Engineering PapersSearch

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Frequency map”

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 37 records · Page 2

Study of Antarctic Blowing Snow Storms Using MODIS and CALIOP Observations With a Machine Learning Model

As a common phenomenon over Antarctica, blowing snow (BLSN), especially the large BLSN storms, play an important role in the Antarctic surface mass balance, radiation budget, and planetary boundary layer processes. This study presents the work on BLSN storm identification and analysis with observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Aqua satellite. Spectral analysis shows that BLSN identification is feasible with MODIS daytime data. A random forest machine learning model is developed and observations from the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization are used for training. Model performance results show that machine‐learning based classification can achieve over 90% overall accuracy when classifying MODIS pixels into cloud, clear, and BLSN categories. The machine learning model is applied to MODIS observations during the month of October 2009 for BLSN storm analysis. Results show that the size of BLSN storms has a large spectrum and can reach hundreds of thousands km2. The MODIS based BLSN storm frequency map extends the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations coverage limit from 82°S to the South Pole. A BLSN storm belt, which extends from the South Pole region to the coastal area between 130°E and 160°E along the Transantarctic Mountains, provides a potential pathway of snow transport. These results are important in improving the understanding of BLSN impact on Antarctic surface mass balance and boundary layer processes.

Antarctic

Córdoba Wildland Fires: Assessing Fire Risk Factors in Córdoba, Argentina using Earth Observations

In recent years, Córdoba, Argentina has experienced intensified wildfire activity, with fires in 2020 alone scorching over 300,000 hectares within the province. Potential causes for the increased burn area include climate change, the expanding wildland-urban interface (WUI), and inadequate fire management practices. Previous studies have produced fire frequency maps for the region, but gaps remain in understanding the environmental parameters influencing fire behavior and growth. We partnered with the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) to address these gaps by utilizing NASA Earth observing data to analyze key wildfire risk factors. Using a combination of data inputs from Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG), and Aqua/Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), we created a ten-year baseline using environmental variables to determine anomalies that influenced the fires of 2020. Baseline data were used to calculate the statistical significance of the environmental factors as precursors to wildfires. We found that the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and precipitation were the strongest indicators for the September 2020 wildfires. Using the environmental risk factors, we created a wildfire risk map for the province of Córdoba, which can be used to enhance our partner’s fire management strategies and decision-making processes.

wildland fires

Exemplifying the Usability of NASA Earth Observations to Analyze Potential Risk Factors that Predispose Wildfires in the Rural-Urban Areas of Córdoba, Argentina

In recent years, Córdoba, Argentina has experienced intensified wildfire activity, with fires in 2020 alone scorching over 300,000 hectares within the province. Potential causes for the increased burn area include climate change, the expanding wildland-urban interface, and inadequate fire management practices. Previous studies have produced fire frequency maps for the region, but gaps remain in understanding the parameters influencing fire behavior and growth. This project partnered with the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria to address these gaps by utilizing NASA’s remote sensing capabilities to analyze key wildfire risk factors. Using a combination of data inputs from Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG), and Aqua/Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), a ten-year baseline was created using environmental variables to determine anomalies that influenced the fires of 2020. Of these anomalies, the baseline data were used to calculate the statistical significance of the environmental factors to the wildfires. This study found that the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and precipitation were the strongest indicators for the September 2020 wildfires. Using the environmental risk factors, this project created a wildfire risk map for the province of Córdoba, which can be used to enhance partner’s fire management strategies and decision-making processes.

Chassety Raines

Squeeze-film dampers for turbomachinery stabilization

A technique for investigating the stability and damping present in centrally preloaded radially symmetric multi-mass flexible rotor bearing systems is presented. In general, one needs to find the eigenvalues of the linearized perturbation equations, though zero frequency stability maps may be found by solving as many simultaneous non-linear equations as there are dampers; and in the case of a single damper, such maps may be found directly, regardless of the number of degrees of freedom. The technique is illustrated for a simple symmetric four degree of freedom flexible rotor with an unpressurized damper. This example shows that whereas zero frequency stability maps are likely to prove to be a simple way to delineate multiple solution possibilities, they do not provide full stability information. Further, particularly for low bearing parameters, the introduction of an unpressurized squeeze film damper may promote instability in an otherwise stable system.

