Comments on 'Cumulus friction - Estimated influence on the tropical mean meridional circulation'
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Schneider, E. K.↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “k mean”
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.
Large beam observations of the galactic center at 150, 200, and 300 microns
Observations with 10 arcmin resolution of a 2 sq deg portion of the galactic plane around the galactic center at 150, 200, and 300 microns are presented, obtained as part of a galactic plane survey. In the galactic center region the mean dust temperature is about 30 K. Both the temperature and the dust-to-gas mass ratio in the galactic center region are typical of a large portion of the galactic plane. Three main emission peaks, Sgr A, B, and C, are detected; these peaks appear as dust column density enhancements rather than temperature enhancements. The dust responsible for the FIR emission may only be a fraction of the dust responsible for the visual extinction toward the galactic center.
Stier, M. T.↗
Observation of wave-wave interactions in the stratosphere
Data from the LIMS instrument for January 1979 are used to provide further evidence for the often observed vacillation between the amplitudes of waves 1 and 2 in the stratosphere. The vacillation is shown to result primarily from nonlinear wave-wave interactions within the stratosphere. Two ways of interpreting nonlinearity are discussed. In the first, the basic state is defined to include large amplitude waves as well as the mean zonal wind. A forced wave propagates with respect to this asymmetric basic state, which can lead to changes in the conventional zonal wavenumber measured at one latitude. The other view of nonlinearity, interaction of wave with the zonal flow and with other wavenumbers are considered separately. Wave-wave interactions among waves 1, 2 and 3 are calculated. The derivation and computation of wave-wave interaction terms in the potential enstrophy balance are given. The observations indicate that enstrophy transfer among waves can be substantial even when the amplitude of one of the contributing waves is small. The computed enstrophy balance also demonstrates that wave-wave interactions can have a large effect on the interaction of waves with the mean flow.
Smith, A. K.↗
On the dynamics of equatorial forcing of climate teleconnections
A number of observational, theoretical, and modeling studies have been conducted on the remote influence of the tropics on the midlatitudes. Teleconnection in the geopotential height field between the tropics and the extratropics associated with the Southern Oscillation in the so-called Pacific-North America (PNA) pattern, has often been cited as an example of such remote influence. Simmons et al. (1983) have shown that teleconnections such as PNA may arise both from barotropic instability of the extratropical zonal flow and from tropical forcing. The present investigation is only concerned with the dynamics of the part of the atmospheric teleconnection which arises from tropical forcing. Some fundamentals of Rossby wave theory in unsheared flow are discussed along with the linear response to equatorial forcing for horizontally, sheared zonal mean flow. A global shallow-water spectral model is employed in conjunction with a theoretical analysis to show the teleconnection patterns which develop under different large-scale mean circulation conditions.
Lau, K.-M.↗
Representation of the vaporization behavior of turbulent polydisperse sprays by equivalent monodisperse sprays
The concept of using an equivalent monodisperse spray to represent the vaporization behavior of polydisperse sprays has been examined by numerically solving two turbulent vaporizing sprays. One involves the injection of Freon-11 in a still environment, whereas the other is a methanol spray in a still but hot environment. The use of three different mean sizes, namely, Sauter mean diameter, volume median diameter, and surface-area mean diameter, has been investigated. Results indicate a good degree of correlation between the polydisperse spray and its equivalent monodisperse sprays represented by the volume median diameter and the Sauter mean diameter, the former giving slightly better results. The surface-area mean diameter does not provide as good a correlation as the other two mean diameters.
Aggarwal, S. K.↗
Tropical and extratropical forcing of the large-scale circulation - A diagnostic study
Seasonal anomalies in the large-scale circulation are studied in relation to seasonal-mean tropical forcing and extratropical transient-eddy forcing using nine years of tropical-wind and outgoing-longwave-radiation (OLR) data. Results show that in the interannual time scale, extreme swings in anomalous convection over the maritime continent of Indonesia/Borneo and the equatorial central Pacific are linked, respectively, by an east-west seesaw or a dipole pattern, identified with major fluctuations of the Pacific Walker circulation. It is found that extratropical circulation anomalies are related to the fluctuation of this dipole heat source. The overall extratropical circulation seems to be more responsive to the dipole heating with enhanced convection over the maritime continent. While the characteristics of the transient eddies, especially near the exit region of the East Asia jet stream, change substantially between maximum or minimum convection episodes, these transient eddies (defined as transients from the seasonal mean) appear to be unimportant in forcing the seasonal mean circulation anomalies.
