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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.

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At least 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Structure of the magnetopause for low Mach number and strongly northward interplanetary magnetic field

We use International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE) magnetic field and plasma data to examine dayside magnetopause crossing under conditions of low Mach number and strongly northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). When the solar wind Mach number is low, the IMF stregth and magnetoseath field stregth are large, and we expect the effects of magnetic reconection to be the strongest. When the IMF is strongly northward, we find that the location of the magnetopause boundary layer is very stationary in the space, and we observe many features that are common for both typical and low Mach numbers. However, under low Mach number conditions, we have observed some features that would be expected for cusp reconnection. The boundary layer near the subsolar region contains heated magnetosheath plasma with little hot magnetospheric component that has clearly entered the magnetosphere elsewhere. At least some of the structures present in the boundary layer are impulsive. Inside the boundary layer there is also clear evidence of acceleratedflow from the cusp region for strongly northward IMF at low Mach number. Reconnection beyond the cusp can explain the observed field, plasma, and flow signatures. Therefore at low Mach number, reconection is important in the formation of the boundary layer for northward IMF.

Le, G.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Cross-Scale Land-Atmosphere Experiment (CSLAEX) (Final Report)

It is now well recognized that land-atmosphere interactions play an important role in both weather and climate. These interactions take place over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Most of the current formulations of the momentum, heat and moisture transport laws are informed by observations with a limited temporal or spatial scale, and hence may have limited applicability. The objective of this work is to improve the multi-scale representation of the near-surface heat transfer in the ground and in the atmosphere using a combination of modeling and field observations. Our knowledge and predictive capacity in land-atmosphere coupling is limited by our capacity to observe the full-scale spectrum at play. In order to bridge this fundamental gap in our observation capacity I will work to: create the first long-term Integrated Cross-Scale land-Atmosphere Experiment (CSLAEX) since I will work to: measure the components of the surface energy balance at a spatial scale relevant to remote sensing and meteorological applications (5km), along with observations of the nested subscale processes with Distributed Temperature Sensors (DTS). This proposal aims to fill the gaps in modeling and observing land-atmosphere interactions across scales via a novel Cross-Scale Land-Atmosphere Experiment (CSLAEX) to be implemented as part of the Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) site near Lamont, Oklahoma. The proposed research effort aims at exploring land-atmosphere processes across multiple spatial scales and to investigate the effect of landscape heterogeneity using Distributed Temperature Sensor measurements. The novel instrumentation of the Surface Energy Balance and simultaneous observations of the atmospheric state (boundary layer, cloud, convection) available at the DOE ARM SGP site will be used to create CSLAEX. This dataset will be used to frame and evaluate new transport laws and parameterizations for the boundary layer and the land surface, which can be implemented into the Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF) model and Community Atmospheric Model (CAM). The result of this study should impact multiple fields: meteorology, climate, and hydrology.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1985

The solar/interplanetary/magnetosphere/ionosphere connection - A strategy for prediction of geomagnetic storms

A physically-based strategy for the prediction of geomagnetic/ionospheric disturbances, the Solar-Terrestrial/Environmental Model (STEM 2000), is proposed, with application to the prediction of periods of spacecraft charging. Synoptic solar observations provide input for MHD models for flare occurrence, propagation of coronal disturbances, and high speed solar wind streams. A three-dimensional interplanetary MHD model determines solar wind parameters including the energy flux and the cross-magnetosphere tail electric field. Observational earth data are used to predict local time, high latitude ionospheric disturbances which have an impact on the ionospheric structure.

Dryer, M.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Estimating Net Primary Productivity Using Satellite and Ancillary Data

The net primary productivity (C) or the annual rate of carbon accumulation per unit ground area by terrestrial plant communities is the difference of gross photosynthesis (A(sub g)) and respiration (R) per unit ground area. Available field observations show that R is a large and variable fraction of A(sub g), although it is generally recognized that there are considerable difficulties in determining these fluxes, and thus pose challenge in assessing the accuracy. Further uncertainties arise in extrapolating field measurements (which are acquired over a hectare or so area) to regional scale. Here, an approach is presented for determining these fluxes using satellite and ancillary data to be representative of regional scale and allow assessment of interannual variation. A, has been expressed as the product of radiation use efficiency for gross photosynthesis by an unstressed canopy and intercepted photosynthetically active radiation, which is then adjusted for stresses due to soil water shortage and temperature away from optimum. R has been calculated as the sum of growth and maintenance components (respectively, R(sub g) and R(sub m)).The R(sub m) has been determined from nitrogen content of plant tissue per unit ground area, while R(sub g) has been obtained as a fraction of the difference of A(sub g) and R(sub m). Results for five consecutive years (1986-1990) are presented for the Amazon-Tocontins, Mississippi, and Ob River basins.

