Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “sensing layer”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 775 records · Page 43

NASA GIBS and Worldview: Bringing 20 Years of Terra Data into View

For nearly 10 years, the NASA Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS) and Worldview interactive mapping site have provided users full resolution visualizations of Terra land, cryosphere, ocean, and atmosphere science parameters available within hours of acquisition. Over that time, GIBS and Worldview have expanded their Terra visualization suite to include even more parameters covering the entire mission of science data. Users can now view daily visualizations of nearly 50 near-real time and over 125 science quality science parameters from Terra instruments. These visualizations provide a unique capability for a broad user base to interact and discover the wealth of information sense by instruments on the Terra platform. By viewing Terra-based visualizations in a single location, users can correlate retrievals across instruments. Additionally, GIBS and Worldview include visualizations from many other platforms, allowing for an even greater data discovery capability.The GIBS and Worldview teams continue to work with Terra instrument science teams to add more visualized layers, as well as supporting visualization updates as the data is continually improved. Additionally, the GIBS interfaces and Worldview site are actively working on improved visualization functionality, including vector- and granule/swath-based products, to better address the expanding needs of its user community. This presentation will focus on an overview of existing and future visualization products and capabilities that have supported, and will support, a broad use of Terra data in science, media, and application communities.

Cechini, Matthew↗

Accounting for 3D Radiative Effects in MODIS Aerosol Retrievals near Clouds using CALIPSO Observations

Retrievals of aerosol properties near clouds from passive remote sensing is challenging. Sunlight scattered by clouds into nearby clear regions can effectively enhance the clear area reflectance. These cloud 3D radiative effects may lead to large biases in aerosol retrievals if uncorrected, risking an incorrect interpretation of satellite observations for aerosol-cloud interaction in cloudy atmosphere. In earlier studies, we developed a simple two-layer model (2LM) to estimate the cloud-induced clear-sky radiance enhancements in cloud fields. In this study, we take advantage of CALIPSO lidar observations, which should not be affected by the 3D radiative effect, to study passive aerosol retrievals in cloud fields in the Amazon region, specifically those produced by the operational Dark Target algorithm applied to Aqua-MODIS. From two-years’ worth of co-located CALIPSO/MODIS aerosol retrievals, we find a larger increase in operationally retrieved MODIS AOD from clear to cloudy regions (~0.075 or ~40%) than for the CALIPSO AOD (~0.021 or ~20%). The much larger increase in MODIS AOD is mainly due to the 3D radiative effects. After using the 2LM model to account for cloud 3D radiative effects, the clear to cloudy increase in MODIS AOD was reduced to ~0.043 (~23%), much closer to CALIPSO observations. The 3D corrected average MODIS AOD for cloudy scenes is significantly larger than AOD for clear conditions, even for cloud fraction (CF) less than 0.1, suggesting aerosols in cloudy scenes are characteristically different from aerosols in clear conditions. Furthermore, the 3D correction of AOD (i.e., τ_1D-τ_3D) increases linearly with CF for a large range of CF. We have also examined the impact of the 3D effect on aerosol Ångström Exponent (AE) and fine model fraction (FMF) of AOD. We found that the uncorrected average AE and FMF depend strongly on CF, ~25% increase in AE (decrease in particle size) and ~60% increase in FMF as CF increases from 0.05 to 0.45. The 3D correction leads to smaller average AE (bigger particle size) and FMF that are almost independent of CF. Thus, the 3D corrected aerosol properties are expected to provide more accurate information for better understanding aerosol-cloud interactions.

MODIS↗

Scattering models in the microwave regime

Results of first and second year research efforts are summarized in a series of complete articles and abstracts. The goal of the first year efforts was to calculate scattering from an inhomogeneous layer with irregular boundaries to model natural terrains. The model was applied to interpret measurements from vegetation, snow, and sea ice. The goal of the second year was to extend the scattering model to handle disc shaped scatterers which are comparable to incident wavelength and to use the model to investigate the relative merits between active versus passive sensing of soil moisture over vegetated terrain.

