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At least 649 records · Page 36

EOS Terra Validation Program

The EOS Terra mission will be launched in July 1999. This mission has great relevance to the atmospheric radiation community and global change issues. Terra instruments include ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT. In addition to the fundamental radiance data sets, numerous global science data products will be generated, including various Earth radiation budget, cloud and aerosol parameters, as well as land surface, terrestrial ecology, ocean color, and atmospheric chemistry parameters. Significant investments have been made in on-board calibration to ensure the quality of the radiance observations. A key component of the Terra mission is the validation of the science data products. This is essential for a mission focused on global change issues and the underlying processes. The Terra algorithms have been subject to extensive pre-launch testing with field data whenever possible. Intensive efforts will be made to validate the Terra data products after launch. These include validation of instrument calibration (vicarious calibration) experiments, instrument and cross-platform comparisons, routine collection of high quality correlative data from ground-based networks, such as AERONET, and intensive sites, such as the SGP ARM site, as well as a variety field experiments, cruises, etc. Airborne simulator instruments have been developed for the field experiment and underflight activities including the MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS), AirMISR, MASTER (MODIS-ASTER), and MOPITT-A. All are integrated on the NASA ER-2, though low altitude platforms are more typically used for MASTER. MATR is an additional sensor used for MOPITT algorithm development and validation. The intensive validation activities planned for the first year of the Terra mission will be described with emphasis on derived geophysical parameters of most relevance to the atmospheric radiation community. Detailed information about the EOS Terra validation Program can be found on the EOS Validation program homepage i/e.: http://ospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/validation/valpage.html).

Starr, David↗

Merging Ocean Color Data From Multiple Missions

Oceanic phytoplankton may play an important role in the cycling of carbon on the Earth, through the uptake of carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis. Although they are ubiquitous in the global oceans, their abundances and dynamics are difficult to estimate, primarily due to the vast spatial extent of the oceans and the short time scales over which their abundances can change. Consequently, the effects of oceanic phytoplankton on biogeochemical cycling, climate change, and fisheries are not well known. In response to the potential importance of phytoplankton in the global carbon cycle and the lack of comprehensive data, NASA and the international community have established high priority satellite missions designed to acquire and produce high quality ocean color data (Table 6.1). Ten of the missions are routine global observational missions: the Ocean Color and Temperature Sensor (OCTS), the Polarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectances sensor (POLDER), Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer-AM (MODIS-AM), Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), Global Imager (GLI), MODIS-PM, Super-GLI (S-GLI), and the Visible/Infrared Imager and Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) and the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). In addition, there are several other missions capable of providing ocean color data on smaller scales. Most of these missions contain the spectral band complement considered necessary to derive oceanic chlorophyll concentrations and other related parameters. Many contain additional bands that can provide important ancillary information about the optical and biological state of the oceans.

Gregg, Watson W.↗

Geomorphic processes active in the Southwestern Louisiana Canal, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana

The geomorphological changes causing the destruction of the banks of the Southwestern Louisiana Canal are studied by means of field work, laboratory analyses, and infrared color imagery interpretation. Turbulence and flow patterns are mapped, and related to erosion and sediment deposition processes. The accelerated erosion rate of the last decade is discussed, with two causative factors cited: (1) development of faster boats, increasing bank and bottom erosion, and (2) a subsequently larger tidal influx, with greater erosive ability. The physical properties of the canal bank materials are also analyzed. It is concluded that channel erosion progressively increases, with no indications of stabilization, until they merge with other waterways and become indistinguishable from natural water bodies.

Doiron, L. N.↗

Mercury's infrared phase effect

Predictions based on a smooth spherical blackbody do not agree with the observed brightness temperatures of the planet Mercury. The curves of measured effective brightness temperature as a function of phase angle are more steep than and reach lower values near absolute values of i of about 180 deg and higher values near absolute values of i of about 0 deg than those of a smooth sphere. Phase curves of the moon have also been obtained which confirm earlier measurements. The distribution of Mercury's emitted energy in wavelength is dependent upon phase angle, changing from clearly identifiable thermal spectra for absolute values of i less than 150 deg to a superposition of thermal emission at several color temperatures for greater phase angles. No significant variation of infrared brightness temperature with subearth longitude intensity was found. These results provide further evidence that the surfaces of Mercury and the moon are similar and that the top layer of the planetary terrain is rough on a millimeter scale.-

