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At least 199 records · Page 11

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NASA NTRS1984

An objective method for forecasting tropical cyclone motion using Nimbus and NOAA-2 infrared measurements

A statistical method for predicting tropical cyclone positions 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after initial observation is described. Satellite measurements were at the 11.0 micron channel and at equivalent blackbody temperatures which give representations of the structure of the cyclones, as well as the circulation features surrounding them. In all, 197 individual measurements for blackbody temperature were made. Algorithms prepared from a single satellite image included 14 climatological and persistence type variables, and are based on eigenvector preprocessing and a series of independent screening tests. The independent tests showed that the average error made by the algorithms from the single satellite observation were comparable to the 48 hr Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) forecast and were about 10 percent better for 72 hr forecasts. Forecasts using only climatological persistence variables were found to be 20 percent worse than JTWC for 24 hr forecasts and 10 percent worse for 48 and 72 hr forecasts. When both satellite and nonsatellite variables were included, it was found that the method was comparable to JTWC for the 24 and 48 hr forecasts and about 25 percent better for the 72 hr forecasts.

Hunter, H. E.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Clear-sky radiative characteristics of South America derived from geostationary satellite data

Estimates of clear-sky albedo and equivalent blackbody temperatures derived from the Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite are presented. Regional clear-sky albedo over South America at noon ranged from 10 to 22 percent during November 1978 and February 1979, mean clear-sky albedo over the continent remained fairly constant at about 12.4 percent. A slight seasonal decrease in albedo found in a number of large river valleys is attributed to seasonal flooding. The average clear-sky albedo varied diurnally by factors of 2.0 and 2.3 from the value at noon over desert and vegetated areas, respectively. The mean regional clear-sky equivalent blackbody temperature ranged from 283 to 295 K.

Minnis, P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Photoionization models for the wind from TW Vir

Line profiles are examined for the resonance doublets of the ions C IV, Si IV, and N V in the spectrum of the dwarf nova TW Virginis as observed by Cordova and Mason (1982). Line strengths depend on the abundances of the scattering ions and hence on the physical characteristics in the stellar wind. Results of the study show that the observed UV line ratios from TW Vir cannot be produced by photoionization by either an unattenuated single bremsstrahlung or by a single blackbody spectrum. Satisfactory values of the abundance ratios can be produced by bremsstrahlung spectra extending into the X-ray region which have low-energy cutoffs near the N IV threshold energy at 77 eV and have fluxes corresponding to an ionization parameter xi-sub-br of about 10. A finding that the flux in the soft X-ray bremsstrahlung component must exceed the EUV blackbody flux by at least an order of magnitude has implications for theories of the continuum emission from cataclysmic variables.

Kallman, T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Report from the Transfer-Laser Working Group

Light absorbing molecules and lasing molecules were discussed with regard to satisfying the following criteria for blackbody transfer lasers: (1) Good absorbers of blackbody radiation at 1500-2000 K; (2) Near resonant energy transfer from the absorbing gas to the lasant, provided not too many quantum number changes are required; (3) Dipole-dipole interactions for most efficient energy transfer; (4) Exothermic forward transfer reaction; (5) Polyatomic lasant molecules with at least two fundamental vibrational modes to ensure one or more states between the upper laser level and the ground state; (6) Polyatomic lasant molecules should not be so large or so complex that fast V-V relaxation occurs; (7) Metastable upper laser level for maintaining inversion, at least with respect to radiative and V-V decay; (8) Fast V-V into the upper laser level and out of the lower laser level; and (9) Lasing wavelengths less than 10.6 microns. Possible combinations of absorbers and lasants satisfying these criteria were discussed.

