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At least 325 records · Page 18

Zinc-rich coatings: A market survey

Zinc-rich coatings with both organic and inorganic binders were considered for coastal bridges which require more corrosion protection than inland bridges because of exposure to salt spray and fog. Inorganics give longer protection and may be applied without a finish coat; those currently available are harder to apply than organics. The NASA potassium silicate/zinc - dust coating appears to provide longer protection, resist thermal shock, and overcome the application problem. Panels coated with the formulation withstood 5308 hours in a salt spray chamber with no rusting or blistering.

Lizak, R.↗

Skylab program payload integration. Skylab film environmental effects

The effects of the Skylab environments on the 22 types of film used for data recording on Skylab were evaluated. Environmental histories and sensitometric curves for 114 rolls of film used for this evaluation are presented. Photographic parameters evaluated in detail were film fogging of black and white films, changes in maximum density of color film, latent image fading, and changes in film sensitivity. Other photographic and film physical anomalies such as electrostatic exposure, emulsion cracking, and reciprocity failure were also documented. Results based upon comparison of film sensitometric data for flight film with ground control film and ground test film are presented independently for each film type. The study showed that photographic film fulfilled the requirements of the Skylab applications in which it was used. Environmental film degradation, although present on almost every roll, did not preclude recording sufficient data to meet experiment requirements for all film, except film type SC-5. Specific conclusions are provided in the areas of further analyses, tests, and developments.

Source record↗

Comments on Navy/NRL requirements for sea surface temperature and surface wind measurements on Seasat-A

SEASAT instrumentation payload requirements to provide satellite data for the Navy fleet operational fog prediction program include: (1) some form of C-band microwave radiometer capability; (2) a scanning antenna with a 40-km Instanteneous Field of View (IFOV) for the C-band channel; (3) a narrow band and high resolution IR scanning radiometer for cloud free areas; and (4) a capability for measuring surface winds of 3 to 50 m/sec at + or - 10% accuracy and 50 to 100 km spatial resolution.

Ruskin, R. E.↗

Viking: Mars atmospheric water vapor mapping experiment - Preliminary report of results

Observations made from the Viking 1 orbiter show very little water vapor in the Mars atmosphere in the southern hemisphere (0 to 3 precipitable micrometers) with a gradual increase across the equator to northern latitudes. Maximum amounts between 20 and 30 micrometers have been observed in the short period covered by the observations to date. The season, northern midsummer, corresponds to the beginning of the water vapor cycle in that hemisphere. A strong repetitive diurnal cycling between the solid and vapor phase is observed at a site to the east of the Tharsis Ridge at 10 deg north latitude; the vapor lies close to the martian surface and is most probably in saturation equilibrium with a surface haze or fog throughout much of the day.

Farmer, C. B.↗

Effects of multiple scattering on light pulses reflected by turbid atmospheres

Multiple scattering contributions to lidar returns from turbid atmospheres are derived by means of an analytical theory. It is assumed that scattering takes place mainly at small angles except for one event that scatters the light backward. The phase functions are approximated by the sum of Gaussian functions of the scattering angle in both the forward and backward directions. The three-dimensional radiative transfer equation is transformed to a one-dimensional problem by means of Fourier transforms. Neumann solutions to the transformed equation of radiative transfer are then found. A number of examples are presented for cloud, fog and haze models. The results are found to be in satisfactory agreement with results obtained from the Monte Carlo analysis of Kunkel (1974) and the theory of light pulses doubly scattered by turbid atmospheres which was developed by Eloranta (1972).

Weinman, J. A.↗

Radiometer gives true absorption and emission coefficients

Novel radiometer, unaffected by scattering and polarization, measures true absorption and emmission coefficients for arbitrary mixture of gases and polluting particles. It has potential astronomical, meteorological, and environmental applications, such as determination of radiative heat budget, aerosol relative concentration, and morphology of cloud, haze, and fog formations. Data and temperature can be coupled directly to small computer for online calculation of radiation coefficients.

Fymat, A. L.↗

Utilization of satellite imagery by in-flight aircraft

Present and future utilization of satellite weather data by commercial aircraft while in flight was assessed. Weather information of interest to aviation that is available or will become available with future geostationary satellites includes the following: severe weather areas, jet stream location, weather observation at destination airport, fog areas, and vertical temperature profiles. Utilization of this information by in-flight aircraft is especially beneficial for flights over the oceans or over remote land areas where surface-based observations and communications are sparse and inadequate.

Luers, J. K.↗

You can't eat moon rocks

The effects produced by the aerospace program are investigated. The technology developed from aerospace-related research, development, and manufacturing has been made available to the public for its use through the NASA Technology Utilization Program. A description is presented of 'spinoffs' of NASA's aerospace programs which are used on a daily basis by the public. Attention is given to the liquid cooled garment technology, meal systems for the elderly, the zinc-rich coating, the emergency blanket, the flexible urethane foam Temper Foam, the 'Fog-Away Coating', and composite graphite equipment.

Kubokawa, C. C.↗

Radiance calibration of the High Altitude Observatory white-light coronagraph on Skylab

The processing of over 35,000 photographs of the solar corona obtained by the white-light coronograph on Skylab is described. Calibration of the vast amount of data was complicated by temporal effects of radiation fog and latent image loss. These effects were compensated by imaging a calibration step wedge on each data frame. Absolute calibration of the wedge was accomplished through comparison with a set of previously calibrated glass opal filters. Analysis employed average characteristic curves derived from measurements of step wedges from many frames within a given camera half-load. The net absolute accuracy of a given radiance measurement is estimated to be 20%.

