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At least 361 records · Page 20

Regional correlation between TOMS total ozone from NIMBUS-7 satellite and geopotential height from the GLAS analysis

In order to study the relation between zone and the atmospheric circulation on a global scale the global correlation has been computed between TOMS total ozone measurements from NIMBUS-7 satellite and collocated geopotential heights analysis at all mandatory pressure levels between 1000-50 mb. The heights are obtained from the 4 deg x 5 deg GLAS analysis that uses both conventional (rawinsonde) and the operational TIROS-N satellite soundings but no ozone data. Zonal averages have been substracted to eliminate the correlation due merely to latitudinal dependence, and emphasize the correlation associated with synoptic features. Tables are presented with correlation coefficients for the four synoptic times covering the Pacific Ocean, Asia, Europe and the Atlantic Ocean, and United States regions. These coverages are approximate since NIMBUS-7 does not observe exactly the same region each day.

Munteanu, M. J.↗

A large scale height galactic component of the diffuse 2-60 keV background

The diffuse 2-60 keV X-ray background has a galactic component clearly detectable by its strong variation with both galactic latitude and longitude. This galactic component is typically 10 percent of the extragalactic background toward the galactic center, half that strong toward the anticenter, and extrapolated to a few percent of the extragalactic background toward the galactic poles. It is acceptably modeled by a finite radius emission disk with a scale height of several kiloparsecs. The averaged galactic spectrum is best fitted by a thermal spectrum of kT about 9 keV, a spectrum much softer than the about 40 keV spectrum of the extragalactic component. The most likely source of this emission is low luminosity stars with large scale heights such as subdwarfs. Inverse Compton emission from GeV electrons on the microwave background contributes only a fraction of the galactic component unless the local cosmic ray electron spectrum and intensity are atypical.

Iwan, D.↗

Use of Linear Perspective Scene Cues in a Simulated Height Regulation Task

As part of a long-term effort to quantify the effects of visual scene cuing and non-visual motion cuing in flight simulators, an experimental study of the pilot's use of linear perspective cues in a simulated height-regulation task was conducted. Six test subjects performed a fixed-base tracking task with a visual display consisting of a simulated horizon and a perspective view of a straight, infinitely-long roadway of constant width. Experimental parameters were (1) the central angle formed by the roadway perspective and (2) the display gain. The subject controlled only the pitch/height axis; airspeed, bank angle, and lateral track were fixed in the simulation. The average RMS height error score for the least effective display configuration was about 25% greater than the score for the most effective configuration. Overall, larger and more highly significant effects were observed for the pitch and control scores. Model analysis was performed with the optimal control pilot model to characterize the pilot's use of visual scene cues, with the goal of obtaining a consistent set of independent model parameters to account for display effects.

Levison, W. H.↗

On the characteristics of emulsion chamber family events produced in low heights

The uncertainty of the primary cosmic ray composition at 10 to the 14th power -10 to the 16th power eV is well known to make the study of the nuclear interaction mechanism more difficult. Experimentally considering, if one can identify effectively the family events which are produced in low heights, then an event sample induced by primary protons might be able to be separated. It is undoubtedly very meaningful. In this paper an attempt is made to simulate the family events under the condition of mountain emulsion chamber experiments with a reasonable model. The aim is to search for the dependence of some experimentally observable quantities to the interaction height.

Jing, G.↗

Airborne Lidar measurements of aerosols, mixed layer heights, and ozone during the 1980 PEPE/NEROS summer field experiment

A detailed summary of the NASA Ultraviolet Differential Absorption Lidar (UV DIAL) data archive obtained during the EPA Persistent Elevated Pollution Episode/Northeast Regional Oxidant Study (PEPE/NEROS) Summer Field Experiment Program (July through August 1980) is presented. The UV dial data set consists of remote measurements of mixed layer heights, aerosol backscatter cross sections, and sequential ozone profiles taken during 14 long-range flights onboard the NASA Wallops Flight Center Electra aircraft. These data are presented in graphic and tabular form, and they have been submitted to the PEPE/NEROS data archive on digital magnetic tape. The derivation of mixing heights and ozone profiles from UV Dial signals is discussed, and detailed intercomparisons with measurements obtained by in situ sensors are presented.

Browell, E. V.↗

Laser heterodyne system for obtaining height profiles of minor species in the atmosphere

An infrared laser heterodyne system for obtaining height profiles of minor constituents of the atmosphere was developed and erected. A brief discription of the system is given. The system consists of a tunable CO2 waveguide laser in the 9 to 11 micrometer band, that is used as a local oscillator and a heliostat that follows the sun and brings in solar radiation, that is mixed with the laser beam in a high speed liquid nitrogen cooled mercury cadmium telluride detector. The detected signal is analysed in a RF spectrum analyser that allows tracing absorption line profiles. Absorption lines of a number of minor constituents in the troposphere and stratosphere, such as O3, NH3, H2O, SO2, ClO, N2O, are in the 9 to 11 micrometer band and overlap with that of CO2 laser range. The experimental system has been made operational and trial observations taken. Current measurements are limited to ozone height profiles. Results are presented.

