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At least 55 records · Page 3

The Aura Mission and Its Application to Climate and Air Quality

NASA's Aura satellite is scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2004 into a polar orbit. The Aura mission is designed to collect data to address three high priority environmental science questions: (1) Is the ozone layer recovering as expected? (2) What are the sources and processes that control tropospheric pollutants? And (3) what is the quantitative impact of constituents on climate change? Aura will answer these questions by globally measuring a comprehensive set of trace gases and aerosols in the troposphere and stratosphere. Aura data will also have applications for monitoring and predicting climate and air quality parameters. Aura s observations will continue the TOMS ozone trend record and provide an assessment as to whether the Montreal Protocol is achieving its objective. Aura will measure gases and aerosols in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere that contribute to climate forcing. These data will be of sufficient coverage, vertical resolution, and accuracy to help constrain climate models. In addition, Aura observations of tropospheric ozone and its precursors will have regional as well as intercontinental coverage, which could improve emission inventories. Near real time data will tested for local air quality forecasts in collaboration with the US's Environmental Protection UV-B forecasts from Aura ozone and cloud cover data. An overview of Aura s instruments, data products, validation, and examples of data applications will be presented.

Hilsenrath, Ernest↗

Space simulation

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration served as a cosponsor of the Sixth Space Simulation Symposium. These proceedings were published as a NASA Special Publication in order to give the participants and attendees of the conference a permanent record of the material presented and to make the technology of space simulation available to others who may find in this technology solutions to problems extant in their respective fields. Space exploration has posed the most challenging technical difficulties man has yet faced and solved. The technology evolved by the space program has relevance to many other fields, especially to the area of environment control and modification. This latter field promises to be one of extreme importance in this decade. The technology of space simulation has evolved many solutions to problems of a similar nature to those now affecting our environment. NASA is pleased to cooperate with the Institute of Environmental Sciences, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the American Society for Testing and Materials in advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the important area of space simulation and to make these proceedings available to other areas of science and technology.

John F Clark↗

A data acquisition system for marine and ecological research.

Description of a self-contained portable data acquisition system for use in marine and ecological research. The compact lightweight data acquisition system is capable of recording 14 variables in its present configuration and is suitable for use in either a boat, pickup truck, or light aircraft. This system will provide the acquisition of reliable data on the structure of the environment and the effect of man-made and natural activities on the observed phenomenon. Utilizing both self-contained analog recording and a telemetry transmitter for real-time digital readout and recording, the prototype system has undergone extensive testing. Currently undergoing component performance upgrading, the prototype system has been utilized in several environmental science investigations associated with air pollution investigations and weather modification and is currently being used for marine data acquisition.

Johnson, R. A.↗

Data on incident solar energy

Instrumentation for solar irradiance monitoring, and radiation scales are discussed in a survey of incident solar energy data. The absolute accuracy and intrinsic reliability of the values of the solar constant and zero air mass solar spectrum proposed by the Institute of Environmental Sciences as an ASTM standard are evaluated. Extraterrestrial observations are used for deriving solar irradiance data at ground level for widely varying atmospheric parameters, with special reference to air pollution. The effects of diffuse sky radiance and those of varying slopes of the solar energy collecting surface are examined. Average values of solar energy available at different locations in the United States are included.

Thekaekara, M. P.↗

Eighth Conference on Space Simulation

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has served as a co-sponsor of the Eighth Space Simulation Conference and has published the proceedings as a NASA Special Publication so that the information presented would be available as a permanent record and as a reference source for persons interested in the technologies. This conference provided an international forum for the discussion of the state of the art in space simulation, contamination, biosciences, and flammability. It is through this forum that many persons with differing interests and responsibilities in the aerospace research, development, and testing programs have been brought together for the interchange of knowledge in areas which affect them all. The NASA is again pleased to present, with the Institute of Environmental Sciences, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the American Society for Testing and Materials, this important material and to make it accessible to the greater scientific community as a NASA publication.

John H Boeckel↗

Nuclear Science Symposium, 4th, and Nuclear Power Systems Symposium, 9th, San Francisco, Calif., October 19-21, 1977, Proceedings

Consideration is given to the following types of high energy physics instrumentation: drift chambers, multiwire proportional chambers, calorimeters, optical detectors, ionization and scintillation detectors, solid state detectors, and electronic and digital subsystems. Attention is also paid to reactor instrumentation, nuclear medicine instrumentation, data acquisition systems for nuclear instrumentation, microprocessor applications in nuclear science, environmental instrumentation, control and instrumentation of nuclear power generating stations, and radiation monitoring. Papers are also presented on instrumentation for the High Energy Astronomy Observatory.

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Analyses of earth radiation budget data from unrestricted broadband radiometers on the ESSA 7 satellite

Six months of data from the wide-field-of-view low resolution infrared radiometers on the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) 7 satellite were analyzed. Earth emitted and earth reflected irradiances were computed at satellite altitude using data from a new in-flight calibration technique. Flux densitites and albedos were computed for the top of the earth's atmosphere. Monthly averages of these quantities over 100 latitude zones, each hemisphere, and the globe are presented for each month analyzed, and global distributions are presented for typical months. Emitted flux densities are generally lower and albedos higher than those of previous studies. This may be due, in part, to the fact that the ESSA 7 satellite was in a 3 p.m. Sun-synchronous orbit and some of the comparison data were obtained from satellites in 12 noon sun-synchronous orbits. The ESSA 7 detectors seem to smooth out spatial flux density variations more than scanning radiometers or wide-field-of-view fixed-plate detectors. Significant longitudinal and latitudinal variations of emitted flux density and albedo were identified in the tropics in a zone extending about + or - 25 deg in latitude.