Poland, A. I.↗

Photometric imaging of Mars during the 1973 opposition

The paper discusses imaging of Mars at 20 wavelengths in the spectral region from 0.35 to 1.10 microns performed during the 1973 opposition with a photometric imaging system that uses a silicon vidicon tube as the detector. The imaging system and data-reduction procedures are described in detail, and relative reflectance spectra for several small areas in the images are presented along with vidicon images obtained during early phases in the development of the 1973 dust storms. Several anomalous blue brightenings are examined and attributed to ground fog and H2O frost. It is suggested that anomalously large amounts of H2O were pulsed into the atmosphere from the regolith by the storm system. An apparent fading and recession of the north polar hood is noted, surface units revealed in contrast-enhanced ratio images are identified, and the need for higher-spatial-resolution orbital spectroscopy of dark areas is emphasized.

Mccord, T. B.↗

Measured backscatter and attenuation properties, including polarization effects, of various dispersions at 0.9 micron

The optical properties of a wide variety of atmospheric dispersions were studied using a 0.9-micron lidar system which included a GaAs laser stack transmitter emitting a horizontally polarized beam of 4 milliradians vertical divergence and 1.5 milliradians horizontal divergence. A principal means for assessing optical properties was the polarization ratio, that is, the backscattered radiation power perpendicular to the transmitter beam divided by the backscattered radiation power parallel to the beam polarization. The ratio of the backscattered fraction to the attenuation coefficient was also determined. Data on the dispersion properties of black carbon smoke, road dust, fog, fair-weather cumulus clouds, snow and rain were obtained; the adverse effects of sunlight-induced background noise on the readings is also discussed.

Kohl, R. H.↗

Common-cavity pumped laser

Two lasers linked by dichroic coupler are packaged in single cavity. Resulting system is more compact, efficient, and durable than conventional two-cavity lasers. Such instruments (portable pumped lasers) are needed for spectroscopy in plasma diagnostics in atmospheric research, and in radar-like devices for seeing through dense fog or smoke.

Koepf, G. A.↗

Characterization of terrestrial service environments - The simultaneous occurrence of combined conditions of solar insolation and climatic variables

Computational methods for occurrences of combined environmental and pollution variables are compared. General statistical data and diurnal statistics on 24 environmental variables are treated. Combinations of variables dealt with include: air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, total insolation; air temperature and weather event (rain, fog); air pollutant and weather event; wind speed, wind direction, and weather event; air temperature, total insolation, and weather event; air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, computed direct insolation levels; air temperature, relative humidity, air pollution.

Thomas, R. E.↗

Properties of aerosols in the Martian atmosphere, as inferred from Viking Lander imaging data

Three types of aerosol were detected from observations of the Martian sky, Phobos, and the sun with the Viking imaging cameras. Atmospheric optical depths were derived from observations of the objects' brightness. Data on the absorption coefficient, mean size, and shape of aerosols were obtained from studies of the sky brightness, using a multiple-scattering computer code. The aerosol types were water ice ground fog, a higher-level ice cloud (polar hood), and soil particles suspended at heights up to 30 km. The properties of each type of aerosol are discussed. The data are subjected to thorough analysis, and the results are summarized.

Pollack, J. B.↗

Direct measurements of the atmospheric conduction current

A method of measuring the atmospheric conduction current above the ground has been employed to obtain data for 12 weeks during the first half of 1974. The instrument consists of a split aluminum sphere suspended by insulated wires to a wooden frame. The measuring electronics and the transmitter are enclosed within the spherical structure. The interaction of the instrument with its atmospheric electrical environment is analyzed, and it is shown that in steady state conditions, predictable differences in the instrumentally measured currents and the atmospheric conduction current will be less than 5% and in the nonsteady state situations the difference is less than 20%. Diurnal variations, a probable winter-summer variation, sunrise, and fog effects were observed for the data obtained during fair-weather conditions. Disturbed weather data are interpreted for the effects of low clouds on the atmospheric current. The charge concentrations within overcast clouds sufficient to produce the observed reversed atmospheric currents are estimated to be small in relation to values in thunderclouds.

Burke, H. K.↗

Block 2 solar cell module environmental test program

Environmental tests were performed of on 76 solar cell modules produced by four different manufacturers. The following tests were performed: (1) 28 day temperature and humidity; (2) rain and icing; (3) salt fog; (4) sand and dust; (5) vacuum/steam/pressure; (6) fungus; (7) temperature/altitude; and (8) thermal shock. Environmental testing of the solar cell modules produced cracked cells, cracked encapsulant and encapsulant delaminations on various modules. In addition, there was some minor cell and frame corrosion.

Holloway, K. L.↗

Topoclimatological and snowhydrological survey of Switzerland

The author has identified the following significant results. The chosen time of overflight of HCMM seems to be ideal for the study of basic climatological events. Nocturnal temperature inversion zones are easily detectable and their dependency on the relief is clearly seen. Especially the alpine valleys show a very differentiated pattern of cold lakes, separated by warmer zones as a consequence of rock and forrest barriers or changes in the valley profile. Wet areas are usually colder than dry parts under comparable topographic conditions. Even very small topographic obstacles are able to block up the flow of cold air masses (or ground water flow). Urban areas are clearly detectable. Differences to the surface temperatures of surrounding rural land are much more significant during day-time (mainly during the summer months). Fog layers are clearly defined in the visible channel (day-time), but much more difficult to identify in the IR (mainly during the night). There is not a fundamental difference to NOAA-analysis of cloud systems. The most important advantage is the better detectability of convective cloud systems (small cumulus clouds).

Winiger, M.↗