Lau, K. M.↗
The lithium abundance in halo stars
Spectroscopic observations are reported for 23 population II subdwarfs (selected for age homogeneity) and 31 other stars (mainly population I F and G dwarfs). The spectra were obtained in the 670.7-nm line of Li I using coude spectrographs on the 2.7-m reflector at McDonald Observatory, the 3.0-m reflector at Lick Observatory, and the 4-m Mayall reflector at KPNO during 1983-1985. The results are presented (along with selected published data) in extensive tables and graphs and analyzed. For 12 stars with space velocities v(LSR) = 160 km/s or greater and Fe/H = -1.4 or less, the atmospheric Li/H abundance is shown to depend on T(e), the mean value for T(e) = 5600 K or more being Li/H = (1.2 + or - 0.3) x 10 to the -10th. This result, also found for many of the population I stars, is interpreted as a significant constraint on the cosmic baryon/photon ratio.
Hobbs, L. M.↗
Representation of the vaporization behavior of turbulent polydisperse sprays by 'equivalent' monodisperse sprays
The concept of using an equivalent monodisperse spray to represent the vaporization behavior of polydisperse sprays has been examined by numerically solving two turbulent vaporizing sprays. One involves the injection of Freon-11 in a still environment, whereas the other is a methanol spray in a still but hot environment. The use of three different mean sizes, namely, Sauter mean diameter, volume median diameter, and surface-area mean diameter, has been investigated. Results indicate a good degree of correlation between the polydisperse spray and its equivalent monodisperse sprays represented by the volume median diameter and the Sauter mean diameter, the former giving slightly better results. The surface-area mean diameter does not provide as good a correlation as the other two mean diameters.
Aggarwal, S. K.↗
Prototype thin-film thermocouple/heat-flux sensor for a ceramic-insulated diesel engine
A platinum versus platinum-13 percent rhodium thin-film thermocouple/heat-flux sensor was devised and tested in the harsh, high-temperature environment of a ceramic-insulated, low-heat-rejection diesel engine. The sensor probe assembly was developed to provide experimental validation of heat transfer and thermal analysis methodologies applicable to the insulated diesel engine concept. The thin-film thermocouple configuration was chosen to approximate an uninterrupted chamber surface and provide a 1-D heat-flux path through the probe body. The engine test was conducted by Purdue University for Integral Technologies, Inc., under a DOE-funded contract managed by NASA Lewis Research Center. The thin-film sensor performed reliably during 6 to 10 hr of repeated engine runs at indicated mean surface temperatures up to 950 K. However, the sensor suffered partial loss of adhesion in the thin-film thermocouple junction area following maximum cyclic temperature excursions to greater than 1150 K.
Kim, Walter S.↗
Range data description based on multiple characteristics
An algorithm for describing range images based on Mean curvature (H) and Gaussian curvature (K) is presented. Range images are unique in that they directly approximate the physical surfaces of a real world 3-D scene. The curvature parameters are derived from the fundamental theorems of differential geometry and provides visible invariant pixel labels that can be used to characterize the scene. The sign of H and K can be used to classify each pixel into one of eight possible surface types. Due to the sensitivity of these parameters to noise the resulting HK-sing map does not directly identify surfaces in the range images and must be further processed. A region growing algorithm based on modeling the scene points with a Markov Random Field (MRF) of variable neighborhood size and edge models is suggested. This approach allows the integration of information from multiple characteristics in an efficient way. The performance of the proposed algorithm on a number of synthetic and real range images is discussed.