Fung, A. K.↗

Virtual Sensors: Using Data Mining Techniques to Efficiently Estimate Remote Sensing Spectra

Various instruments are used to create images of the Earth and other objects in the universe in a diverse set of wavelength bands with the aim of understanding natural phenomena. These instruments are sometimes built in a phased approach, with some measurement capabilities being added in later phases. In other cases, there may not be a planned increase in measurement capability, but technology may mature to the point that it offers new measurement capabilities that were not available before. In still other cases, detailed spectral measurements may be too costly to perform on a large sample. Thus, lower resolution instruments with lower associated cost may be used to take the majority of measurements. Higher resolution instruments, with a higher associated cost may be used to take only a small fraction of the measurements in a given area. Many applied science questions that are relevant to the remote sensing community need to be addressed by analyzing enormous amounts of data that were generated from instruments with disparate measurement capability. This paper addresses this problem by demonstrating methods to produce high accuracy estimates of spectra with an associated measure of uncertainty from data that is perhaps nonlinearly correlated with the spectra. In particular, we demonstrate multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs), Support Vector Machines (SVMs) with Radial Basis Function (RBF) kernels, and SVMs with Mixture Density Mercer Kernels (MDMK). We call this type of an estimator a Virtual Sensor because it predicts, with a measure of uncertainty, unmeasured spectral phenomena.

Srivastava, Ashok N.↗

Retrievals of Cloud Droplet Size from the RSP Data: Validation Using in Situ Measurements

We present comparisons of cloud droplet size distributions retrieved from the Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) data with correlative in situ measurements made during the North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES). This field experiment was based at St. Johns airport, Newfoundland, Canada with the latest deployment in May - June 2016. RSP was onboard the NASA C-130 aircraft together with an array of in situ and other remote sensing instrumentation. The RSP is an along-track scanner measuring polarized and total reflectances in9 spectral channels. Its unique high angular resolution allows for characterization of liquid water droplet size using the rainbow structure observed in the polarized reflectances in the scattering angle range between 135 and 165 degrees. A parametric fitting algorithm applied to the polarized reflectances provides retrievals of the droplet effective radius and variance assuming a prescribed size distribution shape (gamma distribution). In addition to this, we use a non-parametric method, Rainbow Fourier Transform (RFT), which allows us to retrieve the droplet size distribution (DSD) itself. The latter is important in the case of clouds with complex structure, which results in multi-modal DSDs. During NAAMES the aircraft performed a number of flight patterns specifically designed for comparison of remote sensing retrievals and in situ measurements. These patterns consisted of two flight segments above the same straight ground track. One of these segments was flown above clouds allowing for remote sensing measurements, while the other was at the cloud top where cloud droplets were sampled. We compare the DSDs retrieved from the RSP data with in situ measurements made by the Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP). The comparisons show generally good agreement with deviations explainable by the position of the aircraft within cloud and by presence of additional cloud layers in RSP view that do not contribute to the in situ DSDs. In the latter case the distributions retrieved from the RSP data were consistent with the multi-layer cloud structures observed in the correlative High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) profiles. The comparison results provide a rare validation of polarimetric droplet size retrieval techniques, which can be used for analysis of satellite data on global scale.

cloud droplets↗

Electrical Response Using Nanotubes on a Fibrous Substrate

A device produces an electrical signal in response to a stimulus. The device is formed of a flexible substrate including a layer of fibers, for example, paper, and a solution of dispersed carbon nanotubes coated onto and within the fibers, the solution evaporated to leave carbon nanotubes intertwined within the layer of fibers. The carbon nanotubes are functionalized to be optimized for producing an electrical signal for a particular stimulus, where the stimulus includes exposure of the device to a particular gas or vapor. A number of such devices, some or all of which can be different, are housed together, for producing a complex electronic signal, or for sensing any of a wide variety of stimulus.

Jin-Woo Han↗

Retrieving the Height of Smoke and Dust Aerosols by Synergistic Use of Multiple Satellite Sensors

The Aerosol Single scattering albedo and Height Estimation (ASHE) algorithm was first introduced in Jeong and Hsu (2008) to provide aerosol layer height and single scattering albedo (SSA) for biomass burning smoke aerosols. By using multiple satellite sensors synergistically, ASHE can provide the height information over much broader areas than lidar observations alone. The complete ASHE algorithm uses aerosol data from MODIS or VIIRS, OMI or OMPS, and CALIOP. A simplified algorithm also exists that does not require CALIOP data as long as the SSA of the aerosol layer is provided by another source. Several updates have recently been made: inclusion of dust layers in the retrieval process, better determination of the input aerosol layer height from CALIOP, improvement in aerosol optical depth (AOD) for nonspherical dust, development of quality assurance (QA) procedure, etc.

satellite remote sensing↗

Correction of Cloud Optical Thickness Retrievals from Nadir Reflectances in the Presence of 3D Radiative Effects. Part I: Concept and Tests on 3D RT Simulations