Murdock, T. L.↗

Studies with the USF/NASA toxicity screening test method - Effect of air flow and effect of fabric dye

One sample each of commercial polyurethane and polychloroprene flexible foams were evaluated using the USF/NASA toxicity screening test method. Air flow rates of 0, 0.16, 16, and 48 ml/sec were used to determine the effect of air flow on relative toxicity. Time to first sign of incapacitation and time to death were substantially reduced with both polyurethane and polychloroprene flexible foams by the introduction of 16 to 48 ml/sec air flow. The relative toxicity rankings of these materials were not altered by changes in air flow. Under these test conditions, the polyurethane foam consistently appeared more toxic than the polychloroprene foam. Samples of six different colors from the same fabric were evaluated separately, using the USF/NASA toxicity screening test method, to determine the effect of fabric dye, if any. The material was an upholstery fabric, consisting of 46 percent cotton, 33 percent wool, and 21 percent nylon. There appeared to be no significant effect of fabric dye on relative toxicity, for this material under these test conditions.

Hilado, C. J.↗

The effect of variety and maturity on the quality of freeze-dried carrots. The effect of microwave blanching on the nutritional and textural quality of freeze-dried spinach

Using carrots, the quality of freeze-dried products was studied to determine the optimum varieties and maturation stages for quality attributes such as appearance, flavor, texture, and nutritive value. The quality of freeze-dried carrots is discussed in terms of Gardner color, alcohol insoluble solids, viscosity, and core/cortex ratio. Also, microwave blanching of freeze-dried spinach was studied to determine vitamin interrelationships, anatomical changes, and oxidative deteriorations in terms of preprocessing microwave treatments. Statistical methods were employed in the gathering of data and interpretation of results in both studies.

Source record↗

Internal Heterogeneous Processes in Aluminum Combustion

This paper discusses the aluminum particle combustion mechanism which has been expanded by inclusion of gas dissolution processes and ensuing internal phase transformations. This mechanism is proposed based on recent normal and microgravity experiments with particles formed and ignited in a pulsed micro-arc. Recent experimental findings on the three stages observed in Al particle combustion in air and shows the burning particle radiation, trajectory (streak), smoke cloud shapes, and quenched particle interiors are summarized. During stage I, the radiation trace is smooth and the particle flame is spherically symmetric. The temperature measured using a three-color pyrometer is close to 3000 K. Because it exceeds the aluminum boiling point (2730 K), this temperature most likely characterizes the vapor phase flame zone rather than the aluminum surface. The dissolved oxygen content within particles quenched during stage I was below the detection sensitivity (about 1 atomic %) for Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS). After an increase in the radiation intensity (and simultaneous decrease in the measured color temperature from about 3000 to 2800 K) indicative of the transition to stage II combustion, the internal compositions of the quenched particles change. Both oxygen-rich (approx. 10 atomic %) and oxygen-lean (< 1 %) regions are identified within the particles using back-scattered electron imaging and WDS. During stage II, oscillations are observed in particle radiation and the flame and smoke cloud are distorted from their original spherically-symmetric shape. In stage III, particle radiation continues to exhibit oscillations, but its radiation intensity drops and remains at a nearly constant level. The measured temperature decreases to about 2300 K. Also, larger changes in particle velocities are observed, and oxide caps are found on quenched particle surfaces. While these results showed the correlation between the aluminum particle combustion behavior and the evolution of its internal composition, the change from the spherically symmetric to asymmetric flame shape occurring upon the transition from stage I to stage II combustion could not be understood based only on the fact that dissolved oxygen is detected in the particles. The connection between the two phenomena appeared even less significant because in earlier aluminum combustion studies carried in O2/Ar mixtures, flame asymmetry was not observed as opposed to experiments in air or O2/CO mixtures. It has been proposed that the presence of other gases, i.e., hydrogen, or nitrogen causes the change in the combustion regime.

