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At least 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

The ERTS-1 investigation (ER-600). Volume 6: ERTS-1 signature extension analysis, July 1972 - June 1973

Feature classification, spatially and temporally, was extended over the Houston test site area. The Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) multispectral scanner data from August, September, and October 1972, of five widely separated lakes were used as statistical training fields and test sites. Short term temporal (same day to 36 days) and moderately long term spatial (within and between three ERTS multispectral scanner frames) signature extensions have been verified with respect to large relatively homogeneous features. The most significant feature dependent variable affecting spatial and short term extension was water turbidity. Long term signature extension will require a model to compensate or modify the ERTS-1 multispectral scanner data for significant sun angle changes. The presence of atmospheric haze changed the absolute signature but always by approximately the same amount so that the measured water signature was always the same. The normally occurring variations in atmospheric haze conditions had no major effect on the water signatures in this study.

Erb, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Textural features for radar image analysis

Texture is seen as an important spatial feature useful for identifying objects or regions of interest in an image. While textural features have been widely used in analyzing a variety of photographic images, they have not been used in processing radar images. A procedure for extracting a set of textural features for characterizing small areas in radar images is presented, and it is shown that these features can be used in classifying segments of radar images corresponding to different geological formations.

Shanmugan, K. S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

MTF analysis of LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper

The spatial radiance distribution of a ground target must be known to a resolution at least four to five times greater than that of the system under test when measuring a satellite sensor's modulation transfer function. Calibration of the target requires either the use of man-made special purpose targets with known properties, e.g., a small reflective mirror or a dark-light linear pattern such as line or edge, or use of relatively high resolution underflight imagery to calibrate an arbitrary ground scene. Both approaches are to be used in addition a technique that utilizes an analytical model for the scene spatial frequency power spectrum is being investigated as an alternative to calibration of the scene.

Schowengerdt, R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

MTF Analysis of LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper

The spatial radiance distribution of a ground target must be known to a resolution at least four to five times greater than that of the system under test when measuring a satellite sensor's modulation transfer function. Calibration of the target requires either the use of man-made special purpose targets with known properties, e.g., a small reflective mirror or a dark-light linear pattern such as line or edge, or use of relatively high resolution underflight imagery to calibrate an arbitrary ground scene. Both approaches are to be used, in addition a technique that utilizes an analytical model of the scene spatial frequency power spectrum is being investigated as an alternative to calibration of the scene.

Schowengerdt, R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Cometary atmospheres: Modeling the spatial distribution of observed neutral radicals

The analysis of observed brightness profiles for the C2 radical in comets with Haser's model implies that the parent scale length varies as the square of the heliocentric distance. The use of new Haser scale lengths for C2 and CN determined under this project appears to explain the apparent drop in the C2-to-CN ratio with increasing heliocentric distance.

Combi, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Cloud 3D Effects Evidenced in Landsat Power Spectra and Autocorrelation Functions

An analysis of nadir reflectivity Fourier spatial power spectra and autocorrelation functions at solar wavelengths and for cloudy conditions has been carried out. The data come from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) observations, while Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are used to aid the interpretation of the Landsat results. We show that radiative processes produce consistent signatures on power spectra and autocorrelation functions. The former take a variety of forms not shown or explained in previous observational studies. We demonstrate that the TM spectra can potentially be affected by both radiative "roughening" at intermediate scales (approx. 1 -5 km), being more prevalent at large solar zenith angles, and the already documented radiative "smoothing" at small scales (less than 1 km). These processes are wavelength dependent, as shown by systematic differences between conservative (for cloud droplets) TM band 4 (approx. 0.8 microns) and absorbing band 7 (approx. 2.2 microns): band 7 exhibits more roughening and less smoothing. This is confirmed quantitatively by comparing least-squared fitted power spectral slopes for the two bands. It is also corroborated by a slower decrease with distance of autocorrelation function values for band 4 compared to band 7. The appearance of roughening at large solar zenith angles is a result of side illumination and shadowing and adds an additional complexity to the power spectra. MC spectra are useful in illustrating that scale invariant optical depth fields can produce complex power spectra that take a variety of shapes under different conditions. We show that radiative roughening increases with the decrease of single scattering albedo and with the increase of solar zenith angle (as in the observations). For high Sun there is also a clear shift of the radiative smoothing scale to smaller values as droplet absorption increases. The shape of the power spectrum is sensitive to the magnitude and type of cloud top height variability, with the spectral signatures of decorrelation between reflectance and optical depth at large scales becoming stronger as the magnitude of cloud top variations increase. Finally, the usefulness of power spectral analysis in evaluating the skill of novel optical depth retrieval techniques in removing 3D radiative effects is demonstrated. New techniques using inverse Non-local Independent Pixel Approximation (NIPA) and Normalized Difference of Nadir Reflectivity (NDNR) yield optical depth fields which better match the scale-by-scale variability of the true optical depth field.

