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At least 775 records · Page 43
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

Dynamics of the middle atmosphere in winter (Dynamics). Interrelation between the different variations of turbulent diffusion and ionospheric absorption originating in the middle atmosphere

The turbulent diffusion coefficient was computed from the parameters of sporadic E layers using the wind shear theory of midlatitude sporadic E and models of the ionosphere as well as that of the neutral upper atmosphere. The turbulent diffusion coefficient obtained for the period of circulation disturbances associated with stratospheric warmings and for the intervals of the winter anomaly indicate changes similar to the ionospheric absorption of radio waves, in the former case decreased, in the latter case increased values. This may hit at the role of turbulent transport in the formation of these anomalies. On the basis of these findings, a seasonal variation of the turbulent diffusion coefficient having a minimum in summer and an increase of this parameter with increasing geomagnetic activity are anticipated.

Bencze, P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Comparison of satellite IR rain estimates with radar rain observations in hurricanes

Radar-observed rainrates and rain areas obtained for the Hurricanes Frederic (1979), Alicia (1983), and Diana (1984) were used in conjunction with GOES IR data to examine the validity of three satellite IR rain estimation techniques: the Arkin (1983) method, the Negri-Adler-Wetzel (1984) technique, and the convective-stratiform technique of Adler and Negri (1987). The Alicia hurricane was also monitored using the subjective manual technique of Spayd and Scofield (1984). It is shown that the success of IR techniques in identifying areas of rainfall depends on the hurricane feature being addressed. Thus, the three objective IR techniques were unable to identify the locations of radar-observed eyewall and inner band precipitation areas because of strong vertical wind shear in the eyewall and the lack of the vertical extent of stratiform precipitation beneath the central dense overcast.

Morris, K. Robert↗
NASA NTRS1988

Modeling of dynamic effects of a low power laser beam

Methods of modeling some of the dynamic effects involved in laser beam propagation through the atmosphere are addressed with emphasis on the development of simple but accurate models which are readily implemented in a physical optics code. A space relay system with a ground based laser facility is considered as an example. The modeling of such characteristic phenomena as laser output distribution, flat and curved mirrors, diffraction propagation, atmospheric effects (aberration and wind shear), adaptive mirrors, jitter, and time integration of power on target, is discussed.

Lawrence, George N.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Optical modeling of a space relay experiment

The optical modeling of laser beam propagation between two points on the earth's surface is discussed with reference to a space relay experiment using relay mirrors on one or more satellites. A two-dimensional laser beam propagation code is applied, and several novel modules are developed to realistically model the environment of the experiment. These are the Kolmogorov atmosphere, a deformable mirror, a segmented aperture, and wind shear. The model allows the calculation of the beam-Strehl ratio and efficiency of the energy transfer for an arbitrary input beam distribution.

Scholl, Marija S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Overview of optimal trajectories for flight in a windshear

Optimal flight trajectories for the B-727, B-737, and B-747 aircraft in the presence of wind shear are studied. The takeoff problem and the abort landing problem are considered with reference to flight in a vertical plane. In the former, optimal trajectories are computed by minimizing the peak deviation of the absolute path inclination from a reference value; in the latter, optimal trajectories are computed by minimizing the peak value of the altitude drop. Numerical computations show that, for both the problems under consideration, the optimal trajectories of the three aircraft show the same qualitative behavior. Hence, it appears that the near-optimal guidance schemes developed for the B-727 can be extended to the other two aircraft, albeit with some quantitative modification.

Miele, A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Upper stratosphere polar jet instability in the Southern Hemisphere

A Fourier analysis of temperature measurements obtained during the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere experiment between April and May 1979 has been performed in order to study synoptic-scale zonal eddies confined to polar latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) upper stratosphere. Evidence is provided for pronounced latitudinal variations in the upper stratosphere zonal wind distribution. The results indicate that the synoptic-scale modes may arise from a latitudial wind shear instability of the SH polar jet stream.