Dreizin, E. L.↗

Coloration Determination of Spectral Darkening Occurring on a Broadband Earth Observing Radiometer: Application to Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES)

It is estimated that in order to best detect real changes in the Earth s climate system, space based instrumentation measuring the Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) must remain calibrated with a stability of 0.3% per decade. Such stability is beyond the specified accuracy of existing ERB programs such as the Clouds and the Earth s Radiant Energy System (CERES, using three broadband radiometric scanning channels: the shortwave 0.3 - 5microns, total 0.3. > 100microns, and window 8 - 12microns). It has been shown that when in low earth orbit, optical response to blue/UV radiance can be reduced significantly due to UV hardened contaminants deposited on the surface of the optics. Since typical onboard calibration lamps do not emit sufficient energy in the blue/UV region, this darkening is not directly measurable using standard internal calibration techniques. This paper describes a study using a model of contaminant deposition and darkening, in conjunction with in-flight vicarious calibration techniques, to derive the spectral shape of darkening to which a broadband instrument is subjected. Ultimately the model uses the reflectivity of Deep Convective Clouds as a stability metric. The results of the model when applied to the CERES instruments on board the EOS Terra satellite are shown. Given comprehensive validation of the model, these results will allow the CERES spectral responses to be updated accordingly prior to any forthcoming data release in an attempt to reach the optimum stability target that the climate community requires.

Matthews, Grant↗

Color–color diagrams as tools for assessment of the variable absorption in high mass X-ray binaries

High mass X-ray binaries hold the promise of allowing us to understand the structure of the winds of their supermassive companion stars by using the emission from the compact object as a backlight to evaluate the variable absorption in the structured stellar wind. The wind along the line of sight can change on timescales as short as minutes and below. However, such short timescales are not available for the direct measurement of absorption through X-ray spectroscopy with the current generation of X-ray telescopes. In this paper, we demonstrate the usability of color–color diagrams for assessing the variable absorption in wind accreting high mass X-ray binary systems. Furthermore, we employ partial covering models to describe the spectral shape of high mass X-ray binaries and assess the implication of different absorbers and their variability on the shape of color–color tracks. We show that in taking into account, the ionization of the absorber, and in particular accounting for the variation of ionization with absorption depth, is crucial to describe the observed behavior well.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

J/Psi Photoproduction Near Threshold With CLAS12

The structure of the proton is comprised of quarks and a sea of gluons. A mechanism that can extract the characteristics of the hidden-color correlations of the nuclear wavefunction is the production of charm near threshold. Due to the fact that momentum transfer is large near threshold in the production of J/ψ , all three valence quarks must act coherently to ex- change energy for the reaction to occur. Models have been developed to predict the nature of J/ψ photoproduction at these specific energies. These include production mechanisms with the two-gluon and three-gluon exchanges. The transferred momentum dependence of the differential cross sections are sensitive to the gluonic form factors, which describe the distribution of color charge in the proton. The CLAS12 detector is capable of measuring J/ψ photoproduction at the energy range close to the threshold. Work showcased in this dissertation encompasses the preparation of the CLAS12 experiments, including the optimization of tracking reconstruction through the study of the Torus magnetic field. In terms of software, contributions were made to the CLAS12 Event Builder, a key stage of reconstruction where event-by-event information is summarized for efficient data analysis. After the run periods were successfully completed, analysis of the RG-A data commenced and an analysis framework was developed to measure the differential and total cross sections of J/ψ photoproduction in Hall B.

Newton, Joseph↗

Census Cities experiment in urban change detection

The author has identified the following significant results. Mapping of 1970 and 1972 land use from high-flight photography has been completed for all test sites: San Francisco, Washington, Phoenix, Tucson, Boston, New Haven, Cedar Rapids, and Pontiac. Area analysis of 1970 and 1972 land use has been completed for each of the mandatory urban areas. All 44 sections of the 1970 land use maps of the San Francisco test site have been officially released through USGS Open File at 1:62,500. Five thousand copies of the Washington one-sheet color 1970 land use map, census tract map, and point line identification map are being printed by USGS Publication Division. ERTS-1 imagery for each of the eight test sites is being received and analyzed. Color infrared photo enlargements at 1:100,000 of ERTS-1 MSS images of Phoenix taken on October 16, 1972 and May 2, 1973 are being analyzed to determine to what level land use and land use changes can be identified and to what extent the ERTS-1 imagery can be used in updating the 1970 aircraft photo-derived land use data base. Work is proceeding on the analysis of ERTS-1 imagery by computer manipulation of ERTS-1 MSS data in digital format. ERTS-1 CCT maps at 1:24,000 are being analyzed for two dates over Washington and Phoenix. Anniversary tape sets have been received at Purdue LARS for some additional urban test sites.