Choudhury, Bhaskar J.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Combined Retrievals of Boreal Forest Fire Aerosol Properties with a Polarimeter and Lidar

Absorbing aerosols play an important, but uncertain, role in the global climate. Much of this uncertainty is due to a lack of adequate aerosol measurements. While great strides have been made in observational capability in the previous years and decades, it has become increasingly apparent that this development must continue. Scanning polarimeters have been designed to help resolve this issue by making accurate, multi-spectral, multi-angle polarized observations. This work involves the use of the Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP). The RSP was designed as the airborne prototype for the Aerosol Polarimetery Sensor (APS), which was due to be launched as part of the (ultimately failed) NASA Glory mission. Field observations with the RSP, however, have established that simultaneous retrievals of aerosol absorption and vertical distribution over bright land surfaces are quite uncertain. We test a merger of RSP and High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) data with observations of boreal forest fire smoke, collected during the Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites (ARCTAS). During ARCTAS, the RSP and HSRL instruments were mounted on the same aircraft, and validation data were provided by instruments on an aircraft flying a coordinated flight pattern. We found that the lidar data did indeed improve aerosol retrievals using an optimal estimation method, although not primarily because of the constraints imposed on the aerosol vertical distribution. The more useful piece of information from the HSRL was the total column aerosol optical depth, which was used to select the initial value (optimization starting point) of the aerosol number concentration. When ground based sun photometer network climatologies of number concentration were used as an initial value, we found that roughly half of the retrievals had unrealistic sizes and imaginary indices, even though the retrieved spectral optical depths agreed within uncertainties to independent observations. The convergence to an unrealistic local minimum by the optimal estimator is related to the relatively low sensitivity to particles smaller than 0.1 ( m) at large optical thicknesses. Thus, optimization algorithms used for operational aerosol retrievals of the fine mode size distribution, when the total optical depth is large, will require initial values generated from table look-ups that exclude unrealistic size/complex index mixtures. External constraints from lidar on initial values used in the optimal estimation methods will also be valuable in reducing the likelihood of obtaining spurious retrievals.

Knobelspiesse, K.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Constraining maximum event magnitude during injection-triggered seismicity

Abstract Understanding mechanisms controlling fluid injection-triggered seismicity is key in defining strategies to ameliorate it. Recent triggered events (e.g. Pohang, Mw 5.5) have exceeded predictions of average energy release by a factor of >1000x, necessitating robust methodologies to both define critical antecedent conditions and to thereby constrain anticipated event size. We define maximum event magnitudes resulting from triggering as a function of pre-existing critical stresses and fluid injection volume. Fluid injection experiments on prestressed laboratory faults confirm these estimates of triggered moment magnitudes for varied boundary conditions and injection rates. In addition, observed ratios of shear slip to dilation rates on individual faults signal triggering and may serve as a measurable proxy for impending rupture. This new framework provides a robust method of constraining maximum event size for preloaded faults and unifies prior laboratory and field observations that span sixteen decades in injection volume and four decades in length scale.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1992

Equatorial bubbles updrafting at supersonic speeds

Plasma and electric field observations from two satellite encounters with equatorial plasma bubbles updrafting at velocities of about 2 km/s are presented. These large, upward velocities are consistent with an adaptation of Chandrasekhar's model for the motion of plasma blobs supported against gravity by a magnetic field. Vector magnetic field measurements, available during one of the bubble encounters show a perturbation of about 150 nT, directed radially outward from the earth, near the western wall of deepest plasma depletion. This magnetic variation is too large to be caused by simple shunting of the g x B current along the bubble's edge. Rather, it is Alfvenic in nature, radiating from a generator located near the magnetic equator, in the plasma outside the bubble's leading edge. A heuristic model of a depleted flux tube with constant circular cross section moving upward through a background plasma predicts most of the measurements' qualitative features.