Miles, T.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Atmospheric velocity spectral width measurements using the statistical distribution of pulsed CO2 lidar return signal intensities

A pulsed CO2 lidar with coherent detection has been used to measure the correlation time of backscatter from an ensemble of atmospheric aerosol particles which are illuminated by the pulsed radiation. The correlation time of the backscatter of the return signal, which is directly related to the velocity spectral width, can be used to study the velocity structure constant of atmospheric turbulence and wind shear. Various techniques for correlation time measurement are discussed, and several measurement results are presented for the technique using the information contained in the statistical distribution of a set of lidar return signal intensities.

Ancellet, Gerard M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A relationship between peak temperature drop and velocity differential in a microburst

Results from numerical microburst simulations using the Terminal Area Simulation System (Proctor, 1987) are used to develop a relationship between wind velocity differential and peak temperature drop. The numerical model and the relationships derived from the model are described. The relationship between peak temperature drop and differential wind velocity is shown to be valid during microburst development, for all precipitation shaft intensities and diameters. It is found that the relationship is not valid for low-reflectivity microburst events or in the presence of ground-based stable layers. The use of the relationship in IR wind shear detection systems is considered.

Proctor, Fred H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Stochastic Feedforward Control Technique

Class of commanded trajectories modeled as stochastic process. Advanced Transport Operating Systems (ATOPS) research and development program conducted by NASA Langley Research Center aimed at developing capabilities for increases in capacities of airports, safe and accurate flight in adverse weather conditions including shear, winds, avoidance of wake vortexes, and reduced consumption of fuel. Advances in techniques for design of modern controls and increased capabilities of digital flight computers coupled with accurate guidance information from Microwave Landing System (MLS). Stochastic feedforward control technique developed within context of ATOPS program.

Halyo, Nesim↗
NASA NTRS1989

Crew emergency return vehicle autoland feasibility study

The crew emergency return vehicle (CERV) autoland feasibility study focused on determining the controllability of the NASA Langley high lift over drag CERV for performing an automatic landing at a prescribed runway. An autoland system was developed using integral linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) design techniques. The design was verified using a nonlinear 6 DOF simulation. Simulation results demonstrate that the CERV configuration is a very flyable configuration for performing an autoland mission. Adequate stability and control was demonstrated for wind turbulence and wind shear. Control surface actuator requirements were developed.

Bossi, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Airborne Doppler radar flight experiments for the detection of microbursts

In the interest of aviation safety, NASA and the FAA are jointly conducting research to determine the applicability of airborne, coherent Doppler radar techniques to detect early microburst in wind shear conditions during aircraft takeoff and landing. Researchers have developed a computer model of the radar which predicts its response when viewing a simulated microburst against the simulated clutter background of an airport, the so-called radar microburst ground clutter model. Studies employing this model revealed that Doppler radar can accurately detect microburst ahead of the aircraft in time for pilot evasive response, but flight experiments will be required for complete performance evaluation of the system. An experimental X band radar is being developed for future flight experiments to verify the simulation modeling results. A description of the experimental radar, recording equipment, and its installation on the NASA 515 aircraft is presented. The flight experiments to be conducted are also described.

Blume, Hans-J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Global impact of the Antarctic ozone hole - Chemical propagation

A model is presented for the chemical mixing of stratospheric air, that combines photochemistry, molecular diffusion, and strain (i.e., the stretching of air parcels due to wind shear). The model is applied to the case in which chemically perturbed air parcels from the Antarctic stratosphere are transported to mid-latidudes and strained into thin ribbon-like filaments until they are diffusively mixed with the ambient stratosphere. Results show that, following the breakup of the polar vortex, Antarctic air with substantially depleted ozone will not contribute any additional ozone loss at mid-latitudes as it is mixed with ambient air, supporting the results of simulations of the Antarctic ozone hole by Prather et al. (1990). Nevertheless, air processed by polar stratospheric clouds but transported to mid-latitudes before substantive ozone depletion, can lead to additional loss after mixing with ambient air.

