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At least 343 records · Page 19
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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA’s Prototype Spectral Water Inversion Processor and Emulator (SWIPE): Towards Global Coastal and Inland Water Quality and Algal Biodiversity Monitoring

Degradation of Earth’s inland water resources due to anthropogenic perturbations and climate anomalies at both local and global scales continues to place human health at substantial risk. There is now a growing necessity to develop pragmatic approaches that allow timely and effective extrapolation of local processes, to spatially resolved global products, and to promote operational and sustainable resource policy management. This presentation will provide updates on NASA’s prototype open-source aquatic modeling platform, Spectral Water Inversion Processor and Emulator (SWIPE), which is a comprehensive, multi-faceted modeling platform for both forward and inverse modeling of diverse aquatic ecosystems from the benthos to top-of-atmosphere (TOA). SWIPE provides a cohesive application which leverages recent advancements in particle modeling, Big Data analytics, and machine learning to develop a high-fidelity synthetic training ground for sensitivity studies and algorithm development for multispectral or upcoming hyperspectral missions. Some of the prominent features of SWIPE to be discussed include: 1. Advanced hyperspectral modeling of globally diverse algal and non-algal particles using a novel two-layer coated sphere scattering model and radiative transfer modeling, 2. Massive, highly detailed synthetic spectral libraries of Analysis-Ready-Data (ARD) which include spectral libraries of particle microphysics, water biogeophysical and optical properties, as well as surface and TOA reflectances at 1 nm resolution, 3. An ensemble of pre-built analytic, machine learning, and deep learning inversion algorithms for various water quality and biodiversity related retrieval parameters and uncertainty quantification, 4. Sensor-agnostic water quality inversion at wide ranging spatial and spectral resolutions including a codebase for seamless application in the Google Earth Engine and NASA Earth Exchange (NEX) for planetary scale analysis. SWIPE will be a fully open-source platform based in python with comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and options for distributed computing on high performance computing clusters or on single, local machines. Further, we will discuss how we envision SWIPE contributing towards a global analysis of coastal and inland water quality dynamics.

top-of-atmosphere (TOA)↗
NASA NTRS1985

Evaluation of a canopy reflectance model for LAI estimation through its inversion

A technique for estimating leaf area indices (LAIs) based on bidirectional canopy reflectance (CR) data is applied to three plant canopies: a naturally growing healthy soybean canopy; and a clumped and tufted orchardgrass canopy, respectively. The CR data were collected using a PARABOLA instrument which is capable of acquiring complete sky-and-ground looking hemispheres in 11 seconds. The model fit and LAI estimates were good for the soybean and clumped orchardgrass canopies, but poor for the tufted orchardgrass canopy when the maximum zenith angle was less than 50 percent. It is shown that the biophysical parameter estimation based on CR measurements applied well to homogeneous herbaceous vegetation types, while better CR models are needed to adequately represent discontinuous plant canopies.

Goel, N. S.↗
NASA NTRS1977

An empirical model for ocean radar backscatter and its application in inversion routine to eliminate wind speed and direction effects

Several regression models were tested to explain the wind direction dependence of the 1975 JONSWAP (Joint North Sea Wave Project) scatterometer data. The models consider the radar backscatter as a harmonic function of wind direction. The constant term accounts for the major effect of wind speed and the sinusoidal terms for the effects of direction. The fundamental accounts for the difference in upwind and downwind returns, while the second harmonic explains the upwind-crosswind difference. It is shown that a second harmonic model appears to adequately explain the angular variation. A simple inversion technique, which uses two orthogonal scattering measurements, is also described which eliminates the effect of wind speed and direction. Vertical polarization was shown to be more effective in determining both wind speed and direction than horizontal polarization.