Meador, W. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Unusual X-ray burst profiles from 4U/MXB 1636-53

During a one day Exosat observation eight X-ray bursts from 4U/MXB 1636-53 are observed. Four of these were very unusual. Their peak fluxes were relatively low, and they showed a distinct double peak in their bolometric flux profiles. These new double-peaked bursts are unexplained by presently available models of X-ray bursts. It is possible that the energy release in these bursts proceeds in two 'steps'. The burst profiles are not the result of an expansion and subsequent contraction of the photosphere of the neutron star. Thus, they are very different from previously observed bursts which do show a double peak in certain energy ranges but not in their bolometric flux profiles; these are satisfactorily explained in terms of photospheric radius expansion and contraction. The anticorrelation between the apparent blackbody radius and blackbody temperature is discussed in terms of the nonPlanckian character of burst spectra and it is concluded that the model calculations reported by London, Taam, and Howard in 1984 give a reasonable first-order description of the observed apparent radius changes in X-ray bursts.

Sztajno, M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A multi-wavelength study of the long-period AM Her system E2003+225. I - The soft X-ray light curve and overall energy spectrum

X-ray, UV and optical data are presented of the longest period AM Her object, E2003+225, from October 12, 1983, together with a new linear polarization ephemeris. The optical and X-ray data were obtained simultaneously and the UV observations were carried out on the same day. A 6-hr observation with the Exosat 500 line/mm objective grating restricts soft X-ray blackbody temperatures to the range 18-29 eV. The blackbody luminosity exceeds the hard X-ray luminosity by at least a factor of 4.5, but is of the same order as the optical/UV component. Soft (0.1-0.25 keV) and hard X-ray (1-6 keV) light curves covering almost two orbital periods are presented and discussed.

Osborne, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Simultaneous X-ray and optical observations of GX 339-4 in an X-ray high state

Optical emission, soft X-rays, and hard X-rays have been observed simultaneously from the black hole candidate GX 3339-4 in a typical high state. Each of these components is interpreted as arising from a characteristic region of the accretion disk. Considered as a black hole, GX 339-4 lacks the variable 2 keV blackbody component that would be emitted from the 'solid' surface of a neutron star in the low-mass neutron star binaries. The X-ray emission in the high state is therefore extremely soft and stable in time. The intermediate disk region is optically thick and geometrically thin. The observed soft X-ray component with a 'disk blackbody' spectrum comes from this region. The innermost disk region is dynamically unstable due to the effect of general relativity and possibly due to radiation pressure. This region is responsible for the generation of the hard X-ray tail through Comptonization.

Makishima, K.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Progress in solar-pumped laser research

High-power solar-pumped lasers could eventually provide power in space for electric and propulsive needs. Recent research results are presented showing progress on both direct-pumped and blackbody-pumped solar lasers. Using a solar simulator, lasing of C3F7I at 10 watts has been achieved. Using C4F9I, lasing thresholds as low as 170 solar constants have been demonstrated, which is the lowest threshold value for a solar-pumped gas laser to date. Blackbody-pumped CO2 lasers have achieved outputs of 180 milliwatts for cavity-pumped and 1.4 watts in transfer-pumped systems.

De Young, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Noncontact true temperature measurement, 2

A laser pyrometer was developed for acquiring the true temperature of a levitated sample. The reflectivity is measured by first expanding the laser beam to cover the entire cross-sectional surface of the diffuse target. The reflectivity calibration of this system is determined from the surface emissivity of a target with a blackbody cavity. The emissivity of the real target can then be calculated. The overall system constant is obtained by passively measuring the radiance of the blackbody cavity (emissivity = 1.0) at a known, arbitrary temperature. Since the photosensor used is highly linear over the entire operating temperature range, the true temperature of the target can then be computed. The latest results available from this on-going research indicate that true temperatures thus obtained are in very good quantitative agreement with thermocouple measured temperatures.

Lee, Mark C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Airborne lidar/radiometric measurements of cirrus cloud parameters and their application to LOWTRAN radiance evaluations

SRI has assembled an airborne lidar/radiometric instrumentation suite for mapping cirrus cloud distribution and analyzing cirrus cloud optical properties. Operation of upward viewing infrared radiometers from an airborne platform provides the optimum method of measuring high altitude cold cloud radiative properties with minimum interference from the thermal emission by the earth's surface and lower atmospheric components. Airborne installed sensors can also operate over large regional areas including water, urban, and mountain surfaces and above lower atmospheric convective clouds and haze layers. Currently available sensors installed on the SRI Queen Air aircraft are illustrated. Lidar and radiometric data records are processed for real time viewing on a color video screen. A cirrus cloud data example is presented as a black and white reproduction of a color display of data at the aircraft altitude of 12,000 ft, the 8 to 14 micron atmospheric radiation background was equivalent to a blackbody temperature of about -60 C and, therefore, the radiometer did not respond strongly to low density cirrus cloud concentrations detected by the lidar. Cloud blackbody temperatures (observed by radiometer) are shown plotted against midcloud temperatures (derived from lidar observed cloud heights and supporting temperature profiles) for data collected on 30 June and 28 July.

