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At least 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Mapping soil features from multispectral scanner data

In being able to identify quickly gross variations in soil features, the computer-aided classification of multispectral scanner data can be an effective aid to soil surveying. Variations in soil tone are easily seen as well as variations in features related to soil tone, e.g., drainage patterns and organic matter content. Changes in surface texture also affect the reflectance properties of soils. Inasmuch as conventional soil classes are based on both surface and subsurface soil characteristics, the technique described here can be expected only to augment and not replace traditional soil mapping.

Kristof, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Analysis of hydrological features of portions of the Lake Ontario basin using Skylab and aircraft data

The author has identified the following significant results. S190A and S190B photography proved to be useful for mapping large scale geomorophological features, and for assessing water depth and water quality. Available S192 data were affected by low frequency noise caused by diode light. Hydrological features were classified, and upland green herbaceous vegetation was separated into several classes based on percent vegetation cover. A model for estimating surface soil moisture based on red and near infrared reflectance data was developed and subsequently implemented.

Polcyn, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

AHIMSA - Ad hoc histogram information measure sensing algorithm for feature selection in the context of histogram inspired clustering techniques

An algorithm is proposed for dimensionality reduction in the context of clustering techniques based on histogram analysis. The approach is based on an evaluation of the hills and valleys in the unidimensional histograms along the different features and provides an economical means of assessing the significance of the features in a nonparametric unsupervised data environment. The method has relevance to remote sensing applications.

Dasarathy, B. V.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A solitary wave theory of the Great Red Spot and other observed features in the Jovian atmosphere

It is shown that solitary waves in a planetary zonal shear have a shape and flow field that are virtually identical to those observed around the Red Spot and numerous other features that have been seen in the Jovian atmosphere. It is suggested that the theoretically calculated interaction between solitary waves has many characteristics in common with the observed interactions between these same Jovian features, and available atmospheric models are shown to be consistent with the very restrictive requirements of the theory.

Maxworthy, T.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Application of spatial features to satellite land-use analysis

A Level I land-use analysis of selected training areas of the Colorado Front Range was carried out using digital ERTS-A satellite imagery. Level I land-use categories included urban, agriculture (irrigated and dryland farming), rangeland, and forests. The spatial variations in spectral response for these land-use classes were analyzed using discrete two-dimensional Fourier transforms to isolate and extract spatial features. Analysis was performed on ERTS frame 1352-17134 (July 10, 1973) and frame number 1388-17131 (August 15, 1973). On training sets, spatial features yielded 80 to 100 percent classification accuracies with commission errors ranging from 0 to 20 percent.

Smith, J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Investigation of mesoscale cloud features viewed by LANDSAT

The author has identified the following significant results. Some 50 LANDSAT images displaying mesoscale cloud features were analyzed. This analysis was based on the Rayleigh-Kuettner model describing the formation of that type of mesoscale cloud feature. This model lends itself to computation of the average wind speed in northerly flow from the dimensions of the cloud band configurations measured from a LANDSAT image. In nearly every case, necessary conditions of a curved wind profile and orientation of the cloud streets within 20 degrees of the direction of the mean wind in the convective layer were met. Verification of the results by direct observation was hampered, however, by the incompatibility of the resolution of conventional rawinsonde observations with the scale of the banded cloud patterns measured from LANDSAT data. Comparison seems to be somewhat better in northerly flows than in southerly flows, with the largest discrepancies in wind speed being within 8m/sec, or a factor of two.

Sherr, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Multispectral remote observations of hydrologic features on the North Slope of Alaska

Visible and near-infrared satellite data and active and passive microwave aircraft data are used to analyze some hydrologic features in Arctic Alaska. The following features have been studied: the small thaw lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain (oriented lakes), Chandalar Lake in the Brooks Range, several North Slope rivers, surface water on the tundra, and snowcover on the North Slope and in the Brooks Range. Passive microwave brightness temperatures (T sub b) as seen on Electrically Scanned Microwave Radiometer (ESMR) imagery are shown to increase with increasing ice thickness on all of the lakes studied. Aufeis, an important hydrologic parameter in the Arctic, is observable in the Sagavanirktok River channel on April ESMR imagery. LANDSAT imagery with better (80 m) resolution is useful for measuring aufeis extent using band 5 imagery obtained just after snowmelt in June. It is shown that the extent of aufeis (as measured on LANDSAT imagery) varies with meteorological conditions and, therefore, may be a useful indicator of annual climate fluctuations on the North Slope. Snow and ice breakup has been traced from the Brooks Range Mountains to the Arctic Ocean Coast using LANDSAT band 7 imagery in May when melting begins in the mountains.