Dome, G. J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Fast Radiative Transfer Model and Retrieval Algorithm Development for Satellite Remote Sensing Applications

The radiative transfer model (RTM) has a wide range of applications in satellite remote sensing and atmospheric radiation studies. For example, it can be used as a forward model for an inversion algorithm and a satellite data assimilation system, or as a L1 data simulator for pre-launch end-to-end satellite sensor performance studies. However, millions of line-by-line (LBL) radiative transfer calculations at fine monochromatic frequencies are needed in order to properly calculate spectral contributions of water vapor and trace gases in the atmosphere in infrared and solar spectral regions. Therefore, fast, and accurate radiative transfer models are needed. A Principal Component-based radiative transfer model (PCRTM) was developed at NASA Langley to fulfil this need. The PCRTM can simulate the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiance or reflectance spectra from 250 nm to 2000 micrometers with several orders of magnitude faster speed as compared to a LBL RTM. It is also extremely accurate compared to LBL RTM benchmarks. The PCRTM model has been developed for hyperspectral sensors such as AIRS, CrIS, IASI, NAST-I, SHIS, CPF, TEMPO, EMIT, OMI, and SCIAMACHY. By using the PCRTM as forward model for an inversion algorithm, one can reduce the data dimension significantly while maintaining original information content by compressing the TOA radiance spectrum into PC-scores. The PCRTM can directly compute the PC-scores and their derivatives with respect to retrieved parameters. Examples of using various PCRTM inversion algorithms to retrieve atmospheric temperature, water vapor, and trace gas profiles, as well as cloud and surface properties from satellite hyperspectral remote sensors will be given. Some of the algorithms have been transitioned to NASA's Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) for public access of high-quality L2 and L3 data.

Xu Liu↗
NASA NTRS1950

Summary of the Aerodynamic Characteristics and Flying Qualities Obtained from Flights of Rocket-Propelled Models of an Airplane Configuration Incorporating a Sweptback Inversely Tapered Wing at Transonic and Low-Supersonic Speeds

Flight tests have been conducted on rocket-propelled models of an airplane configuration incorporating a sweptback wing with inverse taper to investigate the drag, stability, and control characteristics at transonic and supersonic speeds. The models were tested with a conventional tail arrangement in the Mach number range from 0.55 to 1.2. In addition to the various aerodynamic parameters obtained, the flying qualities were computed for a full-scale airplane with the center-of-gravity location at 18 percent of the mean aerodynamic chord. Also, included in this investigation are drag measurements made on relatively simple fixed-control models tested with both conventional and V-tail arrangements.

Mitcham, Grady L.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Inverse Force Determination on a Small Scale Launch Vehicle Model Using a Dynamic Balance

A launch vehicle can experience large unsteady aerodynamic forces in the transonic regime that, while usually only lasting for tens of seconds during launch, could be devastating if structural components and electronic hardware are not designed to account for them. These aerodynamic loads are difficult to experimentally measure and even harder to computationally estimate. The current method for estimating buffet loads is through the use of a few hundred unsteady pressure transducers and wind tunnel test. Even with a large number of point measurements, the computed integrated load is not an accurate enough representation of the total load caused by buffeting. This paper discusses an attempt at using a dynamic balance to experimentally determine buffet loads on a generic scale hammer head launch vehicle model tested at NASA Ames Research Center's 11' x 11' transonic wind tunnel. To use a dynamic balance, the structural characteristics of the model needed to be identified so that the natural modal response could be and removed from the aerodynamic forces. A finite element model was created on a simplified version of the model to evaluate the natural modes of the balance flexures, assist in model design, and to compare to experimental data. Several modal tests were conducted on the model in two different configurations to check for non-linearity, and to estimate the dynamic characteristics of the model. The experimental results were used in an inverse force determination technique with a psuedo inverse frequency response function. Due to the non linearity, the model not being axisymmetric, and inconsistent data between the two shake tests from different mounting configuration, it was difficult to create a frequency response matrix that satisfied all input and output conditions for wind tunnel configuration to accurately predict unsteady aerodynamic loads.

