Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “aerosol absorption”

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 595 records · Page 33

Re-evaluation of Dust Absorption and Radiative Forcing of Climate Using Satellite and Ground Based Remote Sensing

Simultaneous spaceborne and ground based measurements of the scattered solar radiation, create a powerful tool for determination of dust absorption and scattering properties. Absorption of solar radiation is a key component in understanding dust impact on radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere, on the temperature profile and on cloud formation. We use Landsat spaceborne measurements at seven spectral channels in the range of 0.47 to 2.2 microns over Senegal with corresponding measurements of the aerosol spectral optical thickness by ground based sunphotometers, to find that Saharan dust absorption of solar radiation is two to four times smaller than measured in situ and represented in models. Though dust was found to absorb in the blue (single scattering albedo w = 0.88), almost no absorption, w = 0.98, was found for wavelengths > 0.6 microns. The new finding increases by 50% recently estimated solar radiative forcing by dust at the top of the atmosphere and decreases the estimated dust heating of the lower troposphere due to absorption of solar radiation. Dust transported from Asia shows slightly higher absorption for wavelengths under 1 micron, that can be explained by the presence of black carbon from urban/industrial pollution associated with the submicron size mode. In the talk I shall also discuss recent observation of the impact of dust shape on the dust scattering properties.

Kaufman, Yoram↗

Evaluation of Dust Absorption and Radiative Forcing of Climate Using Satellite and Ground Based Remote Sensing

Simultaneous spaceborne and ground based measurements of the scattered solar radiation, create a powerful tool for determination of dust absorption. Absorption of solar radiation is a key component in understanding dust impact on radiative forcing at the top of the atmosphere, on the temperature profile and on cloud formation. We use Landsat spaceborne measurements at seven spectral channels in the range of 0.47 to 2.2 microns over Senegal with corresponding measurements of the aerosol spectral optical thickness by ground based sunphotometers, to find that Saharan dust absorption of solar radiation is two to four times smaller than measured in situ and represented in models. Though dust was found to absorb in the blue (single scattering albedo wo = 0.88), almost no absorption, wo = 0.98, was found for 1 greater than 0.6 microns. The results are in agreement with dust radiative measurements reported in the literature, and explain some previously reported but unexplained dust radiative properties. Therefore, the new finding should be of general relevance. The new finding increases by 50% recently estimated solar radiative forcing by dust at the top of the atmosphere and decreases the estimated dust heating of the lower troposphere due to absorption of solar radiation. Dust transported from Asia shows slightly higher absorption for wavelengths under 1 @im, that can be explained by the presence of black carbon from urban/industrial pollution associated with the submicron size mode.

Kaufman, Yoram J.↗

Optics of Water Cloud Droplets Mixed with Black-Carbon Aerosols

We use the recently extended superposition T-matrix method to calculate scattering and absorption properties of micrometer-sized water droplets contaminated by black carbon. Our numerically exact results reveal that, depending on the mode of soot-water mixing, the soot specific absorption can vary by a factor exceeding 6.5. The specific absorption is maximized when the soot material is quasi-uniformly distributed throughout the droplet interior in the form of numerous small monomers. The range of mixing scenarios captured by our computations implies a wide range of remote sensing and radiation budget implications of the presence of black carbon in liquid-water clouds. We show that the popular Maxwell-Garnett effective-medium approximation can be used to calculate the optical cross sections, single-scattering albedo, and asymmetry parameter for the quasi-uniform mixing scenario, but is likely to fail in application to other mixing scenarios and in computations of the elements of the scattering matrix.

soot↗

An efficient and accurate technique to compute the absorption, emission, and transmission of radiation by the Martian atmosphere

CO2 comprises 95 pct. of the composition of the Martian atmosphere. However, the Martian atmosphere also has a high aerosol content. Dust particles vary from less than 0.2 to greater than 3.0. CO2 is an active absorber and emitter in near IR and IR wavelengths; the near IR absorption bands of CO2 provide significant heating of the atmosphere, and the 15 micron band provides rapid cooling. Including both CO2 and aerosol radiative transfer simultaneously in a model is difficult. Aerosol radiative transfer requires a multiple scattering code, while CO2 radiative transfer must deal with complex wavelength structure. As an alternative to the pure atmosphere treatment in most models which causes inaccuracies, a treatment was developed called the exponential sum or k distribution approximation. The chief advantage of the exponential sum approach is that the integration over k space of f(k) can be computed more quickly than the integration of k sub upsilon over frequency. The exponential sum approach is superior to the photon path distribution and emissivity techniques for dusty conditions. This study was the first application of the exponential sum approach to Martian conditions.

