown that the east-west variations of ozone have a predominant wavelength near 2400 km, while temperature and wind have predominant wavelengths near 3300 km. Distance-lagged correlation functions of ozone with temperature and wind show a definite periodicity with wavelengths near 2400 km. Attention is given to the tropical tropospheric ozone values above 100 parts per billion by volume, which appear to be associated with meridional transport from middle latitudes, and in some cases, relatively large tropical ozone values are coincident with clouds.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Simultaneous cabin and ambient ozone measurements on two Boeing 747 airplanes, volume 1

Measurements of zone concentrations both outside and in the cabin of an airline operated Boeing 747SP and Boeing 747-100 airliner are presented. Plotted data and the corresponding tables of observations taken at altitude between the departure and destination airports of each flight are arranged chronologically for the two aircraft. Data were taken at five or ten minute intervals by automated instrumentation used in the NACA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program.

Perkins, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Variability of ozone near the tropopause from GASP data

The first 22 months of ozone data from the Global Atmospheric Sampling Program are summarized. Variations in space and time were examined at nearly all scales permitted by the data. Case studies in the tropics suggest that local ozone maxima may be found in or near clouds. Preliminary seasonal mean maps of ozone during spring are presented for the Northern Hemisphere. In the troposphere over the United States during summer there is a distinct midcontinental ozone maximum. There is a diurnal variation in ozone in the upper troposphere and the daily range is about 5 ppbv. Correlations between ozone and other variables are given for the synoptic-scale and on a hemispheric scale. The possible bearing of these results on ozone transport computations is discussed.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

An analysis of the first two years of GASP data

Distributions of mean ozone levels from the first two years of data from the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) show spatial and temporal variations in agreement with previous measurements. The standard deviations of these distributions reflect the large natural variability of ozone levels in the altitude range of the GASP measurements. Monthly mean levels of ozone below the tropopause show an annual cycle with a spring maximum which is believed to result from transport from the stratosphere. Correlations of ozone with independent meteorological parameters, and meteorological parameters obtained by the GASP systems show that this transport occurs primarily through cyclogenesis at mid-latitudes. The GASP water vapor data, analyzed with respect to the location of the tropopause, correlates well with the simultaneously obtained ozone and cloud data.

Holdeman, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Vertical and horizontal fluxes of ozone at the tropopause from the first year of GASP data

Ozone measurements taken from commercial airlines (GASP data) are used to estimate the vertical and horizontal fluxes of ozone near the tropopause. The annual average flux of O3 into the troposphere at 30 to 50 deg N is nearly the same as indirect estimates based on surface O3 data, thus supporting the hypothesis that the amount of ozone in the troposphere is essentially controlled by injection from the stratosphere. The present GASP estimates of the total flux of O3 into the troposphere verify the model results of Cunnold et al. (1975), although the distribution of flux between mean motions and diffusion is different and suggests that models with coarse horizontal resolution must continue to parameterize much vertical transport by diffusion coefficients. A significant variation in the east-west spatial autocorrelation function of O3 near the tropopause is found to be about 1900 km. Monthly estimates of the horizontal transient eddy flux of ozone are generally smaller than seasonal or yearly results based on ozonesonde data. This is perhaps because the present estimates are made over monthly periods to reduce the influence of correlation between the annual variations in ozone and meridional wind. The available data support the hypothesis that transient eddy fluxes of O3 have large longitudinal variations.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Periodic variations of total ozone and of its vertical distribution

The phase and amplitude of the annual, semiannual, and quasi-biennial oscillations to total ozone data for the Northern Hemisphere in the period 1957-1972 and for Northern Hemisphere ozonesonde data for variable periods from 1962-1974 have been plotted as functions of latitude, longitude, and altitude. The largest annual wave amplitude in total ozone occurs over eastern Siberia. In total ozone, the region of maximum quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) coincides with that of the annual wave. The major feature of the QBO in the vertical distribution is the maximum amplitude in the arctic just above the tropopause. As for the semiannual wave, the maximum in total ozone lies in the arctic, displaced slightly to the Siberian side. In the vertical, its maximum amplitude is near 18 km. The phase appears to progress poleward, with maxima at high latitudes occurring in March-April.

Wilcox, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Variability and transport of ozone at the tropopause from the first year of GASP data

The relationships of ozone near the tropopause with potential vorticity temperature, and distance from the tropopause are examined. Data are also used to estimate the vertical and horizontal fluxes of ozone near the tropopause. The present estimates of the total flux of ozone into the troposphere verify the model results. Although the distribution of flux between mean motions and diffusion is different and thus suggests that models with coarse horizontal resolution must continue to parameterize much vertical transport by diffusion coefficients. Monthly estimates of the horizontal transient eddy flux of ozone are generally smaller than seasonal or yearly results based on ozonesonde data. This is perhaps because the present estimates are made over monthly periods to reduce the influence of correlation between the annual variations in ozone and meridional wind. The available data support the hypothesis that transient eddy fluxes of ozone have large longitudinal variations.

Nastrom, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

An analysis of the first two years of GASP data

Distributions of mean ozone levels from the first two years of data from the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) show spatial and temporal variations in agreement with previous measurements. The standard deviations of these distributions reflect the large natural variability of ozone levels in the altitude range of the GASP measurements. Monthly mean levels of ozone below the tropopause show an annual cycle with a spring maximum which is believed to result from transport from the stratosphere. Correlations of ozone with independent meteorological parameters, and meteorological parameters obtained by the GASP systems show that this transport occurs primarily through cyclogenesis at mid-latitudes.

Holdeman, J. D.↗