Mclean, L. J.

Radio synthesis imaging during the GRO solar campaign

The Owens Valley (OVRO) Solar Array was recently expanded to 5 antennas. Using frequency synthesis, the 5-element OVRO Solar Array has up to 450 effective baselines, which can be employed as necessary to make maps at frequencies in the range 1 to 18 GHz. Fortuitously, the last of the 5 antennas was completed and brought into operation on 7 Jun., just in time for the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO)/Max 1991 observing campaign. Many events were observed jointly with OVRO and the BATSE experiment on GRO, including the six larger events that are presented in tabular form. Unfortunately, the X flares that occurred during the campaign all occurred outside the OVRO time range. The UV coverage of the newly expanded solar array, combined with frequency synthesis, should give a more complete view of solar flares in the microwave range by providing simultaneous spatial and spectral resolution. A promising application of MEM (maximum entropy) is also being pursued that will use smoothness criteria in both the spatial and spectral domains to give brightness temperature maps at each observed frequency (up to 45 frequencies every 10 s). Such maps can be compared directly with the theory of microwave emission to yield plasma parameters in the source - notably the number and energy distribution of electrons, for comparison with the x ray and gamma ray results from GRO.

Gary, Dale E.

Ice Sheet Melt Water Profile Mapping Using Multi-frequency Microwave Radiometry

For understanding englacial hydrology and its impact on ice sheet mass balance, observations of the liquid water content (LWC) within the ice sheets are needed. Earlier studies have shown the complementary nature of multi-frequency microwave radiometer measurements to detect subsurface LWC distribution in addition to surface LWC, which is critical for understanding the seasonal melt dynamics of ice sheets. In this study, we used 1.4 GHz brightness temperature (TB) measurements from the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite, and 6.9, 10.7, 18.9, and 36.5 GHz TB measurements from the JAXA Global Change Observation Mission-Water Shizuku (GCOM-W) satellite to investigate the multi-frequency response at pan-Greenland scale. The melt indications derived at different frequencies show trends consistent with persistent seasonal subsurface melt water and delayed subsurface refreezing of the seasonal melt water. The result suggests that the seasonal subsurface persistent melt water occurrences that are not captured by the high-frequency retrievals are both temporally and spatially very significant.

Burgin, Mariko

Radio sky mapping from satellites at very low frequencies

Wave Distribution Function (WDF) analysis is a procedure for making sky maps of the sources of natural electromagnetic waves in space plasmas, given local measurements of some or all of the three magnetic and three electric field components. The work that still needs to be done on this subject includes solving basic methodological problems, translating the solution into efficient algorithms, and embodying the algorithms in computer software. One important scientific use of WDF analysis is to identify the mode of origin of plasmaspheric hiss. Some of the data from the Japanese satellite Akebono (EXOS D) are likely to be suitable for this purpose.

Storey, L. R. O.

6.7 radio sky mapping from satellites at very low frequencies

Wave Distribution Function (WDF) analysis is a procedure for making sky maps of the sources of natural electromagnetic waves in space plasmas, given local measurements of some or all of the three magnetic and three electric field components. The work that still needs to be done on this subject includes solving basic methodological problems, translating the solution into efficient algorithms, and embodying the algorithms in computer software. One important scientific use of WDF analysis is to identify the mode of origin of plasmaspheric hiss. Some of the data from the Japanese satellite Akebono (EXOS D) are likely to be suitable for this purpose.

Storey, L. R. O.

