Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “spectral data”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12

Analysis of ultraviolet spectrophotometric data from Copernicus

Ultraviolet spectral data from the OAO 3 satellite are being used to study interstellar absorption lines and stellar and circumstellar lines in hot stars. The interstellar data are beneficial in analyzing the depletions of heavy elements from the gas phase and in elucidating how these depletions depend on physical conditions. Abundances in separate velocity components were determined from line profiles. Observations were carried out for interstellar abundances, both atomic and molecular, towards a number of stars. The better quality data are being analyzed for profile information and the lesser data are being used in curve-of-growth analyses. Molecular observations were carried out as well, N2 was sought; interstellar C2 was detected and its rotational excitation utilized to establish limits in interstellar cloud temperatures. An extensive search for H2O resulted in a tentative identification which will produce new information on chemical reaction rates. Interstellar depletions and grain properties in the rho Ophiuchi cloud, stellar wind variability, and circumstellar lines are also under study.

Snow, T. P., Jr.↗

The Silencing of U.S. Campuses Following the COVID-19 Response: Evaluating Root Mean Square Seismic Amplitudes Using Power Spectral Density Data

In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, many populated and active regions have become deserted and show significant reductions in their background seismicity, especially campuses across the United States (U.S.). Seismic sensors located in the vicinity of or within U.S. campuses show that anthropogenic seismic noise remains elevated during the ordinary, nonpandemic, academic year, only subduing during periods of recess (e.g., winter break). Here, we use power spectral density (PSD) data computed by the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology Data Management Center for quality assessment to calculate root mean square (rms) amplitude and analyze the effects of the COVID-19 school closures. We processed and analyzed PSD data for 46 seismic stations located within 50 m of a U.S. university or college. Results show that 42 campus stations show an overall rms drop following a statewide school closure.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Wetlands delineation by spectral signature analysis and legal implications

High altitude analysis of wetland resources and the use of such information in an operational mode to address specific problems of wetland preservation at a state level are discussed. Work efforts were directed toward: (1) developing techniques for using large scale color IR photography in state wetlands mapping program, (2) developing methods for obtaining wetlands ecology information from high altitude photography, (3) developing means by which spectral data can be more accurately analyzed visually, and (4) developing spectral data for automatic mapping of wetlands.

Anderon, R. R.↗

HESS J1640–465 AND HESS J1641–463: TWO INTRIGUING TeV SOURCES IN LIGHT OF NEW FERMI-LAT OBSERVATIONS

We report on γ-ray analysis of the region containing the bright TeV source HESS J1640–465 and the close-by TeV source HESS J1641–463 using 64 months of observations with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). Previously only one GeV source was reported in this region and was associated with HESS J1640–465. With an increased data set and the improved sensitivity afforded by the reprocessed data (P7REP) of the LAT, we now report the detection, morphological study, and spectral analysis of two distinct sources above 100 MeV. The softest emission in this region comes from the TeV source HESS J1641–463 which is well fitted with a power law of index Γ = 2.47 ± 0.05 ± 0.06 and presents no significant γ-ray signal above 10 GeV, which contrasts with its hard spectrum at TeV energies. The Fermi-LAT spectrum of the second TeV source, HESS J1640–465 is well described by a power-law shape of index Γ = 1.99 ± 0.04 ± 0.07 that links up naturally with the spectral data points obtained by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). These new results provide new constraints concerning the identification of these two puzzling γ-ray sources.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Synthesis and properties of Ti-substituted goethites and hematites

The objective was to synthesize Ti-substituted goethites and hematites and to characterize them using x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, coulimetry, optical and Mossbauer spectroscopies, and magnetic data in order to determine the evidence of Ti substitution for Martian spectral data. Evidence is provided that up to 4 mole percent can be incorporated into the goethite structure during the low temperature synthesis. Because the spectral data in the visible and near-IR are not sensitive to the degree of Ti-substitution in goethites and hematites, such data cannot be used to infer the presence or absence of Ti substitution in Martian hematites and goethites.

