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Zwally, H. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Zwally, H. J..

52 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Ice-sheet dynamics by satellite laser altimetry

Glaciological applications of a satellite laser altimeter system with a range precision of approximately 10 cm and a footprint diameter of 70 m are discussed. Available data on ice-sheet dynamics are reviewed, and the measurement errors associated with the laser altimeter are examined. It is shown that information collected with the system could make it possible to detect changes in average elevation (i.e., in average ice thickness) of less than 15 cm for areas of hundreds of sq km to a few thousand sq km. Other possible applications of the system are briefly considered, including the mapping of the positions of ice-sheet margins, the mapping of the junction between a grounded ice sheet and a floating ice shelf, and the estimation of iceberg calving rates.

Zwally, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Arctic sea-ice variations from time-lapse passive microwave imagery

This paper presents: (1) a short historical review of the passive microwave research on sea ice, which established the observational and theoretical base permitting the interpretation of the first passive microwave images of earth obtained by the Nimbus-5 ESMR; (2) the construction of a time-lapse motion picture film of a 16-month set of serial ESMR images to aid in the formidable data analysis task; and (3) a few of the most significant findings resulting from an early analysis of these data, using selected ESMR images to illustrate these findings.

Campbell, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Antarctic Sea Ice variations 1973 - 1975

Variations in the extent and concentration of sea ice cover on the Southern Ocean are described for the three-year period 1973-75 using information derived from the Nimbus-5 passive microwave imager.

Zwally, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Ice sheet topography by satellite altimetry

The measured time between the transmission and rzturn of 13.9 GHz radar pulses from the GEOS 3 satellite (at a mean altitude of 844.5 km and an inclination of 114 deg 52 min) is used to determine the thickness of the Greenland ice cap, with an accuracy in surface elevation on the order of 2 m. Attention is given to changes in ice thickness as an indicator of climatic change in general, and change in mean sea level in particular. Each elevation data point obtained by the satellite represents an average along 0.67 km of ground track, and three-dimensional maps are presented to illustrate the data.

Brooks, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Microwave remote sensing of sea ice in the AIDJEX Main Experiment

A microwave remote sensing program of sea ice in the Beaufort Sea was conducted during the Arctic Ice Dynamics Joint Experiment (AIDJEX). Several types of both passive and active sensors were used to perform surface and aircraft measurements during all seasons of the year. In situ observations were made of physical properties (salinity, temperature, density, surface roughness), dielectric properties, and passive microwave measurements were made of first-year, multiyear, and first-year/multiyear mixtures. Airborne passive microwave measurements were performed with the electronically scanning microwave radiometer while airborne active microwave measurements were performed by synthetic aperture radar, X- and L-band radar, and a scatterometer.

Campbell, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Time-dependence of sea-ice concentration and multiyear ice fraction in the Arctic Basin

Microwave images of sea ice obtained by Nimbus-5 and the NASA CV-990 airborne laboratory are used to determine the time variation of the sea-ice concentration and multiyear ice fraction within the pack ice in the Arctic Basin. The images, constructed from data acquired from the electrically scanned microwave radiometer, are analyzed for four seasons during 1973-1975. Observations indicate significant variations in the sea-ice concentration in the spring, late fall, and early winter. Sea-ice concentrations as low as 50% were detected in large areas in the interior of the Arctic polar sea-ice pack. The applicability of passive-microwave remote sensing for monitoring the time dependence of sea-ice concentration is considered.

Gloersen, P.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Characteristics of Antarctic sea ice as determined by satellite-borne microwave imagers

The electrically scanning microwave radiometers on Nimbus 5 (wavelengths of 1.55 cm) and Nimbus 6 (wavelengths of 0.81 cm) produce images with a resolution of about 30 km. Weekly maps of sea ice coverage are generated, showing the percent of open water in each 2.5 x 2.5 degree cell. More detailed studies of the dynamics and thermodynamics of the sea ice and its interaction with the ocean and the atmosphere are carried out, using 3-day average pseudo-color images and maps of ice boundaries. Features of the Antarctic ice discerned from microwave images are discussed, and the important features of Antarctic currents are illustrated.

Zwally, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Microwave emission from snow and glacier ice

The microwave brightness temperature for snow fields was studied assuming that the snow cover consists of closely packed scattering spheres which do not interact coherently. The Mie scattering theory was used to compute the volume scattering albedo. It is shown that in the wavelength range from 0.8 to 2.8 cm, most of the micro-radiation emanates from a layer 10 meters or less in thickness. It is concluded that it is possible to determine snow accumulation rates as well as near-surface temperature.

Chang, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Hydrogen and helium velocities in the solar wind.

Examination of separately determined helium and hydrogen bulk speeds in the solar wind show these to be equal, both on time scales of 30 min and 3 min. Observations of two interplanetary shocks and 12 discontinuities show the changes in bulk speed across them to take place simultaneously for the two species. Observations made at times of high helium abundance following an interplanetary shock, and at times of observation of colliding streams in the plasma, confirm the conclusion that, if bulk speed differences between species occur, they do so very rarely.

Ogilvie, K. W.↗