Lindner, Bernhard Lee↗

Line Narrowing Parameter Measurement by Modulation Spectroscopy

Accurate Characterization of Oxygen A-Band Line Parameters by Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy with tunable diode lasers is an ongoing research at Old Dominion University, under sponsorship from NASA Langley research Center. The work proposed here will be undertaken under the guidance of Dr. William Chu and Dr. Lamont Poole of the Aerosol Research Branch at NASA Langley-Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The research was started about two years ago and utilizes wavelength modulation absorption spectroscopy with higher harmonic detection, a technique that we developed at Old Dominion University, to obtain the absorption line characteristics of the Oxygen A-band rovibronic lines. Accurate characterization of this absorption band is needed for processing of data that will be obtained in experiments such as the NASA Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE III) as part of the US Mission to Planet Earth. The research work for Summer Fellowship undertook a measurement of the Dicke line-narrowing parameters of the Oxygen A-Band lines by using wavelength modulation spectroscopy. Our previous theoretical results had indicated that such a measurement could be done sensitively and in a convenient fashion by using this type of spectroscopy. In particular, theoretical results had indicated that the signal magnitude would depend on pressure in a manner that was very sensitive to the narrowing parameter. One of the major tasks undertaken during the summer of 1998 was to establish experimentally that these theoretical predictions were correct. This was done successfully and the results of the work are being prepared for publication. Experimental Results were obtained in which the magnitude of the signal was measured as a function of pressure, for various harmonic detection orders (N = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). A comparison with theoretical results was made, and it was shown that the agreement between theory and experiment was very good. More importantly, however, it was shown that the measurement was yielded a very sensitive technique for obtaining the narrowing parameter that describes the deviation of Oxygen A-band lines from the Voigt profile. In particular, it was seen that the best fits were obtained consistently when the narrowing parameter value used was 0.022 1/cm, 1/Atm, Previous work, upon which the current work was based has resulted in several accurate measurements of properties of particular lines of the Oxygen A band. For example, this work has resulted in the measurement of the collision cross sections of several lines including the RQ(13,14) and the RR(15,15) lines. A major achievement of achievement of the work was also the demonstration that the technique we have developed can accurately probe the structure of the absorption lineshape function. In particular, the method we have developed is very well suited for experimentally probing the characteristics of lines in their wings. This work was accepted for publication in the Journal of Applied Physics, and is scheduled to appear in the December 15, 1998 issue.

Dharamsi, Amin N.↗

Extending XBAER Algorithm to Aerosol and Cloud Condition

The retrieval of cloud optical properties for aerosol contaminated water cloud is challenging because of the complexity of physical processes in such situations. Conventionally, cloud optical data products are typically derived, ignoring the aerosol impacts on radiative transfer in the retrieval process. This is potentially a significant source of error. In this paper, the eXtensible Bremen Aerosol Retrieval (XBAER) algorithm has been optimized for the retrieval of aerosol/cloud properties for the aerosol contaminated cloud (ACC) scenarios. This version of XBAER delivers cloud optical thickness (COT) and cloud effective radius (CER) for ACCs and simultaneously retrieves aerosol optical thickness (AOT). The surface parameterization and aerosol types used in the standard XBAER algorithm have been adapted in this retrieval to account for the ACC conditions. Aerosol types in XBAER for the retrieval of ACC scenarios have been parameterized to comprise weak and strong absorptions. The comparisons of COT, CER, and AOT retrieved using this adapted XBAER algorithm and two new NASA algorithms show good agreements, especially for biomass burning aerosol. The correlation coefficients are >0.9 for AOT, ~0.8 for CER, and ~0.7 for COT. There is also a good agreement for dust plume contaminated cloud scene. The XBAER derived AOT values for dust aerosols are systematically smaller than the NASA retrieval, but both products have the same spatial distribution patterns. The comparison of COT retrieved using the adapted XBAER algorithm and that retrieved from ground-based microwave radiometer (MWR) measurements shows much better agreement for ACC conditions with high AOT.

