Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “NATURAL CONVECTION”

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 451 records · Page 25
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1998

Assessing the Importance of the Evaporation-Wind Feedback Mechanism in the Modulation of Simulated Madden-Julian Oscillations

An examination of simulated Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) response to active and suppressed air-sea interactions is made using an aquaplanet model employing a realistic representation of the hydrologic cyle. In general, the evaporation-wind feedback (EWF) results from a coupling between tropical zonal surface wind stresses and evaporation anomalies. Recent observational and theoretical studies have questioned the significance of EWF in sustaining the predominantly wavenumber 1 eastward propagating mode commonly attributed to the interaction between large scale convergence and cumulus-scale convection (conditional instability of the second kind, CISK). To ascertain the nature of the EWF dependence on lower boundary conditions and thus quantify its effect on MJO development, a series of numerical experiments were conducted employing various zonally symmetric sea surface temperature (SST) distributions with active and suppressed EWF mechanisms. Results suggest that a correlation exists between tropical SSTs and the efficacy of the EWF in vertically redistributing heat acquired through surface wind stresses. It has been determined that the removal of the EWF is not a crucial factor in the dampening of the simulated MJO at high equatorial SSTs. The additional energy fed into the developing convective mode by the EWF selectively amplifies higher order wave modes in all numerical experiments thus boosting overall variances in oscillatory responses.

Colon, Edward↗
NASA NTRS2003

G-jitter Effects on Transport and Pattern Formation

The research performed under this grant has led to an number of new insights into two general categories of fluid flows in the presence of time-dependent acceleration, as outlined briefly below. These results have been widely communicated in the scientific community through seven presentations at international conferences (4 invited, 3 contributed), five published papers (4 journal articles and 1 conference proceeding), and images from the research featured on the cover of all 2003 editions of the research journal, Nonlinearity. The work performed under this proposal also contained a substantial educational component by contributed significantly to the scientific training of one postdoctoral associate, one Ph.D. student and five undergraduate researchers. One main area of focus in this research was convective flow with time-dependent acceleration. Convection is one class of behavior that can arise from g-jitter effects. Our research focused on studies of Rayleigh-Benard system, which is an important model for understanding thermal convection; studies of this problem in the presence of acceleration modulations provided insight into the nature of g-jitter induced flow and of the effects of modulation and noise on non-equilibrium pattern formation. Our experiments on vertically vibrated Rayleigh-Benard convection demonstrated the existence of two classes of pure flow patterns (synchronous & subharmonic) patterns) that had long been predicted by theory but never before observed experimentally. Detailed studies of ranges of parameters where both classes of patterns exist simultaneously led to the discovery of a new type of patterns (called superlattices) in systems driven out of thermodynamic equilibrium.

Schatz, Michael F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Remote sounding through semi-transparent cirrus cloud

A large portion of the earth is covered by thin semi-transparent cirrus cloud. The cirrus results from the natural injection of moisture into the upper troposphere by deep convection (i.e., anvils) and from man-made moisture injected into the upper troposphere by jet aircraft. Although most cirrus clouds are semi-transparent to infrared wavelengths, their heights, thicknesses, and spectral absorption properties must be known in order to retrieve atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles from the data. An algorithm is developed for accounting for the radiative properties of semi-transparent cloud in the retrieval of vertical temperature and moisture profiles. The algorithm is to be applied to the NASA ER2 HIS data collected during the FIRE cirrus field program.

Smith, William L.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Contributions to the implementation of the Arakawa-Schubert cumulus parameterization in the GLA GCM

The AS scheme in the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres General Circulation Model is used to address two fundamental problems of simulated cumulus convection and rainfall. The first problem is that of too much rainfall in the tropics at initial time and the second is the problem of too vigorous a hydrologic cycle in the tropics even after the initial adjustment period. A number of experiments were performed, including an investigation of the influence of the prescribed limiting values of critical cloud work formation (CCWF). It is concluded that the CCWF plays a useful role in the apportionment of the rainfall into convective and large-scale components. Related experiments reveal the nature of the interaction between atmospheric circulation and the cumulus processes.