Preliminary DMR measurements of the CMB isotropy

The COBE Differential Microwave Radiometers (DMR) instrument has produced preliminary full-sky maps at frequencies 31.5, 53, and 90 GHz. The redundant channels and matched beams at three frequencies distinguish the DMR from previous large-scale surveys. Galactic emission is seen unambiguously at all three frequencies. The only large-scale anisotropy detected in the cosmic microwave background is the dipole anisotropy. There is no clear evidence for any other large-angular-scale feature in the maps. Without correcting for any systematic effects, we are able to place limits DeltaT/T sub 0 less than 3 x 10 exp -5 for the rms quadrupole amplitude, DeltaT/T sub 0 less than 4 x 10 exp -5 for monochromatic fluctuations, and DeltaT/T sub 0 less than 4 x 10 exp -5 for Gaussian fluctuations (all limits are 95 percent C.L. with TO = 2.735 K). The data limit DeltaT/T sub 0 less than 10 exp -4 for any feature larger than 7 deg. We briefly review the DMR and discuss some implications of these results in cosmology.

Smoot, G. F.

Brain-Computer Interfaces for 1-D and 2-D Cursor Control: Designs Using Volitional Control of the EEG Spectrum or Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials

We have developed and tested two EEG-based brain-computer interfaces (BCI) for users to control a cursor on a computer display. Our system uses an adaptive algorithm, based on kernel partial least squares classification (KPLS), to associate patterns in multichannel EEG frequency spectra with cursor controls. Our first BCI, Target Practice, is a system for one-dimensional device control, in which participants use biofeedback to learn voluntary control of their EEG spectra. Target Practice uses a KF LS classifier to map power spectra of 30-electrode EEG signals to rightward or leftward position of a moving cursor on a computer display. Three subjects learned to control motion of a cursor on a video display in multiple blocks of 60 trials over periods of up to six weeks. The best subject s average skill in correct selection of the cursor direction grew from 58% to 88% after 13 training sessions. Target Practice also implements online control of two artifact sources: a) removal of ocular artifact by linear subtraction of wavelet-smoothed vertical and horizontal EOG signals, b) control of muscle artifact by inhibition of BCI training during periods of relatively high power in the 40-64 Hz band. The second BCI, Think Pointer, is a system for two-dimensional cursor control. Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) are triggered by four flickering checkerboard stimuli located in narrow strips at each edge of the display. The user attends to one of the four beacons to initiate motion in the desired direction. The SSVEP signals are recorded from eight electrodes located over the occipital region. A KPLS classifier is individually calibrated to map multichannel frequency bands of the SSVEP signals to right-left or up-down motion of a cursor on a computer display. The display stops moving when the user attends to a central fixation point. As for Target Practice, Think Pointer also implements wavelet-based online removal of ocular artifact; however, in Think Pointer muscle artifact is controlled via adaptive normalization of the SSVEP. Training of the classifier requires about three minutes. We have tested our system in real-time operation in three human subjects. Across subjects and sessions, control accuracy ranged from 80% to 100% correct with lags of 1-5 seconds for movement initiation and turning.

Trejo, Leonard J.

COBE Differential Microwave Radiometer (DMR) data processing techniques

The purpose of the Differential Microwave Radiometer (DMR) experiment on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite is to make whole-sky maps, at frequencies of 31.5, 53, and 90 GHz, of any departures of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) from its mean value of 2.735 K. An elaborate software system is necessary to calibrate and invert the differential measurements, so as to make sky maps free from large scale systematic errors to levels less than a millionth of the CMB.

Jackson, P. D.

New results and techniques in space radio astronomy.

The methods and results of early space radioastronomy experiments are reviewed, with emphasis on the RAE 1 spacecraft which was designed specifically and exclusively for radio astronomical studies. The RAE 1 carries two gravity-gradient-stabilized 229-m traveling-wave V-antennas, a 37-m dipole antenna, and a number of radiometer systems to provide measurements over the 0.2 to 9.2 MHz frequency range with a time resolution of 0.5 sec and an absolute accuracy of plus or minus 25%. Observations of solar bursts at frequencies down to 0.2 MHz provide new information on the density, plasma velocity, and dynamics of coronal streamers out to distances greater than 50 solar radii. New information on the distribution of the ionized component of the interstellar medium is being obtained from galactic continuum background maps at frequencies around 4 MHz. Cosmic noise background spectra measured down to 0.5 MHz produce new estimates on the interstellar flux of cosmic rays, on magnetic fields in the galactic halo, and on distant extragalactic radio sources.