Vempati, R. K.↗

Detection of multi-modal Doppler spectra – Part 1: Establishing characteristic signals in radar moment data

Vertically pointing millimeter-wavelength radars provide a wealth of information about cloud and precipitation particle properties. Doppler spectral data can inform on how particles of varying vertical velocities contribute to the total backscattered power observed. It is more computationally cost effective to process moment data instead of spectra data, but doing so leaves valuable information on the cutting room floor. To confidently identify a multi-modal spectra event, in which two or more modes are present within a layer, Doppler spectral data are essential. This means long-term identification of layers featuring multi-modal spectra can be cost prohibitive. To address this, we explore three multi-modal spectra cases from winter precipitation events to determine characteristic signatures of these layers in the moment data averaged over short time periods (∼ 145 s) and explore how these layers differ from the rest of the vertical profiles. We find that the mean spectrum width and the standard deviation of mean Doppler velocity can be used to determine whether or not a layer is multi-modal. In particular, multi-modal layers in mixed-phase and ice clouds feature larger mean spectrum width (exceeding 0.17 m s −1 ) and smaller standard deviation of the mean Doppler velocity (below 0.1 m s −1 ). In Part 1 of this study, the identification criteria and methods are described. In Part 2 (Wugofski and Kumjian, 2025), we perform a verification of the method for three years of vertically pointing radar data, and explore the meteorological conditions associated with identified multi-modal spectral events.

Wugofski, Sarah [Pennsylvania State Univ., Univers↗

Remote sensing of coastal wetlands biomass using Thematic Mapper wavebands

Spectral data, simulating thematic mapper bands 3, 4 and 5 are gathered in salt and brackish marshes using a hand-held radiometer. Simple regression models are developed equating spectral radiance indices with total live biomass for S. alterniflora in a salt marsh and for a variety of plant species in a brackish marsh. Models are then tested using an independent set of data and compared to harvest estimates of biomass. In the salt marsh, biomass estimates from spectral data are similar to harvest biomass estimates during most of the growing season. Estimates of annual net aerial primary productivity calculated from spectral data are within 21% of production estimated from harvest data. During August, biomass estimates from spectral data in the brackish marsh are similar to biomass estimated by harvesting techniques. At other times during the growing season, spectral data estimates of biomass are not always comparable to harvest biomass estimates. Reasonable estimates of wetlands biomass are possible during the peak of the growing season (August) using spectral data similar to thematic mapper bands 3, 4 and 5 gathered with hand-held radiometers.

Hardisky, M. A.↗

Spatially Resolved MaNGA Observations of the Host Galaxy of Superluminous Supernova 2017egm

Superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) are found predominantly in dwarf galaxies, indicating that their progenitors have a low metallicity. However, the most nearby SLSN to date, SN 2017egm, occurred in the spiral galaxy NGC 3191, which has a relatively high stellar mass and correspondingly high metallicity. In this Letter, we present detailed analysis of the nearby environment of SN 2017egm using MaNGA IFU data, which provides spectral data on kiloparsec scales. From the velocity map we find no evidence that SN 2017egm occurred within some intervening satellite galaxy, and at the SN position most metallicity diagnostics yield a solar and above solar metallicity (12+log(O/H)∼8.8--9.1). Additionally, we measure a small Hα equivalent width (EW) at the SN position of just 34 Å, which is one of the lowest EWs measured at any SLSN or gamma-ray burst position, and indicative of the progenitor star being comparatively old. We also compare the observed properties of NGC 3191 with other SLSN host galaxies. The solar-metallicity environment at the position of SN 2017egm presents a challenge to our theoretical understanding, and our spatially resolved spectral analysis provides further constraints on the progenitors of SLSNe.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Canopy reflectance spectroscopy, thermal images and digital photographs, San Lorenzo, Panama, 2020