Oreopoulos, Lazaros↗
NASA NTRS1984

Search for solar signals in GOES imagery and cloud climatology analysis

The digitization and analysis of 16mm GOES IR imagery to identify spatial and temporal variation in clouds is discussed, along with a cloud climatology analysis. Recently added to the Interactive Graphics Package was a Computer Image Analysis System. This system allows many new imaging techniques. One of the possibilities is the analysis of overall light intensity variations in six 10 degree square boxes across the intertropical convergence zone. This technique is discussed, as is a preliminary analysis of unnormalized data.

Markson, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Real time quantitative imaging for semiconductor crystal growth, control and characterization

A quantitative real time image processing system has been developed which can be software-reconfigured for semiconductor processing and characterization tasks. In thermal imager mode, 2D temperature distributions of semiconductor melt surfaces (900-1600 C) can be obtained with temperature and spatial resolutions better than 0.5 C and 0.5 mm, respectively, as demonstrated by analysis of melt surface thermal distributions. Temporal and spatial image processing techniques and multitasking computational capabilities convert such thermal imaging into a multimode sensor for crystal growth control. A second configuration of the image processing engine in conjunction with bright and dark field transmission optics is used to nonintrusively determine the microdistribution of free charge carriers and submicron sized crystalline defects in semiconductors. The IR absorption characteristics of wafers are determined with 10-micron spatial resolution and, after calibration, are converted into charge carrier density.

Wargo, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Applications of digital image processing

Digital image processing applied to picture generation, intensity and geometric manipulation, spatial frequency operations and image analysis

Billingsley, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Approximate analysis of containment/deflection ring responses to engine rotor fragment impact.

The transient responses of containment and/or deflection rings to impact from an engine rotor-blade fragment are analyzed. Energy and momentum considerations are employed in an approximate analysis to predict the collision-induced velocities which are imparted to the fragment and to the affected ring segment. This collision analysis is combined with the spatial finite-element representation of the ring and a temporal finite-difference solution procedure to predict the resulting large transient elastic-plastic deformations of containment/deflection rings. Some comparisons with experimental data are given.

Wu, R. W.-H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Design Data Collection with Skylab Microwave Radiometer-Scatterometer S-193, Volume 1

The author has identified the following significant results. Observations with S-193 have provided radar design information for systems to be flown on spacecraft, but only at 13.9 GHz and for land areas over the United States and Brazil plus a few other areas of the world for which this kind of analysis was not made. Observations only extended out to about 50 deg angle of incidence. The value of a sensor with such a gross resolution for most overland resource and status monitoring systems seems marginal, with the possible exception of monitoring soil moisture and major vegetation variations. The complementary nature of the scatterometer and radiometer systems was demonstrated by the correlation analysis. Although radiometers must have spatial resolutions dictated by antenna size, radars can use synthetic aperture techniques to achieve much finer resolutions. Multiplicity of modes in the S-193 sensors complicated both the system development and its employment. An attempt was made in the design of the S-193 to arrange optimum integration times for each angle and type of measurement. This unnecessarily complicated the design of the instrument, since the gains in precision achieved in this way were marginal. Either a software-controllable integration time or a set of only two or three integration times would have been better.

Moore, R. K.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Utilizing Skylab data in on-going resources management programs in the state of Ohio

The author has identified the following significant results. The use of Skylab imagery for total area woodland surveys was found to be more accurate and cheaper than conventional surveys using aerial photo-plot techniques. Machine-aided (primarily density slicing) analyses of Skylab 190A and 190B color and infrared color photography demonstrated the feasibility of using such data for differentiating major timber classes including pines, hardwoods, mixed, cut, and brushland providing such analyses are made at scales of 1:24,000 and larger. Manual and machine-assisted image analysis indicated that spectral and spatial capabilities of Skylab EREP photography are adequate to distinguish most parameters of current, coal surface mining concern associated with: (1) active mining, (2) orphan lands, (3) reclaimed lands, and (4) active reclamation. Excellent results were achieved when comparing Skylab and aerial photographic interpretations of detailed surface mining features. Skylab photographs when combined with other data bases (e.g., census, agricultural land productivity, and transportation networks), provide a comprehensive, meaningful, and integrated view of major elements involved in the urbanization/encroachment process.