Aggson, Thomas L.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Cluster electric current density measurements within a magnetic flux rope in the plasma sheet

On August 22, 2001 all 4 Cluster spacecraft nearly simultaneously penetrated a magnetic flux rope in the tail. The flux rope encounter took place in the central plasma sheet, Beta(sub i) approx. 1-2, near the leading edge of a bursty bulk flow. The "time-of-flight" of the flux rope across the 4 spacecraft yielded V(sub x) approx. 700 km/s and a diameter of approx.1 R(sub e). The speed at which the flux rope moved over the spacecraft is in close agreement with the Cluster plasma measurements. The magnetic field profiles measured at each spacecraft were first modeled separately using the Lepping-Burlaga force-free flux rope model. The results indicated that the center of the flux rope passed northward (above) s/c 3, but southward (below) of s/c 1, 2 and 4. The peak electric currents along the central axis of the flux rope predicted by these single-s/c models were approx.15-19 nA/sq m. The 4-spacecraft Cluster magnetic field measurements provide a second means to determine the electric current density without any assumption regarding flux rope structure. The current profile determined using the curlometer technique was qualitatively similar to those determined by modeling the individual spacecraft magnetic field observations and yielded a peak current density of 17 nA/m2 near the central axis of the rope. However, the curlometer results also showed that the flux rope was not force-free with the component of the current density perpendicular to the magnetic field exceeding the parallel component over the forward half of the rope, perhaps due to the pressure gradients generated by the collision of the BBF with the inner magnetosphere. Hence, while the single-spacecraft models are very successful in fitting flux rope magnetic field and current variations, they do not provide a stringent test of the force-free condition.

Slavin, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Lithologic controls on AIRSAR signatures of bedrock and alluvium, at Lunar Crater, Nevada

Radar backscatter intensity as measured by calibrated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems is primarily controlled by three factors: local incidence angle, wavelength-scale roughness, and dielectric permittivity of surface materials. In order to make adequate use of radar observations for geological investigations of surface type, the relationships between lithology and the above characteristics must be adequately understood. In arid terrains weathering signatures (e.g. fracturing, debris grain size and shape, slope characteristics) are controlled to some extent by lithologic characteristics of the parent bedrock. These textural features of outcrops and their associated debris control radar backscatter to varying degrees. The quad-polarization JPL AIRSAR system allows sampling of textures at three distinct wavelength scales: C-band (5.66 cm), L-band (23.98 cm), and P-band (68.13 cm). This paper presents a discussion of AIRSAR data using recent field observations of weathered felsic and basaltic volcanic rock units exposed in the southern part of the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field, in the Pancake Range of central Nevada. The focus is on the relationship of radar backscatter at multiple wavelengths to weathering style and parent bedrock lithology.

Rivard, Benoit↗
DOE OSTI2024

Evaluation of a practical approach for field scale moisture flow modeling in heterogeneous media at a semiarid site

Abstract A practical approach for modeling field‐scale moisture flow in a highly heterogeneous unsaturated medium is described in this study. The validity of this approach is demonstrated through comparison of the numerical simulations with field observations at a semiarid site located in southcentral Washington State. The methodology is based on upscaling the core scale hydraulic properties and combining power‐law and tensorial connectivity‐tortuosity (PA‐TCT) approaches to derive macroscopic anisotropy parameters for each hydrostratigraphic unit (HSU) identified in the field. Each heterogeneous HSU is approximated by an equivalent homogeneous medium (EHM) model for which PA‐TCT parameters are used in the flow simulations. The available field data on moisture content and matric potential are compared with steady‐state flow simulations based on the mean form of Richards' equation. While the homogenization or averaging of heterogeneities, embedded in the EHM modeling approximation, cannot capture all of the field‐scale variability, the simulated steady‐state moisture and matric potential profiles capture well the central tendency of the field data. This approach is deemed practical for assessing the fate and transport of contaminants in highly heterogeneous unsaturated media at the transport scale of hundreds of meters.