Sud, Y. C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Ion Signatures of Magnetospheric Regions and Boundaries: The September 24, 1998 CME Event

On 24 September 1998 Earth's magnetosphere was impacted by a large CME with an associated shock front. This impact moved the magnetopause inward by several R(sub e) and pushed dayside magnetospheric boundaries anti-sunward by more than 1 R(sub e). The resulting observations from the Polar spacecraft, which was located over the northern polar cap, show signatures of the polar cap, the cusp, and the mantle as these regions were moved across the spacecraft position. An enhanced Cleft Ion Fountain outflow was observed as Polar moved sunward towards the cusp following the shock passage. Analysis of these data shows the velocity filter/mass spectrometer nature of the CIF in association with anti-sunward convection. These signatures are used to investigate time scales for reconnection, energy transfer to the ionosphere, and CIF outflow generation.

Chandler, Michael O.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Ion Transport in the September 24, 1998 CME Event

On 24 September 1998 Earth's magnetosphere was impacted by a large CME with an associated shock front. This impact moved the magnetopause inward by several Re and pushed dayside magnetospheric boundaries anti-sunward by more than 1 Re. The resulting observations from the Polar spacecraft, which was located over the northern polar cap, show signatures of the polar cap, the cusp, and the mantle as these regions were moved across the spacecraft position. An enhanced Cleft Ion Fountain outflow was observed as Polar moved sunward towards the cusp following the shock passage. Analysis of these data shows the velocity filter/mass spectrometer nature of the CIF in association with anti-sunward convection. These signatures are used to investigate time scales for reconnection, energy transfer to the Ionosphere, and CIF outflow generation.

Chandler, M. O.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Microphysics, Meteorology, Microwave and Modeling of Mediterranean Storms: The M(sup 5) Problem

Comprehensive understanding of the microphysical nature of Mediterranean storms requires a combination of in situ meteorological data analysis and radar-passive microwave data analysis, effectively integrated with numerical modeling studies at various scales, particularly from synoptic scale down to mesoscale. The microphysical properties of and their controls on severe storms are intrinsically related to meteorological processes under which storms have evolved, processes which eventually select and control the dominant microphysical properties themselves. Insofar as hazardous Mediterranean storms, highlighted by the September 25-28/1992 Genova flood event, the October 5-7/1998 Friuli flood event, and the October 13-15/2000 Piemonte flood event (all taking place in northern Italy), developing a comprehensive microphysical interpretation requires an understanding of the multiple phases of storm evolution and the heterogeneous nature of precipitation fields within the storm domains. This involves convective development, stratiform transition and decay, orographic lifting, and sloped frontal lifting proc esses. This also involves vertical motions and thermodynamical instabilities governing physical processes that determine details of the liquid/ice water contents, size distributions, and fall rates of the various modes of hydrometeors found within the storm environments. This paper presents detailed 4-dimensional analyses of the microphysical elements of the three severe Mediterranean storms identified above, investigated with the aid of SSM/I and TRMM satellite measurements (and other remote sensing measurements). The analyses are guided by nonhydrostatic mesoscale model simulations at high resolution of the intense rain producing portions of the storm environments. The results emphasize how meteorological controls taking place at the large scale, coupled with localized terrain controls, ultimately determine the most salient features of the bulk microphysical properties of the storms. These results have bearing on precipitation remote sensing from space, and the role of modeling in designing precipitation retrieval algorithms.

Smith, Eric A.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Realistic Modeling of Multi-Scale MHD Dynamics of the Solar Atmosphere

Realistic 3D radiative MHD simulations open new perspectives for understanding the turbulent dynamics of the solar surface, its coupling to the atmosphere, and the physical mechanisms of generation and transport of non-thermal energy. Traditionally, plasma eruptions and wave phenomena in the solar atmosphere are modeled by prescribing artificial driving mechanisms using magnetic or gas pressure forces that might arise from magnetic field emergence or reconnection instabilities. In contrast, our 'ab initio' simulations provide a realistic description of solar dynamics naturally driven by solar energy flow. By simulating the upper convection zone and the solar atmosphere, we can investigate in detail the physical processes of turbulent magnetoconvection, generation and amplification of magnetic fields, excitation of MHD waves, and plasma eruptions. We present recent simulation results of the multi-scale dynamics of quiet-Sun regions, and energetic effects in the atmosphere and compare with observations. For the comparisons we calculate synthetic spectro-polarimetric data to model observational data of SDO, Hinode, and New Solar Telescope.