Wray, J. R.↗

Energy burden aware and thermal resilience informed thermal energy storage system planning for disadvantaged communities

Disadvantaged communities often face a disproportionate energy burden because they need to allocate a higher percentage of their income to energy costs. More importantly, climate change-induced extreme weather events, such as heat waves and severe cold snaps, exacerbate these communities’ energy burdens. As a result, low- and medium-income communities are more likely to experience energy supply disruptions, increased health risks, and elevated energy bills because of inadequate thermal insulation and airtightness in their houses. Thermal energy storage (TES) systems, such as large-scale (community-level) geothermal energy storage and small-scale (building-level) phase change material (PCM)–based storage, have a great potential to improve building energy efficiency and to enhance thermal comfort, load shifting, and integration with renewable energy. The objective of this study is to optimally allocate building level PCM-based TES systems at the community level by considering energy equity and extreme weather effects. To this end, we developed an energy burden and thermal resilience–informed TES system planning framework, which includes three modules: (1) a community-level energy burden and thermal resilience assessment module, (2) building-level a TES system integration and assessment module, and (3) a community-level optimal planning module. Case studies were conducted on four disadvantaged communities in Montgomery and Shelby Counties in Tennessee with energy burdens >10% and with high percentages of people of color. The results indicate that this comprehensive planning framework can assist disadvantaged communities in reducing their energy burden and in bolstering their resilience against the adverse effects of climate change.

Shen, Zhenglai↗

The use of color infrared photography for wetlands mapping with special reference to shoreline and waterfowl habitat assessment

Evaluation of low altitude oblique photography obtained by hand-held cameras was useful in determining specifications of operational mission requirements for conventional smaller-scaled vertical photography. Remote sensing techniques were used to assess the rapid destruction of marsh areas at Pointe Mouillee. In an estuarian environment where shoreline features change yearly, there is a need for revision in existing area maps. A land cover inventory, mapped from aerial photography, provided essential data necessary for determining adjacent lands suitable for marshland development. To quantitatively assess the wetlands environment, a detailed inventory of vegetative communities (19 categories) was made using color infrared photography and intensive ground truth. A carefully selected and well laid-out transect was found to be a key asset to photointerpretation and to the analysis of vegetative conditions. Transect data provided the interpreter with locally representative areas of various vegetative types. This facilitated development of a photointerpretation key. Additional information on vegetative conditions in the area was also obtained by evaluating the transect data.

Source record↗

Pressure-induced excimer formation and fluorescence enhancement of an anthracene derivative

Excimer materials have been widely studied and have generated significant interest for their applications in many optoelectronic devices. However, a thorough investigation of the entire process involved in excimer formation, enhancement, and annihilation in solid materials is still lacking. Here we designed a crystal based on an anthracene derivative with dissociative, molecular-ordered dimer assembly, and studied the formation and evolution of an anthracene excimer as a function of pressure. During the initial stage of pressurization, the fluorescence intensity arising from anthracene monomers gradually decreases. Therefore, with continued compression, the two anthracene units become increasingly closer allowing strong intermolecular π–π interactions to develop that lead to excimer formation at 3.5 GPa, accompanied with a phase transition. The fluorescence intensity then keeps increasing with pressure and reaches its maximum at 5.6 GPa due to the strengthening of the excimer and the increased structural defects. Meanwhile the fluorescence color shows a continuous redshift, which initially results from conformation planarization and then excimer evolution. After releasing pressure back to ambient conditions, the structural changes in the sample are reversible, while the fluorescence signal preserves some high-pressure features due to the partial retention of the π–π interactions between the anthracene dimers. This study reveals the evolution of an excimer and its intrinsic photophysical properties, and provides guidance for future research on pressure-sensitive fluorescent devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Colors of reflection nebulae. I - Phase function effects in the Merope nebula

