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At least 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Large-eddy simulation of an atmospheric bore and associated gravity wave effects on wind farm performance in the southern Great Plains

Gravity waves are a common occurrence in the atmosphere, with a variety of generation mechanisms. Their impact on wind farms has only recently gained attention, with most studies focused on wind farm-induced gravity waves. In this study, the interaction between a wind farm and gravity waves generated by an atmospheric bore event is assessed using multiscale large-eddy simulations. The atmospheric bore is created by a thunderstorm downdraft from a nocturnal mesoscale convective system (MCS). The associated gravity waves impact the wind resource and power production at a nearby wind farm during the American Wake Experiment (AWAKEN) in the US southern Great Plains. A two-domain nested setup (Δx=300 and 20 m) is used in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, forced with data from the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model, to capture both the formation of the bore and its interaction with individual wind turbines. The MCS is resolved on the large outer domain, where the structure of the bore and the associated gravity waves are found to be especially sensitive to parameterized microphysics processes. On the finer inner domain, gravity wave interactions with individual wind turbines are resolved; wake dynamics are captured using a generalized actuator disk parameterization in WRF. The gravity waves are found to have a strong effect on the atmosphere above the wind farm; however, the effect of the waves is more nuanced closer to the surface where there is additional turbulence, both ambient and wake-generated. Notably, the gravity waves modulate the mesoscale environment by weakening and dissipating the preexisting low-level jet, which reduces hub-height wind speed and hence the simulated power output, which is confirmed by the observed supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) power data. Additionally, the gravity waves induce local wind direction variations correlated with fluctuations in pressure, which lead to fluctuations in the simulated power output as various turbines within the farm are subjected to waking from nearby turbines.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Daily Arctic Lightning Strokes

In recent decades, lightning activity at high latitudes has increased. Tall thunderstorm clouds affect radiation balance directly, as well as indirectly through lightning-initiated fires and the resulting smoke. One can remotely sense lightning strokes over the globe through their VLF radio emission, and, with multiple receivers, it is possible to precisely locate lightning strokes. This technique makes it possible to continuously monitor arctic lightning--a capability not possible by other means. In this research effort, a World-Wide Lightning Location Network station, consisting of a VLF receiver, signal processing hardware, and analysis software, were installed at the North Slope of Alaska (NSA) facility and planned to operate for several years. This far north location is expected to improve the network's high-latitude detection efficiency.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1964

Radio Noise Problems in Arctic Regions

Three main types of radio noise should be considered when establishing noise levels for communication purposes or in experiments utilizing radio techniques in Arctic regions. These are atmospheric and man-made noise, and precipitation static. National Bureau of Standards radio noise data obtained hourly at Arctic and Antarctic stations on eight .fixed frequencies between 51 kc and 20 Mc/s are analyzed to show the characteristics of the three types. The diurnal and seasonal variations of atmospheric radio noise at high latitudes are explainable in terms of changes in propagation factors and in the distribution of world thunderstorm activity. In both northern and southern Arctic regions atmospheric noise decreases during polar cap absorption (PCA), most markedly in the h.f. band. The probable magnitude of man-made noise in the h.f. band is estimated from data taken during PCA, when atmospheric noise is absent. At Thule man-made noise on 2.5 and 5 Mc/s appears to be 57 and 49 dB above kTB (where kTB is antenna thermal noise power), respectively, while at Byrd Station the values are about 20 and 12 dB respectively. Precipitation static is generated on exposed antennas during periods of blowing snow (blizzards). The noise power magnitude can be at least 50 dB above man-made and atmospheric levels, but the maximum enhancement cannot be ascertained because of missing data. In winter and spring months at Byrd Station radio data dependent upon exposed antennas may be lost 10-30 per cent of the time due to precipitation static alone.

Radio Noise↗
NASA NTRS1970

Satellite observations of lightning

Nighttime lightning activity observations by orbiting solar satellite OSO-B, determining thunderstorms positions by optical radiation detection

Ney, E. P.↗
NASA NTRS1971

A rocket borne instrument to measure electric fields inside electrified clouds

The development of a rocket borne instrument to measure electric fields in thunderstorms is described. Corona currents from a sharp needle atop a small rocket are used to sense the electric field. A high ohm resistor in series with the corona needle linearizes the relationship between corona current and electric field. The corona current feeds a relaxation oscillator, whose pulses trigger a transmitter which operates in the 395 to 410 MHz meteorological band. The instrument senses fields between 5 kV/m and 100 kV/m.

Ruhnke, L. H.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Radio Astronomy Explorer (RAE) 1 observations of terrestrial radio noise

Radio Astonomy Explorer (RAE) 1 data are analyzed to establish characteristics of HF terrestrial radio noise at an altitude of about 6000 km. Time and frequency variations in amplitude of the observed noise well above cosmic noise background are explained on the basis of temporal and spatial variations in ionospheric critical frequency coupled with those in noise source distributions. It is shown that terrestrial noise regularly breaks through the ionosphere and reaches RAE with magnitudes 15 or more db higher than cosmic noise background. Maximum terrestrial noise is observed when RAE is over the dark side of the Earth in the neighborhood of equatorial continental land masses where thunderstorms occur most frequently. The observed noise level is 30-40 db lower with RAE over oceans.

Herman, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1969

Comments on Doppler radar applications

The application of Doppler methods to theoretical or meteorological problems is discussed. Research for using radar to study and monitor severe thunderstorms, turbulence, and tornadoes is recommended.