Realistic Modeling↗
NASA NTRS2022

Congo Basin, a neglected world heritage

The Congo Basin has received little attention, climatically speaking, compared to the Amazon Basin and even other parts of Africa. This world’s second largest forest has distinct meteorological characteristics, and its ecosystem is controlled by complex interactions between many climatic phenomena that act across scales(Fig. 1). Due to its location, the Congo rainforest also contributes to processes responsible for interhemispheric climatic communications in Africa. At the larger scale, the basin regulates the global tropical circulation by serving as one of the world’s most convectively active regions. Therefore, the Congo Basin offers a unique natural laboratory for climate science explorations and the implications for people and ecosystems. But, why this green heart of Africa has been neglected and what we should do about it?

Amin Dezfuli↗
NASA NTRS1994

Differential rotation and turbulent convection: A new Reynolds stress model and comparison with solar data

In most hydrodynamic cases, the existence of a turbulent flow superimposed on a mean flow is caused by a shear instability in the latter. Boussinesq suggested the first model for the turbulent Reynolds stresses bar-(u(sub i)u(sub j)) in which the mean shear S(sub ij) is the cause (or source) of turbulence represented by the stress bar-(u(sub i)u(sub j)). In the case of solar differential rotation, exactly the reverse physical process occurs: turbulence (which must pre-exist) generates a mean flow which manifests itself in the form of differential rotation. Thus, the Boussinesq model is wholly inadequate because in the solar case, cause and effect are reversed. Since the Boussinesq model is inadequate, one needs an alternative model for the Reynolds stresses. We present a new dynamical model for the Reynolds stresses, convective fluxes, turbulent kinetic energy, and temperature fluctuations. The complete model requires the solution of 11 differential equations. We then introduce a set of simplifying assumptions which reduce the full dynamical model to a set of algebraic Reynolds stress models. We explicitly solve one of these models that entails only one differential equation. The overall agreement with the data is obtained with a model that is neither phenomenological nor one that requires a full numerical simulation, since it is algebraic in nature. The new model can play an important role in understanding the complex physics underlying the interplay between solar differential rotation and convection, as many physical processes can naturally be incorporated into the model.

Canuto, V. M.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Exploiting the Temperature Dependence of Magnetic Susceptibility to Control Convective in Fundamental Studies of Solidification Phenomena

It is well known that convection is a dominant mass transport mechanism when materials are solidified on Earth's surface. This convection is caused by gradients in density (and therefore gravitational force) that are brought about by gradients in temperature, composition or both. Diffusion of solute is therefore dwarfed by convection and the study of fundamental parameters, such as dendrite tip shape and growth velocity in the absence of convection is nearly impossible. Significant experimental work has therefore been carried out in orbiting laboratories with the intent of minimizing convection by minimizing gravity. One of the best known experiments of this kind is the Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE), supported by NASA. Naturally such experiments are costly and one objective of the present investigation is to develop an experimental method whereby convection can be halted, in solidification and other experiments, on the Earth's surface. A second objective is to use the method to minimize convection resulting from the residual accelerations suffered by experiments in microgravity.

Seybert, C.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Variation of Ice Microphysical Properties With Temperature and Humidity at Tops of Convective Clouds

A better understanding of the many interacting processes governing the evaluation of ice in natural clouds is required to improve the representation of ice clouds in global circulation models. Recent studies suggest a dominant role of vapor growth processes in determining the temperature dependence of cloud top ice sizes and shapes. Using airborne cloud remote sensing along with reanalysis data, here we show that observed cloud top ice effective radii and estimated normalized growth rates at cloud top highly correlate with an approximately linear relationship, which is consistent with a conceptual model also presented. Furthermore, significant differences in crystal shape characteristics and scattering asymmetry parameters are found between sub- and super-saturated cloud tops over ocean, although not over land. These results provide valuable observational targets for studying ice formation and evolution processes using models, while also helping interpretation of satellite observations of ice microphysical properties at cloud tops.