testing↗
NASA NTRS1995

Microscale Effects from Global Hot Plasma Imagery

We have used a three-dimensional model of recovery phase storm hot plasmas to explore the signatures of pitch angle distributions (PADS) in global fast atom imagery of the magnetosphere. The model computes mass, energy, and position-dependent PADs based on drift effects, charge exchange losses, and Coulomb drag. The hot plasma PAD strongly influences both the storm current system carried by the hot plasma and its time evolution. In turn, the PAD is strongly influenced by plasma waves through pitch angle diffusion, a microscale effect. We report the first simulated neutral atom images that account for anisotropic PADs within the hot plasma. They exhibit spatial distribution features that correspond directly to the PADs along the lines of sight. We investigate the use of image brightness distributions along tangent-shell field lines to infer equatorial PADS. In tangent-shell regions with minimal spatial gradients, reasonably accurate PADs are inferred from simulated images. They demonstrate the importance of modeling PADs for image inversion and show that comparisons of models with real storm plasma images will reveal the global effects of these microscale processes.

Moore, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS2013

GRAIL Refinements to Lunar Seismic Structure

Joint interpretation of disparate geophysical datasets helps to reduce drawbacks that can result from analyzing them individually. The Apollo seismic network was situated on the lunar nearside surface in a roughly equilateral triangle having sides approximately 1000 km long, with stations 12/14 nearly co‐located at one corner. Due to this limited geographical extent, near‐surface ray coverage from moonquakes is low, but increases with depth. In comparison, gravity surveys and their resulting gravity anomaly maps have traditionally offered optimal resolution at crustal depths. Gravimetric maps and seismic data sets are therefore well suited to joint inversion, since the complementary information reduces inherent model ambiguity. Previous joint inversions of the Apollo seismic data (seismic phase arrival times) and Clementine‐ or Lunar Prospector‐derived gravity data (mass and moment of inertia) attempted to recover the subsurface structure of the Moon by focusing on hypothetical lunar compositions that explore the density/velocity relationship. These efforts typically search for the best fitting thermodynamically calculated velocity/density model, allowing variables like core size, velocity, and/or composition to vary freely. Seismic velocity profiles previously derived from the Apollo seismic data through inversion of travel times vary both in the depth of the crust and mantle layers, and the seismic velocities and densities assigned to those layers. The lunar mass and moment of inertia likewise only constrain gross variations in the density profile beyond that of a uniform density sphere. As a result, composition and structure models previously obtained by jointly inverting these data retain the original uncertainties inherent in the input data sets. We will perform a joint inversion of Apollo seismic delay times and gravity data collected by the GRAIL lunar gravity mission, in order to recover seismic velocities and density as a function of latitude, longitude, and depth within the Moon. We will relate density to seismic velocity using a linear relationship that is allowed to be depth‐dependent. The corresponding coefficient (B) can reflect a variety of material properties that vary with depth, including temperature and composition. The inversion seeks to recover the set of density, velocity, and B‐coefficient perturbations that minimize (in a least‐squares sense) the difference between the observed and calculated data.

Weber, Renee C.↗
NASA NTRS2014

GRAIL Refinements to Lunar Seismic Structure

Joint interpretation of disparate geophysical datasets helps reduce drawbacks that can result from analyzing them individually. The Apollo seismic network was situated on the lunar nearside surface in a roughly equilateral triangle having sides approximately 1000 km long, with stations 12/14 nearly co-located at one corner. Due to this limited geographical extent, near-surface ray coverage from moonquakes is low, but increases with depth. In comparison, gravity surveys and their resulting gravity anomaly maps have traditionally offered optimal resolution at crustal depths. Gravimetric maps and seismic data sets are therefore well suited to joint inversion, since the complementary information reduces inherent model ambiguity. Previous joint inversions of the Apollo seismic data (seismic phase arrival times) and Clementine- or Lunar Prospector-derived gravity data (mass and moment of inertia) attempted to recover the subsurface structure of the Moon by focusing on hypothetical lunar compositions that explored the density/velocity relationship. These efforts typically searched for the best fitting thermodynamically calculated velocity/density model, and allowed variables like core size, velocity, and/or composition to vary freely. Seismic velocity profiles derived from the Apollo seismic data through travel time inversion vary both in the depth of the crust and mantle layers, and the seismic velocities and densities assigned to those layers. The lunar mass and moment of inertia likewise only constrain gross variations in the density profile beyond that of a uniform density sphere. As a result, composition and structure models previously obtained by jointly inverting these data retain the original uncertainties inherent in the input data sets. We perform a joint inversion of Apollo seismic delay times and gravity data collected by the GRAIL lunar gravity mission, in order to recover seismic velocity and density as a function of latitude, longitude, and depth within the Moon. We relate density (p) to seismic velocity (v) using a depth-dependent linear relationship. The corresponding coefficient (B) can reflect a variety of material properties, including temperature and composition. The inversion seeks to recover the set of p, v, and B perturbations that minimize (in a least-squares sense) the difference between the observed and calculated data.