Uthe, Edward E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

A study of the stellar population in the Lynds 1641 dark cloud. I - The IRAS catalog sources

The character of the sources identified in the IRAS Point Source Catalog and located within the boundaries of the nearest giant molecular cloud, Lynds 1641 is discussed. New optical and near-infrared photometry are combined to provide spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for these objects divided into three classes: class I objects with flat or rising spectra, class II objects with spectra intermediate in slope between a flat and blackbody spectrum, and class III objects with spectra similar to those of blackbodies. It is found that L1641 contains a much larger percentage of class I sources than does the nearby Taurus-Auriga star-forming complex. Spectral energy distributions for the IRAS-selected sample are examined and compared with SEDs for young stellar objects (YSOs) located in Taurus-Auriga. The IRAS-selected sources having optical counterparts in the H-R diagram are identified and discussed along with the distribution of masses and ages for these YSOs.

Strom, Karen M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The spectra of weakly magnetized neutron stars

The continuum spectrum of a rotating equatorial emitting region on the surface of an accreting neutron star is investigated within the Schwarzschild spacetime. It is found that the dominant general relativistic effect is the increase in apparent emission area from the neutron star surface due to gravitational light bending. For typical neutron star parameters, the apparent area of the accretion belt is remarkably independent of the viewing angle and, hence, the contribution for a boundary layer to the total X-ray luminosity is found to depend only weakly on the inclination angle of the binary system. For a blackbody spectrum in the local rest frame of the emitting surface, the distortion of the spectral shape by longitudinal and transverse Doppler shifts is minimal for neutron stars rotating at periods greater than about 2 ms. It is shown that the failure to detect a blackbody component from the weakly magnetized neutron star surface in some X-ray burst sources during their quiescent state may be related to the presence of temperature variations along the vertical extent of the boundary layer.

Fu, Albert↗

NASA NTRS1991

Theoretical H II region models - The effects of stellar atmosphere models

Several grids of theoretical H II region models are computed by photoionization modeling in order to determine the extent to which the choice of the ionizing stellar atmosphere model affects the calibration of emission-line diagnostic diagrams of Evans and Dopita (1985) and the semiempirical H II region abundance sequence calibration of Evans and Dopita. Emission-line diagnostic diagrams are presented and compared for model nebulae ionized by Hummer and Mihalas (1970) unblanketed LTE atmospheres, Kurucz (1979) line-blanketed LTE atmospheres, Mihalas (1972) unblanketed non-LTE, and a truncated blackbody spectrum. The models demonstrate that for solar nebular and atmospheric abundances, there are only minor differences between H II models ionized by the Hummer and Mihalas atmospheres. The unblanketed non-LTE stellar atmosphere models of Mihalas and truncated blackbody spectra are shown to be unsuitable for general H II region modelling.

Evans, I. N.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Spectral infrared hemispherical reflectance measurements for LDEF tray clamps