ice↗
NASA NTRS1989

A study of the spatial scales of discrete polar auroral arcs

Recent theoretical works have dealt with the identification and evaluation of the physical processes that determine the characteristic scale sizes of discrete auroral arcs. It is broadly acknowledged that a characteristic spatial width of approximately 100 km (at ionospheric heights) results naturally from the ionospheric mapping of the high-altitude magnetospheric convection electric field. However, recent analysis of the spatial power spectral distributions of electric and magnetic field variations has revealed structure at much smaller spatial scales. In this analysis, precipitating auroral electron data from the J-package sensor on the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite is used to study the spatial scale sizes and size distributions of polar auroral arcs. A monotonically decreasing inverse-wavelength spectrum with a slope near unity is common, with no strictly preferred scale sizes, although the scale spectrum does flatten at scales larger than approximately 100 to 200 km. Typical observed widths of the auroral arcs tend to be much smaller than the resistive scale length, and the observed widths do not have a strong dependence on local ionospheric parameters.

Gorney, David J.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Linear Stability Analysis of Gravitational Effects on a Low-Density Gas Jet Injected into a High-Density Medium

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of buoyancy on the absolute instability of low-density gas jets injected into high-density gas mediums. Most of the existing analyses of low-density gas jets injected into a high-density ambient have been carried out neglecting effects of gravity. In order to investigate the influence of gravity on the near-injector development of the flow, a spatio-temporal stability analysis of a low-density round jet injected into a high-density ambient gas was performed. The flow was assumed to be isothermal and locally parallel; viscous and diffusive effects were ignored. The variables were represented as the sum of the mean value and a normal-mode small disturbance. An ordinary differential equation governing the amplitude of the pressure disturbance was derived. The velocity and density profiles in the shear layer, and the Froude number (signifying the effects of gravity) were the three important parameters in this equation. Together with the boundary conditions, an eigenvalue problem was formulated. Assuming that the velocity and density profiles in the shear layer to be represented by hyperbolic tangent functions, the eigenvalue problem was solved for various values of Froude number. The Briggs-Bers criterion was combined with the spatio-temporal stability analysis to determine the nature of the absolute instability of the jet whether absolutely or convectively unstable. The roles of the density ratio, Froude number, Schmidt number, and the lateral shift between the density and velocity profiles on the absolute instability of the jet were determined. Comparisons of the results with previous experimental studies show good agreement when the effects of these variables are combined together. Thus, the combination of these variables determines how absolutely unstable the jet will be.

Lawson, Anthony L.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Initial Stability Assessment of S-NPP VIIRS Reflective Solar Band Calibration Using Invariant Desert and Deep Convective Cloud Targets

The latest CERES FM-5 instrument launched onboard the S-NPP spacecraft will use the VIIRS visible radiances from the NASA Land Product Evaluation and Analysis Tool Elements (PEATE) product for retrieving the cloud properties associated with its TOA flux measurement. In order for CERES to provide climate quality TOA flux datasets, the retrieved cloud properties must be consistent throughout the record, which is dependent on the calibration stability of the VIIRS imager. This paper assesses the NASA calibration stability of the VIIRS reflective solar bands using the Libya-4 desert and deep convective clouds (DCC). The invariant targets are first evaluated for temporal natural variability. It is found for visible (VIS) bands that DCC targets have half of the variability of Libya-4. For the shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands, the desert has less variability. The brief VIIRS record and target variability inhibits high confidence in identifying any trends that are less than 0.6yr for most VIS bands, and 2.5yr for SWIR bands. None of the observed invariant target reflective solar band trends exceeded these trend thresholds. Initial assessment results show that the VIIRS data have been consistently calibrated and that the VIIRS instrument stability is similar to or better than the MODIS instrument.