Jain, S. L.↗

Deriving Two-Dimensional Ocean Wave Spectra and Surface Height Maps from the Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-B)

Directional ocean wave spectra were derived from Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-B) imagery in regions where nearly simultaneous aircraft-based measurements of the wave spectra were also available as part of the NASA Shuttle Mission 41G experiments. The SIR-B response to a coherently speckled scene is used to estimate the stationary system transfer function in the 15 even terms of an eighth-order two-dimensional polynomial. Surface elevation contours are assigned to SIR-B ocean scenes Fourier filtered using a empirical model of the modulation transfer function calibrated with independent measurements of wave height. The empirical measurements of the wave height distribution are illustrated for a variety of sea states.

Tilley, D. G.↗

Flight evaluation of height response characteristics for the hover bob-up task and comparison with proposed criteria

The CH-47B variable-stability helicopter was used to evaluate a range of height-response configurations while performing a precision hover bob-up task. The purpose of the study was to assess the validity of results obtained in previous ground-based and in-flight simulations in the context of a precision bob-up task and to provide additional flight data for inclusion in revisions to specifications for helicopter handling qualities. Height response characteristics were implemented using explicit model-following techniques, and the resulting CH-47B dynamics were validated using time-domain and frequency-domain data-analysis methods. The tests complemented the previous investigations by providing detailed pilot comments and ratings, and performance and control-utilization data that relate exclusively to the hover bob-up task. The results are compared with those from previous investigations and with new criteria that have been proposed for handling qualities requirements for helicopters.

Hindson, W. S.↗

Intrinsic frequency spectra of short gravity-capillary waves obtained from temporal measurements of wave height on a lake

Intrinsic frequency spectra of water waves in the range of 6-17 Hz were obtained as a function of both wind speed and wind stress from point measurements of wave height. In a lake with a limited fetch, there are two types of surface motions causing Doppler shift in the frequencies of short waves: orbital velocity of long waves and surface wind drift. The former was estimated from long-wave amplitude by using a linear wave theory. The error in this estimate is of the order of the long-wave slope, and for this work it is typically 10 percent. The latter was approximated by the friction velocity. The friction velocity could be either taken as 3 percent of the mean wind speed measured at a height of 10 m or obtained from direct measurements of the wind stress. The surface drift velocities obtained by these two approaches were found to be in close agreement. Doppler frequency shift can be corrected in either the frequency or the equivalent spatial domain. The two techniques were found to produce comparable results. Experimental results showed that the spectral energy of short waves rapidly increased in response to increasing winds and jumped up by an order of magnitude when wave breaking occurred.

Atakturk, S. S.↗

TOMS ozone data compared at mesoscale resolution to tropopause heights from the AVE radiosonde network and to VAS radiances over the south-central United States

Observations from 1982 are being compared between the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), the Atmospheric Variability Experiment (AVE), and the VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) across Texas and Oklahoma. TOMS data show a significant ozone maximum over northeastern Texas. AVE radiosonde analysis shows tropopause heights with the highest pressure (lowest altitudes) over central Oklahoma accompanied by a mid-level jet across northern Mexico exiting above the Texas-Gulf coast. Corresponding VAS radiances show a dry slot in the middle tropopause across central Texas accompanied by a secondary slot over Oklahoma. The maxima are separated by 100 to 500 km. The impact of TOMS data on tropopause analysis is preliminarily seen as insignificant because TOMS data is not registered with respect to AVE tropopause heights.

Chesters, Dennis↗

Monthly mean global climatology of temperature, wind, geopotential height, and pressure for 0 - 120 km

A monthly mean climatology is presented of temperature, wind, and geopotential height with nearly pole-to-pole coverage (80 S to 80 N) for 0 to 210 km, which can be used as a function of altitude and pressure. The purpose is to provide a reference for various atmospheric research and analysis activities. Data sources and methods of computation are described; in general, hydrostatic and thermal wind balance are maintained at all levels and latitudes. As observed in a series of cross-sectional plots, this climatology accurately reproduces most of the characteristic features of the atmosphere such as equatorial wind and the general structure of the tropopause, stratopause, and mesopause. A series of zonal wind profiles is also represented comparing this climatological wind with monthly mean climatological direct wind measurements in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The temperature and zonal wind climatology at stratospheric levels is compared with corresponding data from the National Meteorological Center, and general agreement is observed between the two data sets. Tables of the climatological values as a function of latitude and height for each month are contained in Appendix B, and are also available in floppy disk.

