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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

The Calvin 28 cryptoexplosive disturbance, Cass County, Michigan: Evidence for impact origin

The Calvin 28 cryptoexplosive disturbance is an isolated, nearly circular subsurface structure of Late Ordovician age in southwestern Michigan. The structure is defined by 107 wells, is about 7.24 km in diameter and consists of a central dome, an annular depression and an encircling anticlinal rim. Seismic and geophysical well log data confirm that an intricate system of faults and structural derangement exists within the structure. Deformation decreases with depth and distance from the structure. U.S.G.S. topographic maps and aerial imagery show the structure is reflected as a subtle surface topographic rise controlling local drainage. Igneous or diapiric intrusion and solution collapse are rejected as possible origins for Calvin 28 on the basis of stratigraphic, structural and geophysical evidence. A volcanic origin is inconsistent with calculated energy requirements and an absence of igneous material. Although shock-metamorphic features are unidentified, microbreccias occur in deep wells that penetrate the structure. Morphology and structural parameters support an impact origin.

Milstein, Randall L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Dynamics Explorer 2: Continued FPI and NACS instrument data analysis and associated scientific activity at the University of Michigan

The grant entitled 'Dynamics Explorer 2 - continued FPI and NACS instrument data analysis and associated scientific activity at the University of Michigan' is a continuation of a grant that began with instrument development for the Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE 2) satellite. Over the years, many publications and presentations at scientific meetings have occurred under the aegis of this grant. This present report details the progress that has been made in the final three years of the grant. In these last 4 years of the grant 26 papers have been published or are in press and about 10 more are in preparation or have been submitted. A large number of presentations have been made in the same time span: 36 are listed in Appendix 2. Evidence of the high educational utility of this research is indicated by the list of Ph. D. and M. S. theses that have been completed in the last 3 years that have involved work connected with NAG5-465. The structure of this report is as follows: a brief synopsis of the aims of the grant NAG5-465 is given in the next section; then there is a summary of the scientific accomplishments that have occurred over the grant period; last, we make some brief concluding remarks. Reprints of articles that have recently appeared in refereed journals are appended to the end of this document.

Burns, Alan↗
NASA NTRS2006

Calculating Statistical Orbit Distributions Using GEO Optical Observations with the Michigan Orbital Debris Survey Telescope (MODEST)

NASA's Orbital Debris measurements program has a goal to characterize the small debris environment in the geosynchronous Earth-orbit (GEO) region using optical telescopes ("small" refers to objects too small to catalog and track with current systems). Traditionally, observations of GEO and near-GEO objects involve following the object with the telescope long enough to obtain an orbit suitable for tracking purposes. Telescopes operating in survey mode, however, randomly observe objects that pass through their field of view. Typically, these short-arc observation are inadequate to obtain detailed orbits, but can be used to estimate approximate circular orbit elements (semimajor axis, inclination, and ascending node). From this information, it should be possible to make statistical inferences about the orbital distributions of the GEO population bright enough to be observed by the system. The Michigan Orbital Debris Survey Telescope (MODEST) has been making such statistical surveys of the GEO region for four years. During that time, the telescope has made enough observations in enough areas of the GEO belt to have had nearly complete coverage. That means that almost all objects in all possible orbits in the GEO and near- GEO region had a non-zero chance of being observed. Some regions (such as those near zero inclination) have had good coverage, while others are poorly covered. Nevertheless, it is possible to remove these statistical biases and reconstruct the orbit populations within the limits of sampling error. In this paper, these statistical techniques and assumptions are described, and the techniques are applied to the current MODEST data set to arrive at our best estimate of the GEO orbit population distribution.

Matney, M.↗
NASA NTRS2020

A Composite Analysis of Snowfall Modes from Four Winter Seasons in Marquette, Michigan

Presented are four winter seasons of data from an enhanced precipitation instrument suite based at the National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Marquette (MQT), Michigan (250–500 cm of annual snow accumulation). In 2014 the site was augmented with a Micro Rain Radar (MRR) and a Precipitation Imaging Package (PIP). MRR observations are utilized to partition large-scale synoptically driven (deep)and surface-forced (shallow) snow events. Coincident PIP and NWS MQT meteorological surface observations illustrate different characteristics with respect to snow event category. Shallow snow events are often extremely shallow, with MRR-indicated precipitation heights of less than 1500 m above ground level. Large vertical reflectivity gradients indicate efficient particle growth, and increased boundary layer turbulence inferred from observations of spectral width implies increased aggregation in shallow snow events. Shallow snow events occur 2 times as often as deep events; however, both categories contribute approximately equally to estimated annual accumulation. PIP measurements reveal distinct regime-dependent snow microphysical differences, with shallow snow events having broader particle size distributions and comparatively fewer small particles and deep snow events having narrower particle size distributions and comparatively more small particles. In addition, coincident surface meteorological measurements indicate that most shallow snow events are associated with surface winds originating from the northwest (over Lake Superior), cold temperatures, and relatively high surface pressures, which are characteristics that are consistent with cold-air outbreaks. Deep snow events have meteorologically distinct conditions that are accordant with midlatitude cyclones and frontal structures, with mostly southwest surface winds, warmer temperatures approaching freezing, and lower surface pressures.