Al-Hujazi, Ezzet↗
Simulations of microphysical, radiative, and dynamical processes in a continental-scale forest fire smoke plume
The impact of a large forest fire smoke plume on atmospheric processes is studied through a numerical model of meteorology, aerosols, and radiative transfer. The simulated smoke optical depths at 0.63-micron wavelength are in agreement with analyses of satellite data and show values as high as 1.8. The smoke has an albedo of 35 percent, or more than double the clear-sky value, and cools the surface by as much as 5 K. An imaginary refractive index, n sub im, of 0.01 yields results which closely match the observed cooling, single scattering albedo, and the Angstrom wavelength exponent. An n exp im of 0.1, typical of smoke from urban fires, produces 9 K cooling. Coagulation causes the geometric mean radius by number to increase from the initial value of 0.08 micron to a final value of 0.15 micron, while the specific extinction and absorption increase by 40 and 25 percent, respectively.
Westphal, Douglas L.↗
Chemistry of the surface and lower atmosphere of Venus
A comprehensive overview of the chemical interactions between the atmosphere and surface of Venus is presented. Earth-based, earth-orbital, and spacecraft data on the composition of the atmosphere and surface of Venus are presented and applied to quantitative evaluations of the chemical interactions between carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, chlorine, fluorine, and nitrogen-containing gases and possible minerals on the Venus surface. The calculation results are used to predict stable minerals and mineral assemblages on the Venus surface to determine which, if any, atmospheric gases are buffered by mineral assemblages on the surface, and to critically review and assess prior work on atmosphere-surface chemistry on Venus. It is concluded that the CO2 pressure on Venus is comparable to the CO2 equilibrium partial pressure developed by the calcite + wollastonite + quartz assemblage at the mean Venus surface temperature of 740 K.
Fegley, B., Jr.↗
A multiline, multiresolution VLA study of the ultracompact H II region G29.96-0.02
A non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) analysis is presented for high spatial resolution observations of H 110 alpha, H 66 alpha, and H 42 alpha toward the cometary ultracompact (UC) H II region G29.96-0.02. We find a mean Tau(sub e) approximately 6500 K and local n(sub e) approximately 5 x 10(exp 4)/cu cm in the leading arc and n(sub e) approximately 2 x 10(exp 4)/cu cm in the tail. Impact broadening is significant in H 110 alpha, implied by a reduction in the peak line amplitude by as much as 50% in the leading arc. The morphology of the line emission and the line profiles are consistent with a bow shock.
Afflerbach, A.↗
Dawn-dusk asymmetries in the low-latitude boundary layer arising from the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability: A particle simulation
Along the low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL), the Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability can provide a means for injection of solar wind plasma across closed field lines of the magnetosphere. A fully electromagnetic, two-dimensional (three-velocity) particle code is used to investigate dawn-dusk asymmetries that can arise from velocity differences due to gradient drifts and electric field gradients, and ion acceleration across the narrow field transition layers in the dawn and dusk flanks. The model includes the dawn and dusk sides of the LLBL simultaneously in a slab geometry, incorporating seperate populations of ions and electrons for the magnetosphere and the magnetosheath plasmas. We report several effects: (1) asymmetries in the observed morphology of the turbulent structures, with familiar fluidlike vortex formation on the duskside, but tongues of magnetosheath plasma penetrating into the magnetosphere on the dawnside; (2) the formation of discrete current layers, characterized by strong currents and sharp gradients in the magnetic field, and discrete charge layers, having net charges and constant, weaker currents; (3) increasing asymmetry in dawn/dusk behavior with a decrease of initial currents; (3) increasing asymmetry in dawn/dusk behavior with a decrease of initial boundary layer width; and (4) enhancement of the dawn-to-dusk electric field as magnetosheath particles and momenta are transported across the magnetopause.
Wilber, M.↗
Millimeter-wavelength observations of minor planets
Bolometer observations at 250 GHz of fifteen minor planets have shown that the emissivity of these objects is close to unity. This results in an independent method to determine the absolute calibration scale of radio observations at mm wavelengths: Applying our results to Mars, the prime calibrator at this wavelength, gives a mean absolute disk temperature at mean solar distance of approximately 210 K. Further, the diameters of circularly symmetric asteroids can be determined or the surface area of asteroids can be estimated assuming some geometric constraints on their shape.