Fleming, Eric L.↗

Satellite observations of new particle and field signatures associated with SAR arc field lines at magnetospheric heights

Enhancements in thermal ion densities, an oxygen dominated ring current at energies below 17 keV, and invariant latitude-limited bands of intense ELF hiss have been discovered on Stable Auroral Red (SAR) arc field lines at magnetospheric heights. These new signatures were revealed by an examination of 31 coordinated data sets taken simultaneously at magnetospheric and ionospheric heights by the De-1 and -2 satellites during SAR arc traversals within the period September 1981 through April 1982. Data sets from DE-2, for the first time, provide information on the location of a SAR arc (determined by the F region electron temperature enhancement) during the nearly simultaneous passage of these field lines by DE-1 in the magnetosphere. These new high altitude signatures are examined in the context of possible magnetospheric SAR arc energy source mechanisms.

Kozyra, J. U.↗

Lava fountain heights at Pu'u 'O'o, Kilauea, Hawaii - Indicators of amount and variations of exsolved magma volatiles

Factors most important in determining fountain height in Hawaiian-type basaltic eruptions were assessed on the basis of theoretical calculations and observations at Pu'u 'O'o vent, east rift zone of Kilauea, Hawaii. It is shown that fountain height is very sensitive to changes in exsolved gas content (and, thus, can be used to estimate variability in exsolved gas content) and relatively insensitive to large variations in volume flux. Volume flux was found to be the most important parameter determining the equilibrium vent diameter. The results of calculations also indicate that there was a general increase in magma gas content over the first 20 episodes of the Pu'u 'O'o eruption and that gas depletion took place in the conduit beneath the vent during repose periods.

Head, James W., III↗

Increased effective barrier heights in Schottky diodes by molecular-beam epitaxy of CoSi2 and Ga-doped Si on Si(111)

Increasing the effective Schottky-barrier height of epitaxial CoSi2/Si(111) diodes by the use of thin, highly doped Si layers in close proximity to the metal-semiconductor interface has been studied. Intrinsic Si, Si doped by coevaporation of Ga, and epitaxial CoSi2 layers have all been grown in the same molecular-beam epitaxy system. Current-voltage and photoresponse characterization yield barrier heights ranging from 0.61 eV for a sample with no p(+) layer to 0.89 eV for a sample with a 20-nm-thick p(+) layer. These results are compared to theoretical values based on a one-dimensional solution of Poisson's equation under the depletion approximation.

Fathauer, R. W.↗

Height-tapered double cantilever beam specimen for study of rate effects on fracture toughness of composites

Loading rate effects on the mode I delamination fracture toughness of AS4/3501-6 graphite/epoxy are presently studied by means of a height-tapered double-cantilever beam specimen whose height contour is designed to furnish a slightly decreasing compliance with increasing crack length, in order to yield a stable and smooth crack propagation at high loading rates. This specimen geometry also allows much higher crack propagation velocities to be obtained with either uniform or width-tapered double cantilever beam specimens.

Yaniv, Gershon↗

Approximate Schumann resonance parameters for a two-scale-height ionosphere

An isotropic, spherically symmetric two-scale-height ionosphere's transverse magnetic mode eigenfrequencies, as well as the height and angular profiles of its electric and magnetic fields, are presently addressed by an approximate solution. The electromagnetic energy in the eigenmodes is equally partitioned between the electric and magnetic fields, allowing a simple expression of the relative degrees of dissipation within the radial and tangential dissipation layers. The results obtained may be relevant to interpretations of the temporal variations in the Schumann resonances.

Sentman, D. D.↗

Matching Terrain-Height Maps For A Robotic Vehicle

Computational method for merging coarser- and finer-scale terrain-height data developed. Terrain-height data from aerial photographs merged with similar data on finer scale estimated from stereoscopic-vision and wheel-sensor outputs on robotic vehicle. Intended for use in guiding motions of proposed Mars rover vehicle, underlying concept applicable to such other problems as guiding semiautonomous robotic land vehicles in general and merging different topographical maps containing partly conflicting and/or partly unreliable data on same terrain.

Gennery, Donald B.↗

Fluctuations of high clouds and 500-mb geopotential heights in baroclinic waveguides

The spatial phase relationship between the atmospheric circulation and the bandpass fluctuations in cloudiness are investigated using satellite retrievals of high cloud areas reported by Stowe et al. (1988, 1989) NMC 500-mb geopotential heights in northern extratropics. Results of the analysis suggest that the high-cloud structures of baroclinic waves are less spatially coherent than the internal geopotential-height structures. It is shown that over the North Pacific, small-scale (latitudinal wavenumber 13-18) fluctuations in geopotential play a greater role in forcing high cloudiness than do medium-scale (latitudinal wavenumber 7-12) fluctuations in geopotential.

Charlock, Thomas P.↗