satellite↗

The vertical structure of Arctic haze as determined from airborne net-flux radiometer measurements

From net-flux radiometer measurements and model results, the vertical layer structure is deduced of the Arctic haze encountered during two of the AGASP flights. The total value of the absorption optical depth is found to be on the order of 0.065 for both flights, with the majority of the absorbing aerosol concentrated in the lowest 1.6 km of the atmosphere. A comparison of these results with measurements of the carbon concentration leads to a value of the specific absorption of carbon of 24 sq m g. While higher than expected, this value is shown to be consistent with an internally-mixed aerosol of carbon cores and sulfate shells.

Ackerman, T. P.↗

Global Radiative Forcing of Coupled Tropospheric Ozone and Aerosols in a Unified General Circulation Model

Global simulations of sea salt and mineral dust aerosols are integrated into a previously developed unified general circulation model (GCM), the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) GCM II', that simulates coupled tropospheric ozone-NOx-hydrocarbon chemistry and sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, black carbon, primary organic carbon, and secondary organic carbon aerosols. The fully coupled gas-aerosol unified GCM allows one to evaluate the extent to which global burdens, radiative forcing, and eventually climate feedbacks of ozone and aerosols are influenced by gas-aerosol chemical interactions. Estimated present-day global burdens of sea salt and mineral dust are 6.93 and 18.1 Tg with lifetimes of 0.4 and 3.9 days, respectively. The GCM is applied to estimate current top of atmosphere (TOA) and surface radiative forcing by tropospheric ozone and all natural and anthropogenic aerosol components. The global annual mean value of the radiative forcing by tropospheric ozone is estimated to be +0.53 W m(sup -2) at TOA and +0.07 W m(sup -2) at the Earth's surface. Global, annual average TOA and surface radiative forcing by all aerosols are estimated as -0.72 and -4.04 W m(sup -2), respectively. While the predicted highest aerosol cooling and heating at TOA are -10 and +12 W m(sup -2) respectively, surface forcing can reach values as high as -30 W m(sup -2), mainly caused by the absorption by black carbon, mineral dust, and OC. We also estimate the effects of chemistry-aerosol coupling on forcing estimates based on currently available understanding of heterogeneous reactions on aerosols. Through altering the burdens of sulfate, nitrate, and ozone, heterogeneous reactions are predicted to change the global mean TOA forcing of aerosols by 17% and influence global mean TOA forcing of tropospheric ozone by 15%.

Liao, Hong↗

Laser Sounder for Global Measurement of CO2 Concentrations in the Troposphere from Space