Hall, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Linear magnetization feature associated with Rima Sirsalis

Measurements of the magnetic fields by the electron reflection method in the neighborhood of the long structural rille Rima Sirsalis show that a magnetic field with a strength of at least 100 nT (100 gammas) is present over a region of the order of 10 km in width and at least 300 km long. The center of the magnetized region closely parallels and is centered on the rille. The linear magnetization feature extends at least to latitude 8 deg S, 60 km beyond the place where the rille disappears at the edge of Oceanus Procellarum. This extension is coincident with the extrapolation of the rille based on photographs. However, the magnetization is much weaker or entirely absent at 5 deg S and has vanished at 0 deg latitude. These results suggest that the rille is indeed a structural feature and has associated with it magnetization, either in the form of intrusive magnetized rock or of a gap in an otherwise more or less uniformly magnetized layer of rock of large extent in two dimensions. Furthermore, the rille structure evidently is present for some distance beneath the lava flows of the Oceanus Procellarum basin.

Anderson, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The embedded feature model for the interpretation of chromospheric contrast profiles

Contrast profiles obtained from chromospheric filtergrams and spectra of bright and dark mottles have to date been interpreted almost exclusively in terms of Becker's cloud model. Here we demonstrate the failure of this model to account in a physically consistent way for the observed contrasts. As an alternative, we introduce an embedded-feature model, restricting our discussion in this paper to stationary features. Our model is then characterized by three independent parameters: the density of absorbing atoms, the geometrical depth, and the profile of the absorption coefficient. An analytic approximation to the contrast resulting from such a model reproduces well the observed behavior of all types of contrast profiles.

Steinitz, R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Degradation of small mare surface features

Ring-moat structures are interpreted as remnants of flow topography associated with mare emplacement. Measurements of narrow moats characterizing these small mare features reveal a contradiction between their inferred preservation and the degree of surface degradation predicted by theoretical erosional models. Moat widths smaller than 50 m are recorded in areas where erosional models predict that walls of craters three to four times as large should be degraded to slopes of 1 deg. Crater statistics in such regions provide estimates of equilibrium conditions for impact crater formation that are consistent with the degree of preservation of the narrow moats. Although relative ages determined by observation of crater wall slopes near 20 deg, may be appropriate, it is concluded that current erosional models are not valid down to impact-degraded slopes of 1 deg. Relative age estimates based on the inferred degraded state of highly subdued craters are believed to be invalid, particularly for late Eratosthenian-age and Copernican-age mare units. In regions displaying ring-moat structures, highly subdued craters larger than the average moat widths are intepreted as either endogenic features associated with the emplacement of mare flow units or degraded secondary craters, which are typically subdued at the outset.

Schultz, P. H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The influence of multispectral scanner spatial resolution on forest feature classification

Inappropriate spatial resolution and corresponding data processing techniques may be major causes for non-optimal forest classification results frequently achieved from multispectral scanner (MSS) data. Procedures and results of empirical investigations are studied to determine the influence of MSS spatial resolution on the classification of forest features into levels of detail or hierarchies of information that might be appropriate for nationwide forest surveys and detailed in-place inventories. Two somewhat different, but related studies are presented. The first consisted of establishing classification accuracies for several hierarchies of features as spatial resolution was progressively coarsened from (2 meters) squared to (64 meters) squared. The second investigated the capabilities for specialized processing techniques to improve upon the results of conventional processing procedures for both coarse and fine resolution data.

Sadowski, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Confidence about line features in Her X-1 spectrum

A balloon borne X-ray telescope was flown Aire-surl'Adour, France to search for pulsation of the X-ray source HER X1. The source was measured for about 3500 s relative exposure larger than 0.75 and features were detected at 57.5 plus or minus 7.5 keV and 135 plus or minus 10 keV in the spectrum. Data were reanalyzed in terms of possibility of gain shift encoder. The very strong dependence of the line features on such a shift is discussed.

