Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Webster, W. J., Jr.

Publications and source records attributed to Webster, W. J., Jr..

30 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

On the determination of atmospheric path length by passive microwave radiometer

Microwave radiometer techniques were evaluated for use in atmospheric path length correction of Pacific Plate Motion Experiment interferometer measurements. It is shown that passive microwave radiometry allows precise measurement of the brightness temperature of the sky. It is also noted that the technological requirements of radiometers are very different from the requirements of radio astronomy. The technology was used in the construction of radiometers which are sufficient for use in the path length correction problem. A simulation study shows that, when combined with surface meteorology data, passive microwave radiometer data would allow a determination of the path length correction to better than 2 cm at the zenith. By a careful choice of frequencies, a dual frequency system would allow a measurement of the path length correction to better than 4 cm at zenith angles as great as 60 deg. Because of the wide range of weather conditions to be expected for the PPME sites (which include Alaska, Hawaii and Massachusetts), it will probably be necessary to use a separate correction algorithm for each site.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A planetary radio astronomy discussion of the 1.55 cm microwave emission of the earth

Using 1.55 cm observations of the earth made by the Electrically Scanned Microwave Radiometer (ESMR) experiment on Nimbus 5, the appearance of the earth from Venus is simulated. A single antenna unable to resolve the earth's disk would give a time-averaged disk temperature of 183 K. In one rotation, the disk temperature would vary from 194 K to 172 K. During the 1973 inferior conjunction, a radio telescope with 1 arc sec resolution would resolve most of the major surface features of the earth.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A radio picture of the earth

A technique called passive microwave remote sensing can be used to obtain a new view of the planet earth by means of radio telescopes carried aboard artificial satellites. An important relationship between the observed radio brightness temperature and the surface conditions provides the basis for the new technique. A radio image is presented of the entire earth on the basis of Nimbus microwave-image data taken January 12-16, 1973.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Aperture synthesis observations of galactic H II-regions

Aperture synthesis observations at 2.695 GHz and 8.085 GHz of the H II regions NRAO 591, NGC 6857, NGC 7538, M8, W3 and W49A made with the NRAO interferometer are presented. A set of Gaussian functions is derived to describe the radiation distribution of each H II region at each frequency. Fine structure is found in all regions. With the exception of the extended source in W49A, all previously known sources with high excitation parameters are resolved into smaller sources. The electron densities of individual sources range from 100 per cu cm up to 100,000 per cu cm. In NGC 6857, NGC 7538 and W49A, continuum sources smaller than 4 arc sec and with electron densities exceeding 10,000 per cu cm are found close to the known class II OH emission sources. In M8, we find a ring which seems to be split at the position of the O-star Herschel 36.

Wink, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Results of the US contribution to the joint US/USSR Bering Sea experiment

The atmospheric circulation which occurred during the Bering Sea Experiment, 15 February to 10 March 1973, in and around the experiment area is analyzed and related to the macroscale morphology and dynamics of the sea ice cover. The ice cover was very complex in structure, being made up of five ice types, and underwent strong dynamic activity. Synoptic analyses show that an optimum variety of weather situations occurred during the experiment: an initial strong anticyclonic period (6 days), followed by a period of strong cyclonic activity (6 days), followed by weak anticyclonic activity (3 days), and finally a period of weak cyclonic activity (4 days). The data of the mesoscale test areas observed on the four sea ice option flights, and ship weather, and drift data give a detailed description of mesoscale ice dynamics which correlates well with the macroscale view: anticyclonic activity advects the ice southward with strong ice divergence and a regular lead and polynya pattern; cyclonic activity advects the ice northward with ice convergence, or slight divergence, and a random lead and polynya pattern.

Campbell, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Satellite microwave radiometry

Recent technological developments have enabled application of the techniques of radio astronomy to problems of earth and ocean physics. To illustrate these applications, we review results from the 19.35 GHz Electrically Scanned Microwave Radiometer (ESMR) now in operation on Nimbus 5. A composite image of the earth made from ESMR observations taken between January 12 and January 16, 1973 illustrates the wide range of physical effects in single channel microwave observations. Multi-frequency observations made from aircraft have demonstrated an even greater potential for satellite radiometry when several frequencies and polarizations are used simultaneously. As an illustration of the considerations required in multi-channel radiometry, we discuss the choice of frequencies for the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) planned for the Nimbus G satellite.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Spectral variation in the microwave emissivity of the roughened seas

Recently acquired microwave data obtained from the NASA CV 990 research aircraft have yielded variation of sea surface emissivity as a function of various parameters. Data acquired at a wavelength of 1.5 cm, horizontal polarization, agree with data obtained earlier by Nordberg et al. and Hollinger at nadir and 50 deg viewing angles respectively; the ratio of brightness temperature change to wind speed change was found to be approximately 1 K per meter per second over a wind speed range of 5 to 26 meters per second. Combining these recent measurements with the earlier measurements, it is evident that microwave radiometry can be used as a remote-sensing anemometer over all wind speed ranges of interest. Data analysis revealed that for nadir-viewing instruments, the ratio of brightness temperature change to wind speed change was approximately constant for the 0.8-2.8 cm wavelength range, about three-quarters of that value at 6 cm, and nearly zero at 21 cm. A model is proposed that is consistent with observations.

Gloersen, P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

High resolution radio observations of the sun at 3.71 and 11.1 cm.

The results of observations of the sun performed at 3.71 and 11.1 cm on Jan. 14, 1972, using the NRAO three-element interferometer in the 2.7-1.8-0.9 km configuration, are reported. A flare of importance 1 N observed in the active region 693 near the east limb at about 1530 UT is discussed.

Hobbs, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Interferometer observations of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto at wavelengths of 11.1 and 3.7 centimeters.

Visibility observations of Uranus at 8.085 GHz fit a uniform circular disk with a diameter of 3.8 (plus or minus 0.2) sec. The disk temperature of Uranus and Neptune are, respectively 189 (plus or minus 7) K and 190 (plus or minus 20) K at 8.085 GHz, and 195 (plus or minus 30) K and 201 (plus or minus 40) K at 2.695 GHz, in agreement with previous results that the microwave temperatures are higher than those expected for blackbodies in equilibrium with solar radiation. The 8.085-GHz observations yield an upper limit of 162 K for the disk temperature of Pluto.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Large nebular complexes in the northern portion of the galaxy

Several northern complexes of ionized hydrogen, stars, and possibly nonthermal radio emission are known whose properties are similiar to those of the Gum nebula. Among the best known complexes are the Ori I and Ceph IV associations and IC 1795, IC 1805, and IC 1848. Each of these complexes contains an extended ring structure and requires more excitation than is available from the known early stars. The properties of these objects were examined and many of the properties of the Gum nebula are common to such galactic complexes.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