Measurements of tropospheric CO2 abundance with global-coverage, a few hundred km spatial and monthly temporal resolution are needed to quantify processes that regulate CO2 storage by the land and oceans. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) is the first space mission focused on atmospheric CO2 for measuring total column CO, and O2 by detecting the spectral absorption in reflected sunlight. The OCO mission is an essential step, and will yield important new information about atmospheric CO2 distributions. However there are unavoidable limitations imposed by its measurement approach. These include best accuracy only during daytime at moderate to high sun angles, interference by cloud and aerosol scattering, and limited signal from CO2 variability in the lower tropospheric CO2 column. We have been developing a new laser-based technique for the remote measurement of the tropospheric CO2 concentrations from orbit. Our initial goal is to demonstrate a lidar technique and instrument technology that will permit measurements of the CO2 column abundance in the lower troposphere from aircraft. Our final goal is to develop a space instrument and mission approach for active measurements of the CO2 mixing ratio at the 1-2 ppmv level. Our technique is much less sensitive to cloud and atmospheric scattering conditions and would allow continuous measurements of CO2 mixing ratio in the lower troposphere from orbit over land and ocean surfaces during day and night. Our approach is to use the 1570nm CO2 band and a 3-channel laser absorption spectrometer (i.e. lidar used an altimeter mode), which continuously measures at nadir from a near polar circular orbit. The approach directs the narrow co-aligned laser beams from the instrument's lasers toward nadir, and measures the energy of the laser echoes reflected from land and water surfaces. It uses several tunable fiber laser transmitters which allowing measurement of the extinction from a single selected CO2 absorption line in the 1570 nm band. This band is free from interference from other gases and has temperature insensitive absorption lines. During the measurement the lasers are tuned on- and off- a selected CO2 line near 1572 nm and a selected O2 line near 768 nm in the Oxygen A band at kHz rates. The lasers use tunable diode seed lasers followed by fiber amplifiers, and have spectral widths much narrower than the gas absorption lines. The receiver uses a 1-m diameter telescope and photon counting detectors and measures the background light and energies of the laser echoes from the surface. The extinction and column densities for the CO2 and O2 gases are estimated from the ratio of the on and offline surface echo via the differential optical absorption technique. Our technique rapidly alternates between several on-line wavelengths set to the sides of the selected gas absorption lines. It exploits the atmospheric pressure broadening of the lines to weight the measurement sensitivity to the atmospheric column below 5 km. This maximizes sensitivity to CO2 in the boundary layer, where variations caused by surface sources and sinks are largest. Simultaneous measurements of O2 column will use an identical approach with an O2 line. Thee laser frequencies are tunable and have narrow (MHz) line widths. In combination with sensitive photon counting detectors these enables much higher spectral resolution and precision than is possible with passive spectrometer. 1aser backscatter profiles are also measured, which permits identifying measurements made to cloud tops and through aerosol layers. The measurement approach using lasers in common-nadir-zenith path allows retrieving CO2 column mixing ratios in the lower troposphere irrespective of sun angle. Pulsed laser signals, time gated receiver and a narrow receiver field-of-view are used to isolate the surface laser echo signals and to exclude photons scattered from clouds and aerosols. Nonetheless, the optical absorption change due to a change of a few ppO2 is small, <1 % which makes achieving the needed measurement sensitivities and stabilities quite challenging. Measurement SNRs and stabilities of >600:1 are needed to estimate CO2 mixing ratio at the 1-2 ppm level. We have calculated characteristics of the technique and have demonstrated aspects of the laser, detector and receiver approaches in th e laboratory We have also measured O2 in an absorption cell, and made C02 measurements over a 400 m long (one way) horizontal path using a sensor breadboard. We will describe these and more details of our approach in the paper.

Abshire, James B.↗

North Atlantic Aerosol Radiative Impacts Based on Satellite Measurements and Aerosol Intensive Properties from TARFOX and ACE-2

We estimate the impact of North Atlantic aerosols on the net short-wave flux at the tropopause by combining satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) maps with model aerosol properties determined via closure analyses in TARFOX and ACE 2. We exclude African dust, primarily by restricting latitudes to 25-60 N. The analyses use in situ aerosol composition measurements and air- and ship-borne sun-photometer measurements of AOD spectra. The aerosol model yields computed flux sensitivities (dFlux/dAOD) that agree with measurements by airborne flux radiometers in TARFOX. Its midvisible single-scattering albedo is 0.9. which is in the range obtained from in situ measurements of scattering and absorption in both TARFOX and ACE 2. Combining satellite-derived AOD maps with the aerosol model yields maps of 24-hour average net radiative flux changes. For simultaneous AVHRR, radiance measurements exceeded the sunphotometer AODs by about 0.04. However. shipboard sunphotometer and AVHRR AODs agreed Within 0.02 for data acquired during satellite overflights on two other days. We discuss attempts to demonstrate column closure within the MBL by comparing shipboard sunphotometer AODs and values calculated from simultaneous shipboard in-situ aerosol size distribution measurements. These comparisons were mostly unsuccessful, but they illustrate the difficulties inherent in this type of closure analysis. Specifically, AODs derived from near-surface in-situ size distribution measurements are extremely sensitive to the assumed hygroscopic growth model that itself requires an assumption of particle composition as a function of height and size, to the radiosonde-measured relative humidity, and to the vertical profile of particle number. We investigate further the effects of hygroscopic particle growth within the MBL by using shipboard lidar aerosol backscatter profiles together with the sunphotometer AOD.