Prather, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1990

Interpretation of ground-based radiometric observations in terms of a gravity wave model

An analysis is presented of 2-hour and 4-hour segments of data taken at Denver, Colorado, on February 3, 1984, by a ground-based radiometer designed and operated by the Wave Propagation Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The zenith-viewing instrument has two moisture-sensing and four temperature-sensing channels. It is demonstrated that a peak at a period of 10 min, present in the spectra of the measured brightness temperature and of the derived geopotential heights, thicknesses, and vertically integrated water vapor content, is due to an internal gravity wave generated by wind shear in the jet aloft. This analysis shows that the radiometer has the sensitivity to detect such disturbances and that the mathematical inversion technique used to retrieve the geopotential field and other integrated quantities retains the derived information as well. Finally, a linear expression is derived which relates the brightness temperature to the atmospheric temperature, density, humidity, and cloud liquid perturbation fields.

Canavero, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Origin of low frequency (intraseasonal) oscillations in the tropical atmosphere. III - Monsoon dynamics

The issue of the interaction of the monsoon large-scale circulation and intraseasonal oscillations is addressed, showing that, as a result of the interaction of the large scale monsoon flow with the near-equatorial intraseasonal oscillation, unstable baroclinic disturbances are generated over the monsoon region. From a linear stability analysis of quasi-geostrophic motion in a two-level model, it is shown that the westward propagating disturbances generated over the monsoon region are the manifestation of heat-induced unstable Rossby waves. The instability is favored in the region with large vertical wind shear and reduced effective static stability. The monsoon large scale circulation over India and southeast Asia and the plentiful supply of moisture in the region appear to be favorable for the development of these unstable waves.

Lau, K.-M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Lightning/rainfall relationships during COHMEX

Initial results of relationships between cloud-to-ground lightning and radar-derived precipitation measurements in air mass thunderstorms (multi- and single cell) occurring over the Southeastern United States are presented. Buoyancy values computed from soundings are used to estimate wind shear, the energy available to storms, and the ability of the environment to support strong updrafts. Precipitation measurements are utilized for sampling the rainfall history of entire storm life cycles. It is shown that the average rain volume per ground discharge decreases as the buoyancy increases; this is attributed to stronger updrafts elevating mass to higher levels in the storm where more frequent ice particle interactions may play a major role in separating charge leading to enhanced lightning activity. Thus, total lightning rates are expected to correlate better with rainfall production.

Goodman, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Estimating SAR Doppler Shifts From Homogeneous Targets

Algorithm that processes some of information in synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) echoes from homogeneous targets yields optimal estimates of Doppler frequency shifts. Helps in further processing to extract as much information as possible about targets. Used to improve radiometric calibrations, to estimate direction of radar antenna, and to determine speeds of moving targets more accurately. Also helpful in measurements of speeds of ocean currents and of wind shears at airports.

Jin, Michael Y.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Estimating SAR Doppler Shifts From Quasi-Homogeneous Targets

Linear-estimator subalgorithm optimized for local terrain. Algorithm processes some of information in synthetic-aperture-radar echoes from quasi-homogeneous targets, yielding optimal estimates of Doppler frequency shifts. Differs from one described in article, "Estimating SAR Doppler Shifts From Homogeneous Targets", NPO-17869, though offers similar advantages for measurements of wind shears and speeds of ocean currents. Derivation of algorithm involves some of same terminology and simplifying assumptions, however, target area considered quasi-homogeneous in sense it consists of patchwork of subareas, each of which is homogeneous target differing from its neighbors. This assumption more realistic than assumption of homogeneity.

Jin, Michael Y.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Tools for the trade

A brief review is given of daily operations in the airline business, with emphasis on the decisions made by pilots and the information used to make those decisions. Various wind shears are discussed as they affect daily operations. The discussion of tools focuses on airborne reactive and predictive systems. The escape maneuver used to fly out of a severe windshear is from a pilot's point of view.

Gillman, Wallace M.↗