3D effects cause substantial underestimation of cloud optical thickness (COT) in airborne and satellite retrievals based on 1D radiative transfer computations (such as in the case of widely used bispectral technique). For a single-layer isolated cloud we propose a simple linear correction of the retrieved COT with the renormalization factor dependent on the cloud’s aspect ratio (the ratio between vertical and horizontal dimensions of the cloud). This is an empirical assumption which we successfully test using synthetic 3D RT data. We introduce a heuristic “block model” of 3D radiative effects and show that the functional form of the renormalization factor is consistent with the process of radiation escape from cloud sides in an essentially 3D geometry. We also extend the block model to the case of single-layer broken cloud field with radiative interaction between the neighboring clouds. In this case the renormalization factor depends also on the distance between clouds.

cloud optical thickness↗

Remote Recession Sensing of Ablative Heat Shield Materials

Tests were performed to demonstrate the feasibility of a new method of measuring surface recession of a material sample during arc-jet testing in the NASA Ames mARC subscale developmental facility. The measurement principle was inspired through tracer elements such as Ca and Na which were seen in the spectra taken during the airborne observation campaign of the Stardust re-entry and which could be clearly observed standing out against the emission spectra emitted by postshock layer and glowing surface of the re-entry capsule. The measurement principle involves seeding of the heat shield materials at a defined depth with tracer elements which show strong and characteristic emission lines in the post shock plasma. Once the material recession reaches the seeding depth, these elements get into the hot plasma and show up in the emission spectra. The methodology was successfully demonstrated during arc-jet testing of phenolic impregnated carbonablator (PICA) material which was seeded in depth with a mixture of NaCl and MgCl in powder form. In the emission spectroscopy data, the emission lines of Mg and Na showed up about 1.5 seconds after probe insertion into the arc-jet plasma and vanished after another 2.5 seconds when recessionhad consumed the seeding material. From these data, a recession rate of about 1 mm/s is estimated.The heat flux during the test was measured to be 2575 W/sq cm on a hemispherical heat flux probewhich corresponds to a heat flux of 1036 W/sq cm on the rectangular test articles. An estimate for a lower limit of the surface temperature of 2800K during the test was obtained by fitting Planck radiation to the continuum spectra emitted by the PICA sample. Typical recession rates of PICA during testing in the large arc-jet facilities at similar test conditions are reported to be on the order of 0.05 to 0.1 cm/s which agrees well with the recession rates of 0.05-0.06 cm/s estimated from the emission spectroscopy data. Further tests under better controlled conditions are suggested to quantify this measurement method. Through a different choice of seeding materials with lower melting point, an extension of the measurement principle to monitor char depth seems feasible but was not yet demonstrated. Possible applications besides ground testing are recession and possibly char depth measurements during real re-entry. Detection through emission spectroscopy could be accomplished through ground based or airborne observation as performed during the Stardust and Hayabusa re-entries, or through on-board spectrometers. A suitable mission would be the re-entryof the OSIRIS-REX mission planned for late 2023. The measured data are presented and interpreted, the results and details of future applications are discussed.

instrumentation↗

Effects of Whitecaps on Satellite-Derived Ocean Color

During the 3.25 years of the project, various aspects of satellite ocean-color remote sensing were investigated, including effect of whitecaps on atmospheric correction, validity of aerosol models, and evaluation of ocean-color products. Algorithms to estimate pigment concentration and photo-synthetically active radiation (PAR) were developed, and studies of geophysical phenomena, such as the 1998 Asian Dust event, were performed. The influence of solar radiation absorption by phytoplankton on mixed layer dynamics, ocean circulation, and climate was also investigated. The project's results and findings are described.

Frouin, Robert↗

Effect of Free Stream Turbulence on the Flow-Induced Background Noise of In-Flow Microphones