VIIRS↗
NASA NTRS1998

Control of Oscillatory Thermocapillary Convection in Microgravity

This project focused on the generation and suppression of oscillatory thermocapillary convection in a thin liquid layer. The bulk of the research was experimental in nature, some theoretical work was also done. ne first phase of this research generated, for the first time, the hydrothermal-wave instability predicted by Smith and Davis in 1983. In addition, the behavior of the fluid layer under a number of conditions was investigated and catalogued. A transition map for the instability of buoyancy-thermocapillary convection was prepared which presented results in terms of apparatus-dependent and apparatus-independent parameters, for ease of comparison with theoretical results. The second phase of this research demonstrated the suppression of these hydrothermal waves through an active, feed-forward control strategy employing a CO2 laser to selectively heat lines of negative disturbance temperature on the free surface of the liquid layer. An initial attempt at this control was only partially successful, employing a thermocouple inserted slightly below the free surface of the liquid to generate the control scheme. Subsequent efforts, however, were completely successful in suppressing oscillations in a portion of the layer by utilizing data from an infrared image of the free surface to compute hydrothermal-wave phase speeds and, using these, to tailor the control scheme to each passing wave.

Skarda, Ray↗
NASA NTRS1996

Chemical Characteristics of Continental Outflow Over the Tropical South Atlantic Ocean from Brazil and Africa

The chemical characteristics of air parcels over the tropical South Atlantic during September - October 1992 are summarized by analysis of aged marine and continental outflow classifications. Positive correlations between CO and CH3CL and minimal enhancements of C2CL40, and various ChloroFluoroCarbon (CFC) species in air parcels recently advected over the South Atlantic basin strongly suggest an impact on tropospheric chemistry from biomass burning on adjacent continental areas of Brazil and Africa. Comparison of the composition of aged Pacific air with aged marine air over the South Atlantic basin from 0.3 to 12.5 km altitude indicates potential accumulation of long-lived species during the local dry season. This may amount to enhancements of up to two-fold for C2H6, 30% for CO, and 10% for CH3Cl. Nitric oxide and NO(x) were significantly enhanced (up to approx. 1 part per billion by volume (ppbv)) above 10 km altitude and poorly correlated with CO and CH3Cl. In addition, median mixing ratios of NO and NO(x) were essentially identical in aged marine and continental outflow air masses. It appears that in addition to biomass burning, lightning or recycled reactive nitrogen may be an important source of NO(x) to the upper troposphere. Methane exhibited a monotonic increase with altitude from approx. 1690 to 1720 ppbv in both aged marine and continental outflow air masses. The largest mixing ratios in the upper troposphere were often anticorrelated with CO, CH3Cl, and CO2, suggesting CH, contributions from natural sources. We also argue, based on CH4/CO ratios and relationships with various hydrocarbon and CFC species, that inputs from biomass burning and the northern hemisphere are unlikely to be the dominant sources of CO, CH4 and C2H6 in aged marine air. Emissions from urban areas would seem to be necessary to account for the distribution of at least CH4 and C2H6. Over the African and South American continents an efficient mechanism of convective vertical transport coupled with large-scale circulations conveys biomass burning, urban, and natural emissions to the upper troposphere over the South Atlantic basin. Slow subsidence over the eastern South Atlantic basin may play an important role in establishing and maintaining the rather uniform vertical distribution of long-lived species over this region. The common occurrence of values greater than 1 for the ratio CH3OOH/H2O2 in the upper troposphere suggests that precipitation scavenging effectively removed highly water soluble gases (H2O2, HNO3, HCOOH, and CH3COOH) and aerosols during vertical convective transport over the continents. However, horizontal injection of biomass burning products over the South Atlantic, particularly water soluble species and aerosol particles, was frequent below 6 km altitude.

Talbot, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Convection During Unidirectional Solidification

The fluid flow and solute segregation which occur during directional solidification, including effects of gravity and microgravity were studied. The nature of the fluid flow, its effects on the shape of the crystal-metal interface and the resulting distribution of solutes are examined. During solidification of a binary alloy at constant velocity vertically upwards, thermosolutal convection occurs if the solute rejection or preferential incorporation at the crystal-melt interface decreases the density of the melt. Numerical calculations of the solute, temperature, and flow fields are carried out by using previously developed algorithms for Schmidt numbers Sc = 1, 10, 81. The time periodic flow, which occurs over a narrow range of parameters, is investigated.

Coriell, S. R.↗