Russell, P. B.↗

Airborne Lidar measurements of aerosols, mixed layer heights, and ozone during the 1980 PEPE/NEROS summer field experiment

A detailed summary of the NASA Ultraviolet Differential Absorption Lidar (UV DIAL) data archive obtained during the EPA Persistent Elevated Pollution Episode/Northeast Regional Oxidant Study (PEPE/NEROS) Summer Field Experiment Program (July through August 1980) is presented. The UV dial data set consists of remote measurements of mixed layer heights, aerosol backscatter cross sections, and sequential ozone profiles taken during 14 long-range flights onboard the NASA Wallops Flight Center Electra aircraft. These data are presented in graphic and tabular form, and they have been submitted to the PEPE/NEROS data archive on digital magnetic tape. The derivation of mixing heights and ozone profiles from UV Dial signals is discussed, and detailed intercomparisons with measurements obtained by in situ sensors are presented.

Browell, E. V.↗

Particle Shape, Size, and Composition from Satellites

The MISR Research Aerosol (RA) retrieval algorithm produces (A) aerosol amount (optical depth – AOD), (B) an aerosol size constraint (Angstrom Exponent) (C) fraction of non-spherical particles, and (D) particle light-absorption (SSA). Near the Camp fire source region the particles tend to be large (low Angstrom Exponent) and non-spherical particles, probably from burning in the town of Paradise. Aerosols are smaller and more spherical downwind, probably as the plume mixes with smoke from burning forest.

aerosol↗

Absolute calibration in the 1750 - 3350 A region

The absolute flux measurements in the rocket ultraviolet made by Bohlin, Frimout, and Lillie (BFL) are revised using a more correct treatment of the air extinction that enters the air calibration of their instrument. The absorption by molecular oxygen and ozone, Rayleigh scattering, and extinction by aerosols is tabulated for general use in ultraviolet calibrations performed in air. The revised absolute flux of eta UMa and final fluxes for alpha Lyr and zeta Oph are presented in the 1750-3350 A region. The absolute flux of the star eta UMa is compared to four other independent determinations in the 1200-3400 A region and a maximum difference of 35% is found near 1500 A between the OAO-2 and Apollo 17 fluxes. The rocket measurements of BFL, the ANS and TD-1 satellite data, and the Apollo 17 data are compared to the ultraviolet fluxes from the OAO-2, demonstrating a photometric reproducibility of about + or - 3 percent. Therefore, all four sets of spectrophotometry can be reduced to a common absolute scale.

Strongylis, G. J.↗

Measurement techniques for trace metals in coal-plant effluents: A brief review

The strong features and limitations of techniques for determining trace elements in aerosols emitted from coal plants are discussed. Techniques reviewed include atomic absorption spectroscopy, charged particle scattering and activation, instrumental neutron activation analysis, gas/liquid chromatography, gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric methods, X-ray fluorescence, and charged-particle-induced X-ray emission. The latter two methods are emphasized. They provide simultaneous, sensitive multielement analyses and lend themselves readily to depth profiling. It is recommended that whenever feasible, two or more complementary techniques should be used for analyzing environmental samples.

Singh, J. J.↗

Absolute calibration in the 1750 A-3350 A region

The absolute flux measurements in the rocket ultraviolet made by Bohlin, Frimout, and Lillie (BFL) are revised using a more correct treatment of the air extinction that enters the air calibration of their instrument. The absorption by molecular oxygen and ozone, Rayleigh scattering, and extinction by aerosols is tabulated for general use in ultraviolet calibrations performed in air. The revised absolute flux of Eta UMa and final fluxes for Alpha Lyr and Zeta Oph are presented in the 1750 A-3350 A region. The absolute flux of the star Eta UMa (B3 V) is compared to four other independent determinations in the 1200 A-3400 A region and a maximum difference of 35% is found near 1500 A between the OAO-2 and Apollo 17 fluxes. Longward of 1700 A the typical scatter in the different determinations is only plus or minus 5%. The rocket measurements of BFL, the ANS and TD-1 satellite data, and the Apollo 17 data are compared to the ultraviolet fluxes from the OAO-2, demonstrating a photometric reproducibility of about plus or minus 3%. Therefore, all four sets of spectrophotometry can be reduced to a common absolute scale.

