Applications for bispectral radiance measurement from a satellite
Rayleigh scattering used for reflectance measurements from synchronous satellites
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Rayleigh scattering used for reflectance measurements from synchronous satellites
Transportable laser system for lunar ranging
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An exact analytic solution to the one-dimensional scattering problem with arbitrary single scattering albedo and arbitrary surface albedo is presented. Expressions are given for the emergent flux from a homogeneous layer, the internal flux within the layer, and the radiative heating. A comparison of these results with the values calculated from the matrix operator theory indicates an exceedingly high accuracy. A detailed study is made of the error in the matrix operator results and its dependence on the accuracy of the starting value.
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A time series of the Loop Current in the Gulf of Mexico, covering an annual cycle of growth, spreading, and decay, has been obtained in synchronization with ERTS. Computer enhanced images, which are necessary to extract useful oceanic information, show that the current can be observed either by color or sea state effects associated with the cyclonic boundary. The color effect relates to the spectral variations in the optical properties of the water and its suspended particles, and is studied by radiative transfer theory. Significant oceanic parameters identified are: the probability of forward scattering, and the ratio of scattering to total attenuation.
Description of a method for deriving horizontal density fields at altitudes above 30 km directly from satellite radiation measurements. The method is applicable to radiation measurements from any instrument with suitable transmittance weighting functions. Data such as those acquired by the Satellite Infrared Spectrometers on satellites Nimbus 3 and 4 are employed for demonstrating the use of the method for estimating stratospheric-mesospheric density fields.
The method of transfer functions is discussed that enable the elimination of atmospheric effects from spectral photometric data measured from spacecraft. Soyuz 7, 9 and Salyut spacecraft data were used. The results made it possible to estimate the variations in the transfer functions in the visible spectral region depending on the albedo of the underlying surface both for the uniform surfaces and near the boundary between two uniform underlying surfaces.
Engineering and scientific objectives of the LRIR experiment are described along with system requirements, subassemblies, and experiment operation. The mechanical, electrical, and thermal interfaces between the LRIR experiment and the Nimbus F spacecraft are defined. The protoflight model qualification and acceptance test program is summarized. Test data is presented in tables to give an overall view of each test parameter and possible trends of the performance of the LRIR experiment. Conclusions and recommendations are included.
Certain aspects of the general circulations of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are compared using atmospheric structure obtained from Nimbus 3 Satellite Infrared Spectrometer (SIRS) data. Comparisons between the hemispheres of zonal and eddy available potential energy (AZ and AE) and zonal and eddy kinetic energy (KZ and KE) indicate that the ratios of AZ to AE and KZ to KE are larger in the Southern Hemisphere. The relative importance of standing and transient eddies in both hemispheres is investigated. The results show that standing eddies in the Southern Hemisphere contribute less to eddy available potential energy (AE) and eddy kinetic energy (KE) than in the Northern Hemisphere. The same type of inter-hemispheric distinction is true for the mid-latitude eddy heat flux. The distribution with latitude of the relative importance of standing and transient eddies is also studied. Horizontal eddy heat fluxes in the upper troposphere of both hemispheres are examined and in midlatitudes found to be approximately equal in magnitude when averaged over the summer and winter month. The Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude eddy heat flux is also shown to have significant longitudinal variations, apparently associated with the location of the southern continents.
This note reports on an analysis of atmospheric emission spectra in the 10-12 micron region measured with a limb-oriented balloon-borne spectrometer. Data clearly show the existence of an additional feature at 10.8 microns which is probably due to measurement contamination from aerosols. The 10.8 micron emitter has a strong reducing effect on the HNO3 mixing ratio profile as determined by application of a symmetrical band shape model to the 10.8 spectral feature.
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The results of LANDSAT and Skylab research programs on the effects of the atmosphere on computer mapping of terrain include: (1) the concept of a ground truth map needs to be drastically revised; (2) the concept of training areas and test areas is not as simple as generally thought because of the problem of pixels that represent a mixture of terrain classes; (3) this mixture problem needs to be more widely recognized and dealt with by techniques of calculating spectral signatures of mixed classes, or by other methods; (4) atmospheric effects should be considered in computer mapping of terrain and in monitoring changes; and (5) terrain features may be used as calibration panels on the ground, from which atmospheric conditions can be determined and monitored. Results are presented of a test area in mountainous terrain of south-central Colorado for which an initial classification was made using simulated mixture-class spectral signatures and actual LANDSAT-1-MSS data.
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Detailed knowledge of the irradiance of the sun at ground locations is essential for the design and evaluation of solar energy conversion systems. The primary source of such data is the global network of weather stations. Such stations are often too far apart and for most locations the data available are only daily total irradiance or monthly averages. Solar energy conversion programs require insolation data with considerably higher geographical and temporal resolution. Meteorological satellites gather routinely extensive data on the energy reflected and scattered into space by the earth-atmosphere system. A program has been initiated to use such data for deriving ground insolation for energy conversion. Some of the preliminary results of this program will be discussed.
Techniques have been developed and used to invert limb scan measurements for vertical profiles of atmospheric state parameters. The parameters which can be found are concentrations of Rayleigh scatters, ozone, NO2, and aerosols, and aerosol physical properties including a Junge-size distribution parameter and real and imaginary parts of the index of refraction.