Kessler, E.↗
NASA NTRS1969

Ground-based microwave probing

Theoretical and experimental activities in remote sensing were conducted. The projects are: (1) the linear statistical inversion method, (2) vertical temperature profile determination from microwave emission measurements near 60 GHz, (3) radio path length correction determination from emission measurements at 20.6 GHz, and (4) liquid water content determination of thunderstorm cells by emission measurements at 10.7 GHz.

Westwater, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Estimation in a modified binomial distribution

Estimation techniques in a modified binomial distribution, developed to describe thunderstorm activity over a small area at Cape Kennedy, Florida, are compared. A compound model is also developed and compared with the original model. The minimum Chi square technique is compared with the maximum likelihood and method of moments techniques. The minimum Chi square technique, although useful in complicated models, compared poorly compared to the other techniques. The maximum likelihood and method of moments were comparable. The compound model fit better in every case based on a likelihood ratio test comparing the compound model with the modified binomial model using maximum likelihood estimators.

Carter, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Severe weather study

Current methods of severe weather information dissemination and the impact of this information on the general public are studied. The study is based on the responses of the general public and the local broadcasters to a severe weather incident which occurred on August 14, 1972 in the Dane County-Madison Metropolitan area. The results of the study were somewhat startling. From the sample, for instance, it was found that 45% of the Dane County population was not aware of the severe thunderstorm warning. In this case this may or may not have been critical, but had the storm been extremely severe or had a tornado and flooding been associated with the storm, a large segment of the population would have been in great danger. What this study has shown, is that the real problem with the dissemination of severe weather information is not the lack of it, but the inability to transfer it in useful form to an overwhelming majority of the general public.

Mills, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Millimeter wavelength propagation studies

Diversity data obtained using the ATS-5 satellite and available BTL data were compared with optimum diversity gain predictions. This comparison indicates that terminal spacings exceeding 8 km result in values of diversity gain within 1.5 dB of the optimum. The thunderstorm cell modeling technique for predicting attenuation and diversity gain statistics was extended to include ellipsoidal cell models. A three rain gage method for the measurement of cell size, ellipticity, and orientation was developed.

Hodge, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Acoustic sounding in the planetary boundary layer

Three case studies are presented involving data from an acoustic radar. The first two cases examine data collected during the passage of a mesoscale cold-air intrusion, probably thunderstorm outflow, and a synoptic-scale cold front. In these studies the radar data are compared to conventional meteorological data obtained from the WKY tower facility for the purpose of radar data interpretation. It is shown that the acoustic radar echoes reveal the boundary between warm and cold air and other areas of turbulent mixing, regions of strong vertical temperature gradients, and areas of weak or no wind shear. The third case study examines the relationship between the nocturnal radiation inversion and the low-level wind maximum or jet in the light of conclusions presented by Blackadar (1957). The low-level jet is seen forming well above the top of the inversion. Sudden rapid growth of the inversion occurs which brings the top of the inversion to a height equal that of the jet. Coincident with the rapid growth of the inversion is a sudden decrease in the intensity of the acoustic radar echoes in the inversion layer. It is suggested that the decrease in echo intensity reveals a decrease in turbulent mixing in the inversion layer as predicted by Blackadar. It is concluded that the acoustic radar can be a valuable tool for study in the lower atmosphere.

Kelly, E. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Overshooting thunderheads observed from ATS and Learjet

Overshooting tops of thunderstorms were photographed simultaneously from both ATS and a Learjet during the cloud-truth experiment over the Midwest in the Spring of 1972 and 1973. The characteristics of overshooting tops were studied in various time and space scales, revealing that the horizontal dimensions of overshooting tops vary between 1000 ft and about 10 miles. The period of overshooting turrets with horizontal dimensions of less than 1 mile is found to be comparable to the Brunt-Vaisalla frequency of gravity waves at the lowermost stratosphere. The up-and-down motion of an overshooting dome, consisting of a number of turrets, is much slower than that of individual turrets. It is assumed that the height of a dome is closely related to the intensity of the up and downdrafts beneath the dome. Emphasis is placed upon the importance of the investigation of overshooting domes toward the identification of severe storm characteristics from satellites.

Fujita, T. T.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Dynamics of suspended sediment plumes in Lake Ontario

The absence of turbidity plumes during the winter was well documented in an ususually successful sequence of images obtained February 10 - 12, 1974. Useful imagery of the south shore of Lake Ontario was obtained on 3 successive days at a time when sky cover over the area normally approaches complete coverage. Imagery of the Oswego, Genesee, and Niagara rivers failed to detect any plumes, however faint. Despite strong northwest winds on February 11 there was no indication of shoreline erosion generated by wave action. Frozen ground, snow cover, shoreline icing and minimal construction and farm activity without doubt reduces the probability of sediment movement in winter. Thunderstorm activity over the study area is very rare during the cold season so that the erosive energy of rainfall is greatly reduced. Moreover, a fairly high percentage of the winter precipitation is in the form of snow or sleet further reducing the impact of rainfall energy on sediment transport.

Pluhowski, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Possibility of controlling the earth's negative charge and the unitary variation of its electric field by cosmic rays

The dependence of the atmospheric conductivity upon the cosmic ray intensity, the possibility of charge generation in thunderstorms by cosmic rays, the dependence of the troposphere electricity on the stratosphere, the relationship between the unitary variation of the earth's electric field intensity and that of cosmic ray intensity (daily, yearly and 11-year latitudinal dependence of both values), deny first, the exceptional role of the tropospheric processes in maintaining the terrestrial charge and unitary variation, and, second, compel one to consider the cause mentioned above to be the result of the influence of cosmic rays.

Bragin, Y. A.↗