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At least 631 records · Page 35

A study of the unification of ground and inflight wind criteria for the space shuttle

Wind data measured on a 444-m tower located near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, were used to investigate the structure of wind and turbulence in the height interval from 150 m to 1 km. The structure of wind and turbulence in the layer not encompassed by the existing design criteria was researched and ways for unifying the ground and inflight criteria were investigated. Steady state vertical wind profiles, directional wind component envelopes, wind shear, wind direction change, gust factor, and turbulence spectra are encompassed. A method is proposed for the specification of steady state wind profiles and shear envelopes for use in the region between 150 m and 1 km without altering in any way the existing design criteria. The data analyzed did not indicate a need for changing the existing criteria in regards to wind direction change, gust factor, or spectra of turbulence.

Scoggins, J. R.↗

Automatic vehicle monitoring systems study. Report of phase O. Volume 1: Executive summary

A set of planning guidelines is presented to help law enforcement agencies and vehicle fleet operators decide which automatic vehicle monitoring (AVM) system could best meet their performance requirements. Improvements in emergency response times and resultant cost benefits obtainable with various operational and planned AVM systems may be synthesized and simulated by means of special computer programs for model city parameters applicable to small, medium, and large urban areas. Design characteristics of various AVM systems and the implementation requirements are illustrated and cost estimated for the vehicles, the fixed sites, and the base equipments. Vehicle location accuracies for different RF links and polling intervals are analyzed.

Source record↗

On the origin of the Bangui magnetic anomaly, central African empire

A large magnetic anomaly was recognized in satellite magnetometer data over the Central African Empire in central Africa. They named this anomaly the Bangui magnetic anomaly due to its location near the capital city of Bangui, C.A.E. Because large crustal magnetic anomalies are uncommon, the origin of this anomaly has provoked some interest. The area of the anomaly was visited to make ground magnetic measurements, geologic observations, and in-situ magnetic susceptibility measurements. Some rock samples were also collected and chemically analyzed. The results of these investigations are presented.

Marsh, B. D.↗

The Potential for Helicopter Passenger Service in Major Urban Areas

An interurban helicopter cost model having the capability of selecting an efficient helicopter network for a given city in terms of service and total operating costs was developed. This model which is based upon the relationship between total and direct operating costs and the number of block hours of helicopter operation is compiled in terms of a computer program which simulates the operation of an intracity helicopter fleet over a given network. When applied to specific urban areas, the model produces results in terms of a break-even air passenger market penetration rate, which is the percent of the air travelers in each of those areas that must patronize the helicopter network to make it break even commercially. A total of twenty major metropolitan areas are analyzed and are ranked initially according to cost per seat mile and then according to break-even penetration rate.

Dajani, J. S.↗

Remote sensing of geologic mineral occurrences for the Colorado mineral belt using LANDSAT data

The author has identified the following significant results. LANDSAT imagery was examined as a practical and productive tool for mineral exploration along the Colorado Mineral Belt. An attempt was made to identify all large, active and/or abandoned mining districts on the imagery which initially were discovered by surface manifestations. A number of strong photolinements, circular features, and color anomalies were identified. Some of these form a part of the structural and igneous volcanic framework in which mineral deposits occur. No specific mineral deposits such as veins or porphyries were identified. Promising linear and concentric features were field checked at several locations. Some proved to be fault zones and calderas; others were strictly topographic features related to stream or glacial entrenchment. The Silverton Caldera region and the Idaho Springs-Central City district were chosen and studied as case histories to evaluate the application of LANDSAT imagery to mineral exploration. Evidence of specific mineralization related to ore deposits in these two areas were observed only on low level photography.

Carpenter, R. H.↗

Evaluation of performance impairment by spacecraft contaminants

The environmental contaminants (isolated as off-gases in Skylab and Apollo missions) were evaluated. Specifically, six contaminants were evaluated for their effects on the behavior of juvenile baboons. The concentrations of contaminants were determined through preliminary range-finding studies with laboratory rats. The contaminants evaluated were acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), trichloroethylene (TCE), heptane and Freon 21. When the studies of the individual gases were completed, the baboons were also exposed to a mixture of MEK and TCE. The data obtained revealed alterations in the behavior of baboons exposed to relatively low levels of the contaminants. These findings were presented at the First International Symposium on Voluntary Inhalation of Industrial Solvents in Mexico City, June 21-24, 1976. A preprint of the proceedings is included.