Weaver, W. L.↗

Nasa Program Plan

Major facts are given for NASA'S planned FY-1981 through FY-1985 programs in aeronautics, space science, space and terrestrial applications, energy technology, space technology, space transportation systems, space tracking and data systems, and construction of facilities. Competition and cooperation, reimbursable launchings, schedules and milestones, supporting research and technology, mission coverage, and required funding are considered. Tables and graphs summarize new initiatives, significant events, estimates of space shuttle flights, and major missions in astrophysics, planetary exploration, life sciences, environmental and resources observation, and solar terrestrial investigations. The growth in tracking and data systems capabilities is also depicted.

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Fourteenth Space Simulation Conference: Testing for a Permanent Presence in Space

The Institute of Environmental Sciences Fourteenth Space Simulation Conference, Testing for a Permanent Presence in Space, provided participants a forum to acquire and exchange information on the state-of-the-art in space simulation, test technology, thermal simulation, and protection, contamination, and techniques of test measurements.

Stecher, Joseph L., III↗

Fifteenth Space Simulation Conference: Support the Highway to Space Through Testing

The Institute of Environmental Sciences Fifteenth Space Simulation Conference, Support the Highway to Space Through Testing, provided participants a forum to acquire and exchange information on the state-of-the-art in space simulation, test technology, thermal simulation and protection, contamination, and techniques of test measurements.

Stecher, Joseph↗

Fourth Airborne Geoscience Workshop: Summary Minutes

The general theme for the workshop revolved around global environmental change. Over 170 individuals participated in the presentations and ensuing discussions about the many agency activities using airborne platforms and sensors in support of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (GCRP). The U.S. GCRP was developed as a central component of the U.S. Government's approach to global change and its contribution to worldwide efforts. An all-encompassing U.S. plan was developed by the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES), which continues as the interagency coordinating group for the program. The U.S. GCRP was established as a Presidential initiative in the FY90 budget, making it a particularly relevant topic for the workshop. The following are presented in the appendices: (1) final agenda and list of registrants; (2) final list of poster presenters; (3) steering group luncheon participants; (4) the draft resolution; and (5) selected handouts.

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Laser Remote Sensing of Pollution on Water Surfaces

One of the most important problems of modern environmental science is the detection and identification of various impurities in the ocean. Sources of impurities in sea water are diverse. The most common of them are accidental transport, agricultural, and oil industry spills. Once the ecological balance is disturbed, biological processes in sea water become affected, resulting in changes in chlorophyll concentrations, water turbidity, and temperature. During the last few years, we have created new types of lidars and arranged nearly ten aircraft and shipboard expeditions. Some aircraft expeditions dealt with terrestrial investigations. Others were devoted to oceanological research, the results of which are discussed here. Emphasis is on the detection of phytoplankton chlorophyll and hydrocarbon in sea water.

Bunkin, A. F.↗

The Seventeenth Space Simulation Conference. Terrestrial Test for Space Success

The Institute of Environmental Sciences' Seventeenth Space Simulation Conference, 'Terrestrial Test for Space Success' provided participants with a forum to acquire and exchange information on the state of the art in space simulation, test technology, atomic oxygen, dynamics testing, contamination, and materials. The papers presented at this conference and the resulting discussions carried out the conference theme of 'terrestrial test for space success.'

Stecher, Joseph L., III↗

Artificial intelligence for geologic mapping with imaging spectrometers

This project was a three year study at the Center for the Study of Earth from Space (CSES) within the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES) at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The goal of this research was to develop an expert system to allow automated identification of geologic materials based on their spectral characteristics in imaging spectrometer data such as the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). This requirement was dictated by the volume of data produced by imaging spectrometers, which prohibits manual analysis. The research described is based on the development of automated techniques for analysis of imaging spectrometer data that emulate the analytical processes used by a human observer. The research tested the feasibility of such an approach, implemented an operational system, and tested the validity of the results for selected imaging spectrometer data sets.

Kruse, F. A.↗

Instrument configurations for the restructured Earth Observing System (EOS)

The Earth Observing System (EOS), the major NASA contribution to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, consists of a series of satellites with sensors designed to measure the crucial variables to monitor processes on the land, ocean, and atmosphere, a Data and Information System (EOSDIS) to analyze geophysical and biological products and distribute them to investigators, and a scientific research program. EOSDIS began in 1991 with organization of existing data sets, with the goal of a useful, accessible system in 1994. The launch of the first medium-size EOS platform will occur in 1998, with launches every 18 to 24 months and replacements every 5 years to provide a 15-year series of reliable scientific products. The selection of the instruments that comprise the payloads is designed to address the highest priority science/policy questions, as identified by the inter-agency Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Dozier, Jeff↗

A Short Walk to Everywhere: Space Earth Ocean Center Camp (SEOC)

This video details the activities of the Space, Earth, Ocean Center (SEOC), an environmental residential camp held in the summer for elementary school children. Students are shown participating in hands-on activities designed to encourage environmental awareness and interests in the environmental sciences.

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United States Weather Research Program (USWRP)

After more than a decade of development by a broad cross-section of the U.S. atmospheric research community involved in planning for the National STORM Program, the Subcommittee on Atmospheric Research (SAR) of the Committee on Earth and Environmental Science (CEES) led the development of a strategic plan to realize the objectives of STORM so as to improve our nation's capability to provide accurate short-term forecasts of weather. This strategic plan will guide the planning and implementation of what is now called the United States Weather Research Program (USWRP). The USWRP is charged with achieving operational atmospheric prediction based on mesoscale observations and model results and establishing the scientific and technological basis for global atmospheric mesoscale prediction by the year 2000. The key scientific questions that are addressed under USWRP are discussed.

Bhumralkar, Chandrakant↗