Altenhoff, W. J.↗
Episodic Ocean-Induced CO2 Greenhouse on Mars: Implications for Fluvial Valley Formation
Pulses of CO2 injected into the martian atmosphere more recently than 4 Ga can place the atmosphere into a stable, higher pressure, warmer greenhouse state. One to two bar pulses of CO2 added to the atmosphere during the past several billion years are sufficient to raise global mean temperatures above 240 or 250 K for tens to hundreds of millions of years, even when accounting for CO2 condensation. Over time, the added CO2 is lost to carbonates, the atmosphere collapses and returns to its buffered state. A substantial amount of water could be transported during the greenhouse periods from the surface of a frozen body of water created by outflow channel discharges to higher elevations, despite global temperatures well below freezing. This water, precipitated as snow, could ultimately form fluvial valleys if deposition sites are associated with localized heat sources, such as magmatic intrusions or volcanoes. Thus, if outflow channel discharges were accompanied by the release of sufficient quantities of CO2, a limited hydrological cycle could have resulted that would have been capable of producing geomorphic change sufficient for fluvial erosion and valley formation. Glacial or periglacial landforms would also be a consequence of such a mechanism.
Gulick, V. C.↗
UV Chromospheric Activity in Cool, Short-Period Contact Binaries
We have completed our analysis of the IUE spectra of the short-period contact binary OO Aql. OO Aql is a rare W UMa-type eclipsing binary in which the two solar-type stars may have only recently evolved into contact. The binary has an unusually high mass ratio (0.84), and a relatively long orbital period (0.506 d) for its spectral type (mid-G). Twelve ultraviolet spectra of OO Aql were obtained in 1988 with the IUE satellite, including a series of consecutive observations that cover nearly a complete orbital cycle. Chromospheric activity is studied by means of the Mg II h+k emission at 2800 A. The Mg II emission is found to vary, even when the emission is normalized to the adjacent continuum flux. This variation may be correlated with orbital phase in the 1988 observations. It also appears that the normalized Mg H emission varies with time, as seen in spectra obtained at two different epochs in 1988 and when compared with two spectra obtained several years earlier. The level of chromospheric activity in OO Aql is less than that of other W UMa-type binaries of similar colors, but this is attributed to its early stage of contact binary evolution. Ultraviolet light curves were composed from measurements of the ultraviolet continuum in the spectra. These were analyzed along with visible light curves of OO Aql to determine the system parameters. The large wavelength range in the light curves enabled a well-constrained fit to a cool spot in the system. A paper on these results is scheduled for publication in the February 2001 issue of the Astronomical Journal.
Hrivnak, Bruce J.↗
Evaluation of SMAP Downscaled Brightness Temperature Using SMAPEx-4/5 Airborne Observations
The Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) mission, launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on 31st January 2015, was designed to provide global soil moisture every 2 to 3 days at 9 km resolution by downscaling SMAP passive microwave observations obtained at 36 km resolution using active microwave observations at 3 km resolution, and then retrieving soil moisture from the resulting 9 km brightness temperature product. This study evaluated the SMAP Active/Passive (AP) downscaling algorithm together with other resolution enhancement techniques. Airborne passive microwave observations acquired at 1 km resolution over the Murrumbidgee River catchment in south-eastern Australia during the fourth and fifth Soil Moisture Active Passive Experiments (SMAPEx-4/5) were used as reference data. The SMAPEx-4/5 data were collected in May and September 2015, respectively, and aggregated to 9 km for direct comparison with a number of available resolution-enhanced brightness temperature estimates. The results show that the SMAP AP downscaled brightness temperature had a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.84 and Root-Mean-Squared Error (RMSE) of ~10 K, while SMAP Enhanced, Nearest Neighbour, Weighted Average, and the Smoothing Filter-based Modulation (SFIM) brightness temperature estimates had somewhat better performance (RMSEs of ~7 K and an R exceeding 0.9). Although the SFIM had the lowest unbiased RMSE of ~6 K, the effect of cloud cover on Ka-band observations limits data availability.
downscaled brightness temperature↗