The subject of color differences between reflection nebulae and their illuminating stars is reexamined in the light of developments of observational techniques, permitting accurate surface-brightness photometry over an expanded spectral region from the UV to the IR. Color-color diagrams for reflection nebulae can yield useful information about the wavelength dependence of the scattering properties of nebular dust without excessive sensitivity to the specific nebular geometry or the presence of multiple scattering, resulting in considerable savings in computational efforts. As an illustration, the color-difference method was applied to existing data for the Merope nebula, covering the spectral region 1550-5500 A. Strong evidence for a monotonically changing phase function of scattering at wavelengths less than or equal to 3500 A is found. The result is interpreted in the context of a plausible geometry for the Merope environment as providing support for a bimodal size distribution of nebular dust grains.

Witt, A. N.↗

A unified model of accretion flows and X ray emission in low mass X ray binary systems

Recent work on a unified model of accretion flows and X-ray emission in low mass X-ray binaries is summarized. In this model, a weakly magnetic neutron star accretes gas simultaneously from a Keplerian disk and a corona above the inner part of the disk. Photons are produced and escape through an approximately radial inflow of gas captured from the inner disk corona. Changes in the optical depths of the central corona and the radial flow may explain the Z-shaped hardness-intensity and color-color tracks observed in the most luminous sources. Numerical simulations show that the radial flow oscillates when the luminosity rises to within a few percent of the Eddington critical luminosity L sub E, and that the oscillation frequency is approximately 5 to 10 Hz if the radial flow develops approximately 300 km from the neutron star. The 10 to 20 Hz oscillations observed in Sco X-1 when it is on the flaring branch are discussed.

Lamb, F. K.↗

Using NASA's Worldview to Convey Scientific Finding

NASA Worldview is an interactive interface for browsing full-resolution, global satellite imagery. The application can show single or multiple layers of satellite imagery with over 700 layers available. Each layer has options such as opacity and color palettes which can be adjusted to differentiate layers or underlying data values. The timeline feature allows end-users to study historical events: changes over time can be visualized using the animation tool and exported to animated GIFs. Users can even compare two separate days using the A|B comparison feature. Every time the state of the application changes, it is saved in the URL making it easy to share findings with others.The application is accessible online for anyone to use at any time and the source code is available on GitHub.com. The Worldview source code was designed to be customizable allowing end users to turn on/off features and brand the application for their specific use case. Worldview has code contributors and end-users from all over the world who use the official tool and create personal instances to test and convey their own data.From a team of scientists studying weather over the Philippines, to a group in France studying high environmental risks, Worldview's features and portability allows end-users all over the World to gain valuable earth science insights in a multitude of ways. This presentation will emphasis how end-users are using Worldview to convey their findings.

Rice, Zachary↗

Merging Ocean Color Data from Multiple Missions

Oceanic phytoplankton may play an important role in the cycling of carbon on the Earth, through the uptake of carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis. Although they are ubiquitous in the global oceans, their abundances and dynamics are difficult to estimate, primarily due to the vast spatial extent of the oceans and the short time scales over which their abundances can change. Consequently, the effects of oceanic phytoplankton on biogeochemical cycling, climate change, and fisheries are not well known. In response to the potential importance of phytoplankton in the global carbon cycle and the lack of comprehensive data, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the international community have established high priority satellite missions designed to acquire and produce high quality ocean color data. Seven of the missions are routine global observational missions: the Ocean Color and Temperature Sensor (OCTS), the Polarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectances sensor (POLDER), Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer-AM (MODIS-AM), Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), Global Imager (GLI), and MODIS-PM. In addition, there are several other missions capable of providing ocean color data on smaller scales. Most of these missions contain the spectral band complement considered necessary to derive oceanic pigment concentrations (i.e., phytoplankton abundance) and other related parameters. Many contain additional bands that can provide important ancillary information about the optical and biological state of the oceans. Any individual ocean color mission is limited in ocean coverage due to sun glint and clouds. For example, one of the first proposed missions, the SeaWiFS, can provide about 45% coverage of the global ocean in four days and only about 15% in one day.

Gregg, Watson W.↗