Geller, I.↗

General pattern of the turbid water in the Seto-inland sea extracted from multispectral imageries by the LANDSAT-1 and 2

The author has identified the following significant results. Each distribution pattern of turbid water changes with the time in accordance with daily tides, seasonal variation of tides, and occasional rainfall. Two cases of successfully repeated LANDSAT observations for the same sea regions suggested a general pattern of turbid water could be extracted for each region. Photographic and digital processes were used to extract patterns of turbid water separately from the cloud and smog-layer in MSS 4, 5, and 7 imageries. A mosaic of image-masked imageries displays a general pattern of turbid water for almost the entire Seto Inland Sea. No such pattern was extracted for the Aki-Nada south of Hiroshima City where the water is fairly polluted, nor for the Iyo-Nada where the water is generally clearer than in other regions of the Seto Inland Sea.

Maruyasu, T.↗

Environmental change pattern in central Japan as revealed by LANDSAT data

The author has identified the following significant results. A patched cirrus reported by weather stations was hardly recognizable by the eye in LANDSAT MSS data of a three year time lapse. The cloud cover affected radiance values significantly in band 4, while its effect was minimal in bands 6 and 7 (near infrared spectra). The cross correlation coefficient analysis between the two images indicated that the highest value obtained in central Japan was 0.963 for the area where little change occurred in land use over the three period. An analysis of land use in Nagoya showed little change in the metropolitan area while a fairly large change occurred in the northern periphery of the city where large scale housing projects are located.

Maruyasu, T.↗

Review of current interest and research in water hyacinth-based wastewater treatment

The status of activity in the user community for water hyacinth-based wastewater treatment was evaluated. The principal technique used was that of interviewing people who either (1) were known to be engaged in hyacinth research or development or (2) had made inquiry to NASA about hyacinth systems. About 40 non-research organizations and a similar number of research organizations were contacted. As a result of the interviews and a review of the relevant literature, it was concluded that hyacinth systems have the potential for providing a lower cost way for small cities to meet increasingly stringent effluent requirements. A limited amount of full-scale demonstration of hyacinth systems has been carried out during the past two years, but the yield of design data has been small. Several organizations are currently planning construction of experimental full-scale hyacinth-based wastewater treatment systems during 1977-1978.

Markarian, R. K.↗

Precision processing of earth image data

Precise corrections of Landsat data are useful for generating land-use maps, detecting various crops and determining their acreage, and detecting changes. The paper discusses computer processing and visualization techniques for Landsat data so that users can get more information from the imagery. The elementary unit of data in each band of each scene is the integrated value of intensity of reflected light detected in the field of view by each sensor. To develop the basic mathematical approach for precision correction of the data, differences between positions of ground control points on the reference map and the observed control points in the scene are used to evaluate the coefficients of cubic time functions of roll, pitch, and yaw, and a linear time function of altitude deviation from normal height above local earth's surface. The resultant equation, termed a mapping function, corrects the warped data image into one that approximates the reference map. Applications are discussed relative to shade prints, extraction of road features, and atlas of cities.

Bernstein, R.↗

Fireball end heights - A diagnostic for the structure of meteoric material

An earlier analysis of Prairie Network fireball trajectory data failed to discriminate between the varieties of meteoric materials that are thought to be present. The Lost City meteorite event offers another calibration of the fireball data and prompts a reanalysis intended to distinguish between ordinary chondritic meteorites and the more fragile early-type carbonaceous chondrites. The carbonaceous material is expected to ablate more readily and have shorter trajectories or higher end heights. Observational error and natural dispersion in the structures produce severe smoothing effects, and the end-height diagnostic is, in itself, not entirely convincing. However, after making a tentative division of the data, one can discern differences in orbits and beginning heights among the three end-height groups. These are consistent with expectations of the behavior of chondritic stones (group I), weak carbonaceous chondrites (group II), and still more fragile cometary material (group III). It is concluded that if the carbonaceous material occurs in reasonable abundance among the fireballs, it has been properly identified by this analysis.