This data package comprises reflectance spectra, thermal and visible images of top of canopy tree crowns at the San Lorenzo Protected Area, Panama. Data were collected using the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) canopy access crane, from positions approximately 4 m above the target tree canopy. Canopy reflectance spectra were collected using an HR-1024i full range spectroradiometer (350–2500 nm, SVC, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA) with a 14-degree lens. Canopy thermal images were captured using an 8640-S series USB Calibrated Thermal Camera (ICI International, Beaumont, TX, USA). Visible images were collected using an AW130 waterproof/shockproof camera (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan). Data were collected on three days, on 16 canopies from 10 tree species. On both January 30, 2020, and February 27, 2020, we collected spectra at three time points, in the morning, midday, and afternoon. On February 18, 2020, we collected data around midday only. Due to technical issues, digital photography was collected on 30 January only. This dataset includes unprocessed data only, including spectral data (.sig or .sed), thermal images (.i16), and photographs (.raw), a detailed method description (.pdf), species information (.csv) and ESS-DIVE file-level metadata (FLMD.csv).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

The LACIE crop years: An assessment of the crop conditions experienced in the three years of LACIE

Meteorological data and LANDSAT spectral data from growing regions in the U.S. Great Plains, the U.S.S.R., and Canada were used to assess growing conditions and to document where anomalies such as drought, floods, and freezes were impacting the crop yield and appearance of spring and winter wheat. In the United States, the weekly rainfall and temperature data were used to estimate soil moisture, which was then related to crop needs by a crop moisture index. The transformation of LANDSAT digital data into a green index number provided a procedure whereby data from a LACIE segment could be classified as drought affected or not. The growing seasons encountered in each LACIE country during the three phases are described.

Hill, J. D.↗

Iron variation within a granitic pluton as determined by near-infrared reflectance

One-hundred fifty-one previously chemically analyzed samples of tonalite from the Lakeview Mountains pluton, southern California batholith, were analyzed for their iron content using near-infrared spectrophotometry. Compared to the earlier analyses of the same sample set by X-ray fluorescence spectrography, the infrared data have higher analytical variance but clearly define patterns of compositional zonation in the pluton which are closely similar to those patterns obtained from X-ray data; petrogenetic interpretations for the pluton would be the same from either data set. Infrared spectral data can be obtained directly in the field with relatively simple instruments and field measurements can be made to average local heterogeneities that often mask significant plutonic variations.

Baird, A. K.↗

Learning class descriptions from a data base of spectral reflectance of soil samples

Consideration is given to a program developed to learn class descriptions from positive and negative training examples of spectral reflectance data of bare soils. It is a combination of 'learning by example' and the generate-and-test paradigm and is designed to provide a robust learning environment that can handle error-prone data. The program was tested by having it learn class descriptions of various categories of organic carbon content, iron oxide content, and particle size distribution in soils. These class descriptions were then used to classify an array of targets. The program found the sequence of relationships between bands that contained the most important information to distinguish the classes. Physical explanations for the class descriptions obtained are presented.

Kimes, D. S.↗

Development of an optical flameout detection system for High Temperature Wind Tunnels

This paper outlines the design and development of a flameout detection system for future use in the 8-Foot High Temperature Wind Tunnel (8' HTT) at the NASA Langley Research Center. The proposed system is required to function reliably in an oxidizing environment with pressures up to 28 MPa (4,000 psi), survive temperatures reaching 1700 C (3100 F), and respond with a shut-down signal upon flameout in less than 100 milliseconds. The 7-Inch High Temperature Pilot Tunnel (7" HTT), a one-twelfth scale version of the 8' HTT, was used to develop a prototype system and to obtain data on the spectral content of the flame during combustion. The design and development of the spectral data acquisition system for the 7" HTT is presented here.