Khaleel, Raziuddin↗
NASA NTRS2016

Photospheric Current Spikes as Possible Predictors of Flares

Flares involve generation of the largest current densities in the solar atmosphere. This suggests the hypothesis that prior to a large (M,X) flare there are related time dependent changes in the photospheric current distribution, and hence in the resistive heating rate in neutral line regions (NLRs). If this is true, these changes might be useful predictors of flares. Evidence supporting this hypothesis is presented. Results from a data driven, near photospheric, 3D magnetohydrodynamic type model suggest the model might be useful for predicting M and X flares several hours to several days in advance. The model takes as input the photospheric magnetic field observed by the Helioseismic & Magnetic Imager (HMI) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite. The model computes quantities in every active region (AR) pixel for 14 ARs, with spurious Doppler periods due to SDO orbital motion filtered out of the time series of the magnetic field for each pixel. Spikes in the NLR resistive heating rate Q, appearing as increases by orders of magnitude above background values in the time series of Q are found to occur, and appear to be correlated with the occurrence of M or X flares a few hours to a few days later. The subset of spikes analyzed at the pixel level are found to occur on HMI and granulation scales of 1 arcsec and 12 minutes. Spikes are found in NLRs with and without M or X flares, and outside as well as inside NLRs, but the largest spikes are localized in the NLRs of ARs with M or X flares, and associated with horizontal magnetic field strengths several hG, and vertical magnetic field strengths several orders of magnitude smaller, suggesting that the spikes are associated with current sheets.

Goodman, Michael L.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Arctic observations and numerical simulations of surface wind effects on Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera measurements

Abstract. Ground-based measurements of frozen precipitation are heavily influenced by interactions of surface winds with gauge-shield geometry. The Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera (MASC), which photographs hydrometeors in free-fall from three different angles while simultaneously measuring their fall speed, has been used in the field at multiple midlatitude and polar locations both with and without wind shielding. Here, we present an analysis of Arctic field observations – with and without a Belfort double Alter shield – and compare the results to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the airflow and corresponding particle trajectories around the unshielded MASC. MASC-measured fall speeds compare well with Ka-band Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Zenith Radar (KAZR) mean Doppler velocities only when winds are light (≤5ms-1) and the MASC is shielded. MASC-measured fall speeds that do not match KAZR-measured velocities tend to fall below a threshold value that increases approximately linearly with wind speed but is generally <0.5ms-1. For those events with wind speeds ≤1.5ms-1, hydrometeors fall with an orientation angle mode of 12∘ from the horizontal plane, and large, low-density aggregates are as much as 5 times more likely to be observed. Simulations in the absence of a wind shield show a separation of flow at the upstream side of the instrument, with an upward velocity component just above the aperture, which decreases the mean particle fall speed by 55 % (74 %) for a wind speed of 5 m s−1 (10 m s−1). We conclude that accurate MASC observations of the microphysical, orientation, and fall speed characteristics of snow particles require shielding by a double wind fence and restriction of analysis to events where winds are light (≤5ms-1). Hydrometeors do not generally fall in still air, so adjustments to these properties' distributions within natural turbulence remain to be determined.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1979

Quantitative modeling of planetary magnetospheric magnetic fields

Three new quantitative models of the earth's magnetospheric magnetic field have recently been presented: the Olson-Pfitzer model, the Tsyganenko model, and the Voigt model. The paper reviews these models in some detail with emphasis on the extent to which they have succeeded in improving on earlier models. The models are compared with the observed field in both magnitude and direction. Finally, the application to other planetary magnetospheres of the techniques used to model the earth's magnetospheric magnetic field is briefly discussed.

Walker, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Statistical Quality Control of Moisture Data in GEOS DAS

A new statistical quality control algorithm was recently implemented in the Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System (GEOS DAS). The final step in the algorithm consists of an adaptive buddy check that either accepts or rejects outlier observations based on a local statistical analysis of nearby data. A basic assumption in any such test is that the observed field is spatially coherent, in the sense that nearby data can be expected to confirm each other. However, the buddy check resulted in excessive rejection of moisture data, especially during the Northern Hemisphere summer. The analysis moisture variable in GEOS DAS is water vapor mixing ratio. Observational evidence shows that the distribution of mixing ratio errors is far from normal. Furthermore, spatial correlations among mixing ratio errors are highly anisotropic and difficult to identify. Both factors contribute to the poor performance of the statistical quality control algorithm. To alleviate the problem, we applied the buddy check to relative humidity data instead. This variable explicitly depends on temperature and therefore exhibits a much greater spatial coherence. As a result, reject rates of moisture data are much more reasonable and homogeneous in time and space.