Durouchoux, P.↗
NASA NTRS1978

IAU nomenclature for albedo features on the planet Mercury

The International Astronomical Union has endorsed a nomenclature for the albedo features on Mercury. Designations are based upon the mythological names related to the god Hermes; they are expressed in Latin form. The dark-hued albedo features are associated with the generic term Solitudo. The light-hued areas are designated by a single name without generic term. The 32 names adopted are allocated on the Mercury map.

Dollfus, A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Effect of various features on the life cycle cost of the timing/synchronization subsystem of the DCS digital communications network

The effect on the life cycle cost of the timing subsystem was examined, when these optional features were included in various combinations. The features included mutual control, directed control, double-ended reference links, independence of clock error measurement and correction, phase reference combining, self-organization, smoothing for link and nodal dropouts, unequal reference weightings, and a master in a mutual control network. An overall design of a microprocessor-based timing subsystem was formulated. The microprocessor (8080) implements the digital filter portion of a digital phase locked loop, as well as other control functions such as organization of the network through communication with processors at neighboring nodes.

Kimsey, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Morphometric comparison of braided Martian channels and some braided terrestrial features

Large channels on the Martian surface have been variously attributed to erosional, volcanic, and tectonic processes. Morphometric information shows that large braided Martian channels and islands between those channels are similar in their dimensions to channels and islands of large braided fluvial features on earth. The information also suggests that braided fractures in solid materials are fundamentally different in morphometry from braided channels of earth and Mars. Braided tension fractures have characteristically low braiding indices and are much narrower than their irregularly shaped 'midchannel' islands. Terrestrial and Martian channels, in contrast, have high braiding indices, and they are wider than their streamlined midchannel islands. Braided volcanic features are known from the earth and the moon, but the absence of volcanic constructs near the large braided channels on Mars indicates that volcanic origin is unlikely. The morphometric information suggests that braided Martian channels are probably of fluvial origin.

Trevena, A. S.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Dynamic feature analysis for Voyager at the Image Processing Laboratory

Voyager 1 and 2 were launched from Cape Kennedy to Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond on September 5, 1977 and August 20, 1977. The role of the Image Processing Laboratory is to provide the Voyager Imaging Team with the necessary support to identify atmospheric features (tiepoints) for Jupiter and Saturn data, and to analyze and display them in a suitable form. This support includes the software needed to acquire and store tiepoints, the hardware needed to interactively display images and tiepoints, and the general image processing environment necessary for decalibration and enhancement of the input images. The objective is an understanding of global circulation in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. Attention is given to the Voyager imaging subsystem, the Voyager imaging science objectives, hardware, software, display monitors, a dynamic feature study, decalibration, navigation, and data base.

Yagi, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Emission and extinction of ground and vapor-condensed silicates from 4 to 14 microns and the 10 micron silicate feature

Emission and absorption spectra from 4 to 14 microns of ground and laser-vaporized olivine and enstatite silicates are compared with the 10-micron emission feature of the Orion Trapezium. The agreement in band center and shape between the amorphous laser-vaporized olivine sample and the Trapezium feature suggests that amorphous silicate grains of approximately olivine composition may be a major constituent of interstellar dust. Differences between the emission and absorption spectral profiles (absorption plus scattering) show characteristics that could be used as a sensitive probe of the morphology of interstellar grain systems when high signal-to-noise ratio (30-100) observational spectra become available.

Stephens, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Adaptive remote sensing technology for feature recognition and tracking

A technology development plan designed to reduce the data load and data-management problems associated with global study and monitoring missions is described with a heavy emphasis placed on developing mission capabilities to eliminate the collection of unnecessary data. Improved data selectivity can be achieved through sensor automation correlated with the real-time needs of data users. The first phase of the plan includes the Feature Identification and Location Experiment (FILE) which is scheduled for the 1980 Shuttle flight. The FILE experiment is described with attention given to technology needs, development plan, feature recognition and classification, and cloud-snow detection/discrimination. Pointing, tracking and navigation received particular consideration, and it is concluded that this technology plan is viewed as an alternative to approaches to real-time acquisition that are based on extensive onboard format and inventory processing and reliance upon global-satellite-system navigation data.

Wilson, R. G.↗