Weber, Renee C.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Radiative Transfer Modeling and Retrievals for Advanced Hyperspectral Sensors

A novel radiative transfer model and a physical inversion algorithm based on principal component analysis will be presented. Instead of dealing with channel radiances, the new approach fits principal component scores of these quantities. Compared to channel-based radiative transfer models, the new approach compresses radiances into a much smaller dimension making both forward modeling and inversion algorithm more efficient.

Liu, Xu↗
NASA NTRS1995

Prospect redux

The remote estimation of leaf biochemical content from spaceborne platforms has been the subject of many studies aimed at better understanding of terrestrial ecosystem functioning. The major ecological processes involved in exchange of matter and energy, like photosynthesis, primary production, evaportranspiration, respiration, and decomposition can be related to plant properties e.g., chlorophyll, water, protein, cellulose and lignin contents. As leaves represent the most important plant surfaces interacting with solar energy, a top priority has been to relate optical properties to biochemical constituents. Two different approaches have been considered: first, statistical correlations between the leaf reflectance (or transmittance) and biochemical content, and second, physically based models of leaf scattering and absorption developed using the laws of optics. Recently reviewed by Verdebout et al., the development of models of leaf optical properties has resulted in better understanding of the interaction of light with plant leaves. Present radiative transfer models mainly use chlorophyll and/or water contents as input parameters to calculate leaf reflectance. Inversion of these models allows to retrieve these constituents from spectrophotometric measurements. Conel et al. recently proposed a two-stream Kubelka-Munk model to analyze the influence of protein, cellulose, lignin, and starch on leaf reflectance, but in fact, the estimation of leaf biochemistry from remote sensing is still an open question. In order to clarify it, a laboratory experiment associating visible/infrared spectra of plan leaves both with physical measurements and biochemical analyses was conducted at the Joint Research Center during the summer of 1993. This unique data set has been used to upgrade the PROSPECT model, by including leaf biochemistry.

Jacquemoud, S.↗
NASA NTRS1996

An Investigation of the Compatibility of Radiation and Convection Heat Flux Measurements

A method for determining time-resolved absorbed surface heat flux and surface temperature in radiation and convection environments is described. The method is useful for verification of aerodynamic, heat transfer and durability models. A practical heat flux gage fabrication procedure and a simple one-dimensional inverse heat conduction model and calculation procedure are incorporated in this method. The model provides an estimate of the temperature and heat flux gradient in the direction of heat transfer through the gage. This paper discusses several successful time-resolved tests of this method in hostile convective heating and cooling environments.

Liebert, Curt H.↗
NASA NTRS1948

Flight Investigation to Determine the Aerodynamic Characteristics of Rocket-Powered Models Representative of a Fighter-Type Airplane Configuration Incorporating an Inverse-Taper Wing and a Vee Tail