Dee, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Photospheric Current Spikes as Possible Predictors of Flares

Flares involve generation of the largest current densities in the solar atmosphere. This suggests the hypothesis that prior to a large (M,X) flare there are related time dependent changes in the photospheric current distribution, and hence in the resistive heating rate in neutral line regions (NLRs). If this is true, these changes might be useful predictors of flares. Preliminary evidence supporting this hypothesis is presented. Results from a data driven, near photospheric, 3D magnetohydrodynamic type model suggest the model might be useful for predicting M and X flares several hours to several days in advance. The model takes as input the photospheric magnetic field observed by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite. The model computes quantities in every active region (AR) pixel for 14 ARs, with spurious Doppler periods due to SDO orbital motion filtered out of the time series of the magnetic field for each pixel. Spikes in the NLR resistive heating rate Q, appearing as increases by orders of magnitude above background values in the time series of Q are found to occur, and appear to be correlated with the occurrence of M or X flares a few hours to a few days later. The subset of spikes analyzed at the pixel level are found to occur on HMI and granulation scales of 1 arcsec and 12 minutes. Spikes are found in NLRs with and without M or X flares, and outside as well as inside NLRs, but the largest spikes are localized in the NLRs of ARs with M or X flares, and associated with horizontal magnetic field strengths approximately several hG, and vertical magnetic field strengths several orders of magnitude smaller. The spikes may be signatures of horizontal current sheets associated with emerging magnetic flux.

Goodman, Michael L.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Orbital-Radar v1.0.0: a tool to transform suborbital radar observations to synthetic EarthCARE cloud radar data

The Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched in May 2024 carries a novel 94 GHz cloud profiling radar (CPR) with Doppler capability. This work describes the open-source instrument simulator Orbital-Radar, which transforms high-resolution radar data from field observations or forward simulations of numerical models to CPR primary measurements and uncertainties. The transformation accounts for sampling geometry and surface effects. We demonstrate Orbital-Radar's ability to provide realistic CPR views of typical cloud and precipitation scenes. The presented case studies show small-scale convection, marine stratus clouds, and Arctic mixed-phase cloud cases. These results provide valuable insights into the capabilities and challenges of the EarthCARE CPR mission and its advantages over the CloudSat CPR. Finally, Orbital-Radar allows for evaluating kilometre-scale numerical weather prediction models with EarthCARE CPR observations. So, Orbital-Radar can generate calibration and validation (Cal/Val) data sets already pre-launch. Nevertheless, an evaluation of synthetic CPR output data to accurate EarthCARE CPR data is missing.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1996

Observation of Upper and Middle Tropospheric Clouds

The goal of this research has been to identify and describe the properties of climatically important cloud systems critically important to understanding their effects upon satellite remote sensing and the global climate. These goals have been pursued along several different but complementary lines of investigation: the design, construction, testing and application of instrumentation; the collection of data sets during Intensive Field Observation periods; the reduction and analysis of data collected during IFO's; and completion of research projects specifically designed to address important and timely research objectives. In the first year covered by this research proposal, three papers were authored in the refereed literature which reported completed analyses of FIRE 1 IFO studies initiated under the previous NASA funding of this topic area. microphysical and radiative properties of marine stratocumulus cloud systems deduced from tethered balloon observations were reported from the San Nicolas Island site of the first FIRE marine stratocumulus experiment. Likewise, in situ observations of radiation and dynamic properties of a cirrus cloud layer were reported from first FIRE cirrus IFO based from Madison, Wisconsin. In addition, application techniques were under development for monitoring cirrus cloud systems using a 403 MHz Doppler wind profiler system adapted with a RASS (Radio Acoustic Sounding System) and an infrared interferometer system; these instrument systems were used in subsequent deployments for the FIRE 2 Parsons, Kansas and FIRE 2 Porto Santo, ASTEX expeditions. In November 1991 and in June 1992, these two systems along with a complete complement of surface radiation and meteorology measurements were deployed to the two sites noted above as anchor points for the respective IFO'S. Subsequent research activity concentrated on the interpretation and integration of the IFO analyses in the context of the radiative properties of cloud systems and our ability to remotely observe radiative, thermodynamic and dynamic properties of these cloud systems.

Cox, Stephen K.↗