Alexander, J. K.

On the rms anisotropy at 7 deg and 10 deg observed in the COBE-DMR two year sky maps

The frequency-independent rms temperature fluctuations determined from the Cosmic Background Explorer-Differential Microwave Radiometer (COBE-DMR) two-year sky maps are used to infer the parameter Q(sub rms-PS), which characterizes the normalization of power-law models of primordial cosmological temperature anisotropy, for a forced fit to a scale-invariant Harrison-Zel'dovich (n = 1) spectral model. Using a joint analysis of the 7 deg and 10 deg 'cross'-rms derived from both the 53 and 90 GHz sky maps, we find Q(sub rms-PS) = 17.0(sub -2.1 sup +2.5) micro Kelvin when the low quadrupole is included, and Q(sub rms-PS) = 19.4(sub -2.1 sup +2.3) micro Kelvin excluding the quadrupole. These results are consistent with the n = 1 fits from more sensitive methods. The effect of the low quadrupole derived from the COBE-DMR data on the inferred Q(sub rms-PS) normalization is investigated. A bias to lower Q(sub rms-PS) is found when the quadrupole is included. The higher normalization for a forced n = 1 fit is then favored by the cross-rms technique.

Banday, A. J.

Mapping Impervious Surface Expansion using Medium-resolution Satellite Image Time Series: A Case Study in the Yangtze River Delta, China

Cities have been expanding rapidly worldwide, especially over the past few decades. Mapping the dynamic expansion of impervious surface in both space and time is essential for an improved understanding of the urbanization process, land-cover and land-use change, and their impacts on the environment. Landsat and other medium-resolution satellites provide the necessary spatial details and temporal frequency for mapping impervious surface expansion over the past four decades. Since the US Geological Survey opened the historical record of the Landsat image archive for free access in 2008, the decades-old bottleneck of data limitation has gone. Remote-sensing scientists are now rich with data, and the challenge is how to make best use of this precious resource. In this article, we develop an efficient algorithm to map the continuous expansion of impervious surface using a time series of four decades of medium-resolution satellite images. The algorithm is based on a supervised classification of the time-series image stack using a decision tree. Each imerpervious class represents urbanization starting in a different image. The algorithm also allows us to remove inconsistent training samples because impervious expansion is not reversible during the study period. The objective is to extract a time series of complete and consistent impervious surface maps from a corresponding times series of images collected from multiple sensors, and with a minimal amount of image preprocessing effort. The approach was tested in the lower Yangtze River Delta region, one of the fastest urban growth areas in China. Results from nearly four decades of medium-resolution satellite data from the Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) and China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS) show a consistent urbanization process that is consistent with economic development plans and policies. The time-series impervious spatial extent maps derived from this study agree well with an existing urban extent polygon data set that was previously developed independently. The overall mapping accuracy was estimated at about 92.5% with 3% commission error and 12% omission error for the impervious type from all images regardless of image quality and initial spatial resolution.

Gao, Feng

Gulf of Maine Water Resources: Assessing the Use of Nasa Earth Observations for Identifying Harmful Algal Blooms of Pseudo-Nitzschia in the Gulf of Maine

The Gulf of Maine has a history of harmful algal blooms (HABs) that have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years, raising concerns in the community. Specifically, the Pseudo-nitzschia genus possesses harmful toxins that can induce food-borne illnesses and infect humans through ambient water. We observed in-situ data from known 2016 and 2020 Pseudo-nitzschia blooms as case studies to test the feasibility of using satellite data to track bloom events. In order to map the frequency and distribution of Pseudo-nitzschia bloom events, we used satellite data from the Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Sentinel-3 Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI). We utilized Earth observation data to calculate normalized fluorescence line height (nFLH) and absorption by phytoplankton (aph443), which are satellite products that more accurately depict phytoplankton reflectance. We compared these products with in-situ observations in order to analyze ocean color differences and distinguish diatomic algal particles from other organic and inorganic particles.

harmful algal blooms