Strongylis, G. J.↗

A model of the spatial and temporal variation of the Uranus thermal structure

Seasonal variability of the temperature structure of Uranus is modeled for all latitudes in the .0004 to 2 bar pressure range in anticipation of the Voyager encounter in January 1986. Atmospheric heating in the model results on the one hand from an internal heat source and, on the other hand, from absorption of solar energy by methane and by non-conservative aerosols located between the 0.5 and 2 bar levels. Various cases for the behavior of the internal heat flux are investigated, such as constant with latitude or constrained to yield a time-averaged thermal emission independent of latitude. Meridional transport of heat in the stably stratified atmosphere is not taken into account. The results indicate that the Voyager encounter time, very small north-south temperature asymmetry should be expected. Moreover, the northern hemisphere, although not illuminated, should emit as much energy (within one percent) as the southern hemisphere at this date. At a given latitude, extreme temperatures are reached at the equinoxes. At the poles, seasonal amplitudes of about 10 K in the upper stratosphere and 6 K at the 0.6 bar level are predicted, and the variation with time of the emission to space is found to be at most 20 percent. The atmosphere of Uranus appears to be characterized by very long radiative response times (mainly due to its cold temperature) which inhibit the large seasonal variations that one could otherwise expect in view of the high obliquity of the planet and its long orbital period.

Bezard, B.↗

Ultraviolet photochemistry of cyanoacetylene: Application to Titan

Cyanoacetylene is believed to have had a central role in the formation of the pyrimidines essential for RNA synthesis leading to the origin of life on Earth. Cyanoacetylene has also been detected on Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and the only moon in the solar system that possesses a dense atmosphere. It is generally accepted that photochemistry plays a major role in the formation of the complex organic molecules and aerosols found in Titan's atmosphere. Because of its long wavelength absorption and low dissociation threshold it is expected that cyanoacetylene is an important part of these photochemical processes. Since cyanoacetylene would also have been subject to ultraviolet light in the atmosphere of early Earth, an investigation of cyanoacetylene photochemistry on Titan might lead to a better understanding of both the photochemical reactions occurring on primitive earth and the processes of chemical evolution as they occur in planetary atmospheres. The effects of irradiation wavelength, mixing with Titan's atmospheric gases, reducing the temperature and lowering cyanoacetylene partial pressures on product formation and polymer composition have been determined with the ultimate goal of understanding the chemical transformations taking place in Titan's atmosphere.

Clarke, D. W.↗

Steady-state mixing state of black carbon aerosols from a particle-resolved model

Abstract. Black carbon (BC) exerts a notable warming effect due to its strong light absorption, largely influenced by its “mixing state”. However, due to computational constraints, the mixing state is challenging to accurately represent in large-scale models. In this study, we employ a particle-resolved model to simulate the evolution of BC mixing state based on field observation. Our result shows that aerosol compositions, coating thickness (CT) distribution, and optical properties of BC aerosols all exhibit a tendency toward a steady state with a characteristic timescale of less than 1 d, considerably shorter than the BC atmospheric lifetime. The rapid attainment of a steady state suggests that it is reasonable to disregard this pre-steady-state period and instead concentrate on the average properties of BC across extensive spatial and temporal scales. The distribution of CT follows an exponential linear distribution and can be characterized by a single slope parameter k. This distribution is independent of the BC core's distribution. In the model simulation, the mean CT, equivalent to the 1/k, is 62 nm, which is consistent with the statistical results indicating a mean CT of 63 nm. Utilizing the slope parameter k, which effectively characterizes the CT distribution under the steady-state simplifying assumption, the BC absorption enhancement closely corresponds to the results obtained via the particle-resolved method. This study simplifies the BC mixing state description and yields a precise evaluation of the BC optical properties, which has the potential utility for modeling efforts in the refinement of the assessment of BC's radiative effects.

Zhang, Zhouyang↗