Claire Pettersen↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Status and Operations at the Granite Island, Michigan (GIM) BSRN Station

In June 2018, a new surface radiation site was established on Granite Island, Michigan (GIM), located in Lake Superior. GIM is a 0.1 square km (2.5 acre) rock island. GIM moved from candidate to active and became a fully-fledged member of the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) in July 2020 (BSRN Label: GIM). The installation is solar powered, and autonomous instrument functions are accessed remotely from Hampton, Virginia, USA. The original motivation to establishing surface radiation measurements at GIM was to combine high quality downwelling shortwave and longwave measurements with existing evaporation measurements that could lead to improved understanding of the Earth’s energy budget. Other scientific benefits are the addition of a new "water" site to the BSRN network (Water sites are rare in the BSRN network) and a surface validation site for satellite measurements such as the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES). In this poster, we present the status of GIM. GIM is equipped with standard downwelling flux at visible and infrared wavelengths as required by the BSRN network. Basic meteorological parameters are being monitored, as well as other data collections for aerosol and total column water vapor, PAR, and lake skin temperature. Lastly, the capabilities to clean shortwave optics remotely will be discussed and a current list of instruments and pictures will be displayed.

Bryan Fabbri↗
NASA NTRS2019

The Origin of Blue Coloration in a Fulgurite from Marquette, Michigan

Few rocks or minerals display a blue hue; this is especially true for natural glasses. Due to the specific internal fragile structures, glasses are already uncommon compared to crystalline rocks, the rarity of blue glass makes a blue fulgurite found in Marquette Michigan worthy of further examination. We study the morphology and the chemical and structural characteristics of the blue fulgurite using Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray Fluorescence analysis, Election Microprobe Analysis, and Transmission Election Microscopy. We use the experimental results to compare the fulgurite with another blue natural glass, zhanmanshinite, an impact glass named after an exposed impact crater in Kazakhstan, and to evaluate the support for several hypotheses of the origin of the blue color in the fulgurite.

Fulgurite↗
NASA NTRS1970

Summary of Michigan multispectral investigations program

The development of techniques to extend spectral signatures in space and time is reported. Signatures that were valid for 30 miles have been extended for 129 miles using transformation and sun sensor data so that a complicated multispectral recognition problem that required 219 learning sets can now be done with 13 learning sets.

Legault, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1970

User oriented data processing at the University of Michigan

The multispectral techniques have shown themselves capable of solving problems in a large number of user areas. The results obtained are in some instances quite impressive. In many instances, the multispectral detection of various phenomena is an empirical fact for which there is little physical explanation today. To date, most of the user applications that have been addressed are exploratory in nature. The closest approximation to an operational situation encountered so far is that of the survey of wetlands in North Dakota reported in this paper.

Thomson, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A summary of Michigan program for earth resource information systems

A summary and guide to the development of earth resources information systems which employ multispectral remote sensing are reported. Major areas of activities center on improved throughput parallel processing systems, improved processing techniques, practical use of techniques in user applications, and improved sensors. Cost effectiveness considerations point to signature extension, parallel processing all-digital computers, and airborne multispectral imaging radar as some of the improvement technologies.

Erickson, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1972

User oriented multispectral data processing at the University of Michigan

The feasibility of solving practical multispectral data reduction problems by available processing techniques and the identification of areas for more technical development requirements are considered. Parameter mapping and ratio mapping techniques prove their usefulness in a corn blight watch experiment. A hybrid computer processing system is advocated for complete realization of aircraft and spacecraft sensor potentials.

Thomson, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Michigan experimental multispectral scanner system

A functional description of a multispectral airborne scanner system that provides spectral bands along a single optical line of sight is reported. The airborne scanner consists of an optical telescope for scanning plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and radiation detectors for converting radiation to electrical signals. The system makes a linear transformation of input radiation to voltage recorded on analog magnetic tape.

Hasell, P. G., Jr.↗