When making noise measurements of sound sources in flow using microphones immersed in an air stream or wind tunnel, the factor limiting the dynamic range of the measurement is, in many cases, the noise caused by the flow over the microphone. To lower this self-noise, and to protect the microphone diaphragm, an aerodynamic microphone forebody is usually mounted on the tip of the omnidirectional microphone. The microphone probe is then pointed into the wind stream. Even with a microphone forebody, however, the self-noise persists, prompting further research in the area of microphone forebody design for flow-induced self-noise reduction. The magnitude and frequency characteristics of in-flow microphone probe self-noise is dependent upon the exterior shape of the probe and on the level of turbulence in the onset flow, among other things. Several recent studies present new designs for microphone forebodies, some showing the forbodies' self-noise characteristics when used in a given facility. However, these self-noise characteristics may change when the probes are used in different facilities. The present paper will present results of an experimental investigation to determine an empirical relationship between flow turbulence and self-noise levels for several microphone forebody shapes as a function of frequency. As a result, the microphone probe self-noise for these probes will be known as a function of freestream turbulence, and knowing the freestream turbulence spectra for a given facility, the probe self-noise can be predicted. Flow-induced microphone self-noise is believed to be related to the freestream. turbulence by three separate mechanisms. The first mechanism is produced by large scale, as compared to the probe size, turbulence which appears to the probe as a variation in the angle of attack of the freestream. flow. This apparent angle of attack variation causes the pressure along the probe surface to fluctuate, and at the location of the sensor orifice this fluctuating surface pressure is sensed by the diaphragm as noise. The second mechanism is caused by the convection of smaller sized turbulence, on the order of the probe cross-section, which passes nearby or strikes the probe giving rise to a fluctuating pressure at the sensor orifice. And, the third mechanism is related to fine scale turbulence through its effects on boundary layer growth and transition to a turbulent boundary layer. The method for relating the probe self-noise to the freestream turbulence will be based on the method of K. J. Young5 from Boeing, who developed the technique and presented flow noise results for a Bruel & Kjaer Type 0385, 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) nose cone. The experimental set-up used in the present experiment is similar to that of Young and is described in the present paper. Finally, flow noise predictions are made using the empirical correlations. These predictions are then compared with actual flow noise measurements made in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center.

Allen, Christopher S.↗

Nanoscale Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Gas Sensing

A report describes the fabrication and testing of nanoscale metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs) for gas and chemical sensing. This document examines the relationship between processing approaches and resulting sensor behavior. This is a core question related to a range of applications of nanotechnology and a number of different synthesis methods are discussed: thermal evaporation- condensation (TEC), controlled oxidation, and electrospinning. Advantages and limitations of each technique are listed, providing a processing overview to developers of nanotechnology- based systems. The results of a significant amount of testing and comparison are also described. A comparison is made between SnO2, ZnO, and TiO2 single-crystal nanowires and SnO2 polycrystalline nanofibers for gas sensing. The TECsynthesized single-crystal nanowires offer uniform crystal surfaces, resistance to sintering, and their synthesis may be done apart from the substrate. The TECproduced nanowire response is very low, even at the operating temperature of 200 C. In contrast, the electrospun polycrystalline nanofiber response is high, suggesting that junction potentials are superior to a continuous surface depletion layer as a transduction mechanism for chemisorption. Using a catalyst deposited upon the surface in the form of nanoparticles yields dramatic gains in sensitivity for both nanostructured, one-dimensional forms. For the nanowire materials, the response magnitude and response rate uniformly increase with increasing operating temperature. Such changes are interpreted in terms of accelerated surface diffusional processes, yielding greater access to chemisorbed oxygen species and faster dissociative chemisorption, respectively. Regardless of operating temperature, sensitivity of the nanofibers is a factor of 10 to 100 greater than that of nanowires with the same catalyst for the same test condition. In summary, nanostructure appears critical to governing the reactivity, as measured by electrical resistance of these SnO2 nanomaterials towards reducing gases. With regard to the sensitivity of the different nascent nanostructures, the electrospun nanofibers appear preferable

Hunter, Gary W.↗

The Evolution and Role of the Saharan Air Layer During Hurricane Helene (2006)

The Saharan air layer (SAL) has received considerable attention in recent years as a potential negative influence on the formation and development of Atlantic tropical cyclones. Observations of substantial Saharan dust in the near environment of Hurricane Helene (2006) during the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Activities (AMMA) Experiment (NAMMA) field campaign led to suggestions about the suppressing influence of the SAL in this case. In this study, a suite of satellite remote sensing data, global meteorological analyses, and airborne data are used to characterize the evolution of the SAL in the environment of Helene and assess its possible impact on the intensity of the storm. The influence of the SAL on Helene appears to be limited to the earliest stages of development, although the magnitude of that impact is difficult to determine observationally. Saharan dust was observed on the periphery of the storm during the first two days of development after genesis when intensification was slow. Much of the dust was observed to move well westward of the storm thereafter, with little SAL air present during the remainder of the storm's lifetime and with the storm gradually becoming a category-3 strength storm four days later. Dry air observed to wrap around the periphery of Helene was diagnosed to be primarily non-Saharan in origin (the result of subsidence) and appeared to have little impact on storm intensity. The eventual weakening of the storm is suggested to result from an eyewall replacement cycle and substantial reduction of the sea surface temperatures beneath the hurricane as its forward motion decreased.