Ceplecha, Z.↗

Satellite cloud climatology of summertime cumulus research areas

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program data available for the summer of 1974 was used to construct a cloud climatology of areas where weather modification experiments are currently being conducted or planned; the three High Plains Experiment sites at Colby, Kansas, Big Springs, Texas, and Miles City, Montana; South Park, Colorado, where the South Park Area Cumulus Experiment is being conducted; and the National Hail Research Experiment area in northeastern Colorado. Digital data tapes were produced from the transparencies, obtained from the sun-synchronous polar-orbiting satellite passing over the study areas at about 1200 local time, and a computer analysis was carried out, producing areas and numbers of clouds for each area and day as well as providing data for cumulative averages over selected time periods for each study area.

Stodt, R. W.↗

Advanced short haul aircraft for high density markets

The short haul (less than 500 miles) passenger enplanements represent about 50% of the total domestic enplanements. These can be distinguished by the annual passenger flow for a given city pair and classified into low, medium and high densiy markets. NASA studies have investigated various advanced short haul aircraft concepts that have potential application in these three market areas. Although advanced operational techniques impact all market densities, advanced vehicle design concepts such as RTOL, STOL and VTOL have the largest impact in the high density markets. This paper summarizes the results of NASA sponsored high density short haul air transportation systems studies and briefly reviews NASA sponsored advanced VTOL conceptual aircraft design studies. Trends in vehicle characteristics and operational requirements will be indicated in addition to economic suitability and impact on the community.

Galloway, T. L.↗

A spiral guidance approach concept for all-weather VTOL operations

A description is presented of the results of an investigation of the guidance and navigation requirements for VTOL spiral descents in the presence of winds. A spiral approach for all-weather operations for VTOL aircraft is discussed along with aspects of spiral approach guidance. Attention is given to the equations of motion, nominal spiral specification, the wind estimator, and the feedback guidance law. The performance of the spiral guidance algorithms is evaluated with the aid of a realistic example which was selected for the Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

Hoffman, W. C.↗

The metallic microstructures and thermal histories of severely reheated chondrites

The metallographic structures of eight severely reheated chondrites - Farmington, Ramsdorf, Orvinio, Wickenburg, Lubbock, Rose City, Arapahoe, and Tadjera - were studied using optical, SEM and electron microprobe techniques. The following metallographic criteria were used to estimate the post-shock residual temperature of the chondrites: melted metal-troilite appearance, presence of martensite, phosphorus enrichment of metal and averaging of central metal grain compositions. The presence of phosphides and secondary kamacite are due to slow post-shock cooling rates. Ni rim gradients indicate both extensive remelting of metal grains and relatively fast cooling.

Smith, B. A.↗

Radiative transfer in a polluted urban planetary boundary layer

Radiative transfer in a polluted urban atmosphere is studied using a dynamic model. The diurnal nature of radiative transfer for summer conditions is simulated for an urban area 40 km in extent and the effects of various parameters arising in the problem are investigated. The results of numerical computations show that air pollution has the potential of playing a major role in the radiative regime of the urban area. Absorption of solar energy by aerosols in realistic models of urban atmosphere are of the same order of magnitude as that due to water vapor. The predicted effect of the air pollution aerosol in the city is to warm the earth-atmosphere system, and the net effect of gaseous pollutant is to warm the surface and cool the planetary boundary layer, particularly near the top.

Viskanta, R.↗

Baltimore applications project

The program to assist the City of Baltimore with technology of all types has completed its third year of operation. Some 43 task areas are discussed; the task identification is essentially complete.

Golden, T. S.↗

Application of aerial photography to water-related programs in Michigan

Aerial photography and information system technology were used to generate information required for the effective operation of three water-related programs in Michigan. Potential mosquito breeding sites were identified from specially acquired low altitude 70 mm color photography for the city of Lansing; the inventory identified 35% more surface water areas than indicated on existing field maps. A comprehensive inventory of surface water sources and potential access sites was prepared to assist fire departments in Antrim County with fire truck water-recharge operations. Remotely-sensed land cover/use data for Windsor Township, Eaton County, were integrated with other resource data into a computer-based information system for regional water quality studies. Eleven thematic maps focusing on landscape features affecting non-point water pollution and waste disposal were generated from analyses of a four-hectare grid-based data file containing land cover/use, soils, topographic and geologic (well-log) data.

Enslin, W. R.↗