Two rocket-powered models representative of a fighter-type airplane were investigated in flight at Mach numbers up to 1.01 and 1.07 by the Langley Pilotless Aircraft Research Division at its testing station at Wallops Island, Va. These models incorporated an inverse-taper wing and a vee tail and were flown with controls undeflected and wing and stabilizer set at 0 deg incidence. Values of lateral acceleration, normal acceleration velocity, and drag were obtained by use of telemeters and a Doppler velocimeter radar unit. The results of this investigation indicated no unusual variation in the lateral acceleration characteristics. After the cessation of powered flight, the lateral oscillation quickly damped to zero. The data indicated that the airplane, at low lift coefficients, should not experience any abrupt trim changes until it attains a Mach number of 0.97. The change in normal-force coefficient associated with this trim change will amount to about 0.03 with the center of gravity located at 4.48% of the mean aerodynamic chord. At higher lift coefficients, on the basis of other data, the Mach number at which this trim change occurs would be expected to be decreased. The neutral point of the model at Mach numbers near 1.05 was estimated to fall at 45% of the mean aerodynamic chord, assuming a lift-curve slope of 0.05. A value of the static-directional-stability parameter dCn/d(psi) of approximately -0.002 was estimated for a Mach number of 0.93. The values of drag coefficient obtained from both model flights were in a good comparative agreement. The highest drag coefficient occurred at a Mach number of 1.01 and was equal to 0.044.

Alexander, Sidney R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Inverse multiple scattering problems. III - Inadequacy of certain limb darkening and phase curves for retrieving atmospheric information and limitations of approximate scattering models

The paper considers three complementary inverse multiple scattering problems relating to a uniquely defined atmospheric scattering model. Consideration is given to the appropriateness, for data inversion purposes, of intensities observed in diffuse reflection under a variety of experimental conditions; the uniqueness of the inverse solution is investigated. It is found that light curves representing monotonic variations, such as limb darkening curves and phase curves for a planetary (e.g., Venus) disk center are unsuitable for inferring atmospheric and scattering parameters.

Fymat, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS2024

Thermal Modeling and Testing of High-Temperature Refractory Ceramic Insulation Felts

Heat transfer in high-temperature, high-porosity, flexible refractory ceramic fibrous insulation felts is investigated. Heat transfer in these insulation materials consists of combined gas conduction, solid conduction, and radiation modes, with the precise theoretical modeling of the latter two modes being formidable. A semi-empirical model that requires inverse methods and steady-state thermal test data to infer some of the required model parameters is further developed in this study, and applied to five insulation materials for temperatures between 300 K and 1900 K. The steady-state thermal test setup at NASA Langley Research Center with recent modifications to increase its testing capability to 1900 K is discussed. Design considerations to ensure one-dimensional heat transfer in the test setup are described. Test data and corresponding thermal models for alumina and zirconia-based fibrous insulation felts are presented. Furthermore, test data and thermal models on two fibrous insulation samples containing additives to further suppress either radiation or gas conduction modes of heat transfer are presented. Previously published alumina-based insulation data are also re-processed using the updated modeling methodology. The significance of various heat transfer modes in typical insulation samples is discussed and used to provide general guidance on optimum insulation layups.

Kamran Daryabeigi↗
NASA NTRS2013

Extracting Tree Height from Repeat-Pass PolInSAR Data : Experiments with JPL and ESA Airborne Systems

In this paper we present our latest developments and experiments with the random-motion-over-ground (RMoG) model used to extract canopy height and other important forest parameters from repeat-pass polarimetricinterferometric SAR (Pol-InSAR) data. More specifically, we summarize the key features of the RMoG model in contrast with the random-volume-over-ground (RVoG) model, describe in detail a possible inversion scheme for the RMoG model and illustrate the results of the RMoG inversion using airborne data collected by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Pol-InSAR↗
NASA NTRS2008

1D-VAR Retrieval Using Superchannels

Since modern ultra-spectral remote sensors have thousands of channels, it is difficult to include all of them in a 1D-var retrieval system. We will describe a physical inversion algorithm, which includes all available channels for the atmospheric temperature, moisture, cloud, and surface parameter retrievals. Both the forward model and the inversion algorithm compress the channel radiances into super channels. These super channels are obtained by projecting the radiance spectra onto a set of pre-calculated eigenvectors. The forward model provides both super channel properties and jacobian in EOF space directly. For ultra-spectral sensors such as Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) and the NPOESS Airborne Sounder Testbed Interferometer (NAST), a compression ratio of more than 80 can be achieved, leading to a significant reduction in computations involved in an inversion process. Results will be shown applying the algorithm to real IASI and NAST data.

Liu, Xu↗