Baldridge, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Crustal evolution inferred from Apollo magnetic measurements

The topology of lunar remanent fields is investigated by analyzing simultaneous magnetometer and solar wind spectrometer data. The diffusion model proposed by Vanyan (1977) to describe the field-plasma interaction at the lunar surface is extended to describe the interaction with fields characterized by two scale lengths, and the extended model is compared with data from three Apollo landing sites (Apollo 12, 15 and 16) with crustal fields of differing intensity and topology. Local remanent field properties from this analysis are compared with high spatial resolution magnetic maps obtained from the electron reflection experiment. It is concluded that remanent fields over most of the lunar surface are characterized by spatial variations as small as a few kilometers. Large regions (50 to 100 km) of the lunar crust were probably uniformly magnetized early in the evolution of the crust. Smaller scale (5 to 10 km) magnetic sources close to the surface were left by bombardment and subsequent gardening of the upper layers of these magnetized regions. The small scale sized remanent fields of about 100 gammas are measured by surface experiments, whereas the larger scale sized fields of about 0.1 gammas are measured by the orbiting subsatellite experiments.

Dyal, P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Convective heating of solid propellant during ignition

A pattern search optimization procedure is used to deduce from test data on the solid rocket boosters of the Space Shuttle the convective heat transfer coefficients between the igniter and main motor combustion gases and the surface of the solid propellant by utilizing a spatial and temporal ignition transient analysis. The 'best' convective coefficients are found which will minimize the overall deviation of the analytical prediction from the ignition transient test data. Computationally, this is achieved by treating the motor in such a way that only four optimization variables must be determined. The resulting coefficients greatly improve the prediction capabilities of the ignition transient analysis for the Space Shuttle SRM.

Murph, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Determination of boundary shape of cooled porous region

The shape of a cooled porous wall section is found that will provide a uniform surface temperature, as dictated by material limitations, when the surface is subjected to spatially nonuniform heating. In the analysis, local temperatures and pressures in the porous material are expressed in terms of a potential function. From the imposed thermal conditions, this potential function is governed by the dual constraints of both its value and its normal derivative being specified along the heated surface. The unknown shape of this surface is obtained by meeting these dual conditions. The analytical method uses a generalized conformal mapping procedure that includes a curved boundary. The coolant flow can be compressible or incompressible, and its viscosity can depend on temperature.

Snyder, A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The role of spicules in hetaing the solar atmosphere Implications of EUV observations

Although spicules hae been obseved for many years, very little is known about their role in the transport of mass and energy between the chromosphere and the higher layers of the atmospere. Athay and Holzer (1982) demonstrated that the rise and fall of spicular material can supply the thermal energy required for heating the upper chromosphere, transition, and possibly corona. The proposed mechanism depends upon assumptions about the fate of spicules after they disappear from view in the visual spectrum where observations are limited to spectral lines formed at chromospheric temperatures. The present investigation is concerned with an analysis of meaurements of the spatial and temporal variations of EUV emission near the solar limb. The obtained results place empirical constraints on the fate of spicules after they disappear from view in the visible spectrum and thereby place constraints on their role in the transport of mass and energy between the chromosphere and corona.

Withbroe, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Ionic composition of the earth's radiation belts

Several different ion species have been positively identified in the earth's radiation belts. Besides protons, there are substantial fluxes of helium, carbon and oxygen ions, and there are measurable quantities of even heavier ions. European, American and Soviet space experimenters have reported ion composition measurements over wide ranges of energies: at tens of keV (ring-current energies) and below, and at hundreds of keV and above. There is still a gap in the energy coverage from several tens to several hundreds of keV where little observational data are available. In this review emphasis is placed on the radiation belt ionic structure above 100 keV. Both quiet time conditions and geomagnetic storm periods are considered, and comparison of the available space observations is made with theoretical analysis of geomagnetically trapped ion spatial, energy and charge state distributions.

Spjeldvik, W. N.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Towards the objective analysis of clouds from satellite imagery data

It is suspected that clouds play a major role in climate dynamics. However, conclusive studies regarding the effects related to the cloud cover appear difficult because there is a lack of objective data. The present investigation is concerned with an objective scheme for deriving clouds and their properties from satellite imagery data for the oceans. The objective analysis makes use of the spatial coherence method for retrieving cloud cover from satellite imagery data. This method has advantages over other techniques often applied to imagery data. It is not necessary that clouds fill completely the observing instrument's field-of-view, and a priori or satellite derived knowledge of the cloud radiative properties is not needed.

Coakley, J. A., Jr.↗