Borg, Stephen E.↗

Algorithm for Compressing Time-Series Data

An algorithm based on Chebyshev polynomials effects lossy compression of time-series data or other one-dimensional data streams (e.g., spectral data) that are arranged in blocks for sequential transmission. The algorithm was developed for use in transmitting data from spacecraft scientific instruments to Earth stations. In spite of its lossy nature, the algorithm preserves the information needed for scientific analysis. The algorithm is computationally simple, yet compresses data streams by factors much greater than two. The algorithm is not restricted to spacecraft or scientific uses: it is applicable to time-series data in general. The algorithm can also be applied to general multidimensional data that have been converted to time-series data, a typical example being image data acquired by raster scanning. However, unlike most prior image-data-compression algorithms, this algorithm neither depends on nor exploits the two-dimensional spatial correlations that are generally present in images. In order to understand the essence of this compression algorithm, it is necessary to understand that the net effect of this algorithm and the associated decompression algorithm is to approximate the original stream of data as a sequence of finite series of Chebyshev polynomials. For the purpose of this algorithm, a block of data or interval of time for which a Chebyshev polynomial series is fitted to the original data is denoted a fitting interval. Chebyshev approximation has two properties that make it particularly effective for compressing serial data streams with minimal loss of scientific information: The errors associated with a Chebyshev approximation are nearly uniformly distributed over the fitting interval (this is known in the art as the "equal error property"); and the maximum deviations of the fitted Chebyshev polynomial from the original data have the smallest possible values (this is known in the art as the "min-max property").

Hawkins, S. Edward, III↗

PISCES High Contrast Integral Field Spectrograph Simulations and Data Reduction Pipeline

The PISCES (Prototype Imaging Spectrograph for Coronagraphic Exoplanet Studies) is a lenslet array based integral field spectrograph (IFS) designed to advance the technology readiness of the WFIRST (Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope)-AFTA (Astrophysics Focused Telescope Assets) high contrast Coronagraph Instrument. We present the end to end optical simulator and plans for the data reduction pipeline (DRP). The optical simulator was created with a combination of the IDL (Interactive Data Language)-based PROPER (optical propagation) library and Zemax (a MatLab script), while the data reduction pipeline is a modified version of the Gemini Planet Imager's (GPI) IDL pipeline. The simulations of the propagation of light through the instrument are based on Fourier transform algorithms. The DRP enables transformation of the PISCES IFS data to calibrated spectral data cubes.

The PISCES (Prototype Imaging Spectrograph for Cor↗

Catalog of narrow Mg II absorption lines in the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey

Using the Data Release 9 Quasar spectra from the Baryonic Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, which does not include quasar spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7, we detect narrow Mg ii λλ2796, 2803 absorption doublets in the spectral data redward of 1250 Å (quasar rest frame) until the red wing of the Mg ii λ2800 emission line. Our survey is limited to quasar spectra with a median signal-to-noise ratio 〈S/N〉 ⩾4 pixel{sup −1} in the surveyed spectral region, resulting in a sample that contains 43,260 quasars. We have detected a total of 18,598 Mg ii absorption doublets with 0.2933 ≤ z{sub abs} ≤ 2.6529. About 75% of absorbers have an equivalent width at rest frame of W{sub r}{sup λ2796}⩾1 A-ring . About 75% of absorbers have doublet ratios (DR=W{sub r}{sup λ2796}/W{sub r}{sup λ2803}) in the range of 1 ≤ DR ≤ 2, and about 3.2% lie outside the range of 1 − σ{sub DR} ≤ DR ≤ 2 + σ{sub DR}. We characterize the detection false positives/negatives by the frequency of detected Mg ii absorption doublets in the limits of the S/N of the spectral data. The S/N = 4.5 limit is assigned a completeness fraction of 53% and tends to be complete when the S/N is greater than 4.5. The redshift number densities of all of the detected Mg ii absorbers moderately increase from z ≈ 0.4 to z ≈ 1.5, which parallels the evolution of the cosmic star formation rate density. Limiting our investigation to those quasars whose emission redshift can be determined from narrow emission lines, the relative velocities (β) of Mg ii absorbers have a complex distribution which probably consists of three classes of Mg ii absorbers: (1) cosmologically intervening absorbers; (2) environmental absorbers that reside within the quasar host galaxies or galaxy clusters; (3) quasar outflow absorbers. After subtracting contributions from cosmologically intervening absorbers and environmental absorbers, the β distribution of the Mg iiabsorbers might mainly be contributed by the quasar outflow absorbers and peaks at υ ≈ 1500 km s{sup −1}. This peak velocity is lower than the value of 2000 km s{sup −1} found in statistical analysis of C iv absorbers.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