This paper describes infrared hemispherical reflectance measurements (2-15 microns) that were made on 58 chromic acid anodized tray clamps retrieved from the LDEF spacecraft. These clamps were used for maintaining the experiments in place and were located at various locations about the spacecraft. Changes in reflectance of the tray clamps at these locations were compared with atomic oxygen fluxes at the same locations. A decrease in absorption band depth was seen for the surfaces exposed to space indicating that there was some surface layer erosion. In all of the surfaces measured, little evidence of contamination was observed and none of the samples showed evidence of the brown nicotine stain that was so prominent in other experiments. Total emissivity values were calculated for both exposed and unexposed tray clamp surfaces. Only small differences, usually less than 1 percent, were observed. The spectral reflectances were measured using a hemi-ellipsoidal mirror reflectometer matched with an interferometer spectrometer. The rapid scanning capability of the interferometer allowed the reflectance measurements to be made in a timely fashion. The ellipsoidal mirror has its two foci separated by 2 inches and located on the major axis. A blackbody source was located at one focus while the tray clamp samples were located at the conjugate focus. The blackbody radiation was modulated and then focused by the ellipsoid onto the tray clamps. Radiation reflected from the tray clamp was sampled by the interferometer by viewing through a hole in the ellipsoid. A gold mirror (reflectance approximately 98 percent) was used as the reference surface.

Wood, Bobby E.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Spectral irradiance calibration in the infrared. III - The influence of CO and SiO

Efforts are described to establish a network of calibrated infrared spectra of 'standard stars' suitable for calibration of at least low-resolution infrared spectrometers using ground-based, airborne, and satellite-borne broadband sensors. Emphasis is given to the crucial 5-8 micron region in K and M giants, where the fundamental bands of CO and SiO cause substantial departures from featureless pseudocontinua. The invalidity of the blackbody assumption in the thermal infrared regime is pointed out by demonstrating the importance of these molecular features in cold giants stars in the airborne infrared regime and illustrating their influence on spectra calibrated using blackbody assumptions.

Cohen, Martin↗

NASA NTRS1992

Effects of water-emission anisotropy on multispectral remote sensing at thermal wavelengths of ocean temperature and of cirrus clouds

The impact of water-emission anisotropy on remotedly sensed long-wave data has been studied. Water emission is formulated from a calm body for a facile computation of radiative transfer in the atmosphere. The error stemming from the blackbody assumption are calculated for cases of a purely absorbing or a purely scattering atmosphere taking the optical properties of the atmosphere as known. For an absorbing atmosphere, the errors in the sea-surface temperature (SST) are found to be always reduced and be the same whether measurements are made from space or at any level of the atmosphere. The inferred optical thickness tau of an absorbing layer can be in error under the blackbody assumption by a delta tau of 0.01-0.08, while the inferred optical thickness of a scattering layer can be in error by a larger amount, delta tau of 0.03-0.13. It is concluded that the error delta tau depends only weakly on the actual optical thickness and the viewing angle, but is rather sensitive to the wavelength of the measurement.

Otterman, J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

ROSAT observations of pulsed soft X-ray emission from PSR 1055-52

Utilizing the position-sensitive proportional counter and the high-resolution imager aboard the orbiting X-ray observatory ROSAT, we have detected pulsations at the radio period from the pulsar PSR 1055-52. The pulse shapes are energy-dependent and show a transition at about 0.5 keV where the phase angle of the pulse peak changes by about -120 deg and the pulsed fraction increases from 11 percent to 63 percent toward larger energies. Simple spectral models are found to be unsatisfactory, while multicomponent models, such as a soft blackbody and hard power-law tail, yield better fits to the pulse-height data. The hard power-law tail is consistent with the extension of the recently reported EGRET results and may indicate a common emission mechanism for the X-ray through GeV gamma-ray regime. The soft blackbody component with T(infinity) = (7.5 +/- 0.6) x 10 exp 5 K, if interpreted as the initial cooling of a neutron star, is consistent with standard cooling models and does not require the presence of exotic components.

Oegelman, Hakki↗

NASA NTRS1992

Activities of NIST (National Inst. of Standards and Technology)

The Radiometric Physics Division of the NIST is responsible for the national standards in radiation thermometry, spectroradiometry, photometry, and spectrophotometry; dissemination of these standards by providing measurement services to customers requiring calibrations of the highest accuracy; and conducting fundamental and applied research to develop the scientific basis for future measurement services. Its relevance to EOS/TIR calibration includes calibrating unknown blackbody for radiance using a well-characterized NIST blackbody source by matching the radiant fluxes with an IR radiometer. The TIR Round Robin is used to verify the calibration of the sources that are used for the absolute radiometric calibration of the individual EOS sensors.

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