Hurricane Helene↗

Developing flow in S-shaped ducts. 1: Square cross-section duct

Laser-Doppler velocimetry was used to measure the laminar and turbulent flow in an S-duct formed with two 22.5 deg sectors of a bend with ratio of mean radius of curvature to hydraulic diameter of 7.0. The boundary layers at the inlet to the bend were about 25% and 15% of the hydraulic diameter for the laminar and turbulent flows, respectively. Pressure-driven secondary flows develop in the first half of the S-duct and persist into the second half but are largely reversed by the exit plane as a consequence of the change in the sense of curvature. There is, however, a region near the outer wall of the second bend where the redistribution of the streamwise isotachs results in a reinforcement of the secondary flow which was established in the first half of the S-duct. The net redistribution of the streamwise isotachs is comparable to that occurring in unidirectional bends of stronger curvature. The wall pressure distribution was also measured for the turbulent flow and quantifies the expected large variations in the longitudinal pressure gradient distributions which occur at different radial locations.

Taylor, A. M. K. P.↗

Active Raman sounding of the earth's water vapor field

The typically weak cross-sections characteristic of Raman processes has historically limited their use in atmospheric remote sensing to nighttime application. However, with advances in instrumentation and techniques, it is now possible to apply Raman lidar to the monitoring of atmospheric water vapor, aerosols and clouds throughout the diurnal cycle. Upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric measurements of water vapor using Raman lidar are also possible but are limited to nighttime and require long integration times. However, boundary layer studies of water vapor variability can now be performed with high temporal and spatial resolution. This paper will review the current state-of-the-art of Raman lidar for high-resolution measurements of the atmospheric water vapor, aerosol and cloud fields. In particular, we describe the use of Raman lidar for mapping the vertical distribution and variability of atmospheric water vapor, aerosols and clouds throughout the evolution of dynamic meteorological events. The ability of Raman lidar to detect and characterize water in the region of the tropopause and the importance of high-altitude water vapor for climate-related studies and meteorological satellite performance are discussed.

Earth (Planet)↗

Phenological Parameters Estimation Tool

The Phenological Parameters Estimation Tool (PPET) is a set of algorithms implemented in MATLAB that estimates key vegetative phenological parameters. For a given year, the PPET software package takes in temporally processed vegetation index data (3D spatio-temporal arrays) generated by the time series product tool (TSPT) and outputs spatial grids (2D arrays) of vegetation phenological parameters. As a precursor to PPET, the TSPT uses quality information for each pixel of each date to remove bad or suspect data, and then interpolates and digitally fills data voids in the time series to produce a continuous, smoothed vegetation index product. During processing, the TSPT displays NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) time series plots and images from the temporally processed pixels. Both the TSPT and PPET currently use moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite multispectral data as a default, but each software package is modifiable and could be used with any high-temporal-rate remote sensing data collection system that is capable of producing vegetation indices. Raw MODIS data from the Aqua and Terra satellites is processed using the TSPT to generate a filtered time series data product. The PPET then uses the TSPT output to generate phenological parameters for desired locations. PPET output data tiles are mosaicked into a Conterminous United States (CONUS) data layer using ERDAS IMAGINE, or equivalent software package. Mosaics of the vegetation phenology data products are then reprojected to the desired map projection using ERDAS IMAGINE

McKellip, Rodney D.↗

Summary of Activities for Health Monitoring of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels

This three-year project (FY12-14) will design and demonstrate the ability of new Magnetic Stress Gages for the measurement of stresses on the inner diameter of a Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel overwrap. The sensors are being tested at White Sands Testing Facility (WSTF) where the results will be correlated with a known nondestructive technique acoustic emission. The gages will be produced utilizing Meandering Winding Magnetometer (MWM) and/or MWM array eddy current technology. The ultimate goal is to utilize this technology for the health monitoring of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels for all future flight programs. The first full-scale pressurization test was performed at WSTF in June 2012. The goals of this test were to determine adaptations of the magnetic stress gauge instrumentation that would be necessary to allow multiple sensors to monitor the vessel's condition simultaneously and to determine how the sensor response changes with sensor selection and orientation. The second full scale pressurization test was performed at WSTF in August 2012. The goals of this test were to monitor the vessel's condition with multiple sensors simultaneously, to determine the viability of the multiplexing units (MUX) for the application, and to determine if the sensor responses in different orientations are repeatable. For both sets of tests the vessel was pressured up to 6,000 psi to simulate maximum operating pressure. Acoustic events were observed during the first pressurization cycle. This suggested that the extended storage period prior to use of this bottle led to a relaxation of the residual stresses imparted during auto-frettage. The pressurization tests successfully demonstrated the use of multiplexers with multiple MWM arrays to monitor a vessel. It was discovered that depending upon the sensor orientation, the frequencies, and the sense element, the MWM arrays can provide a variety of complementary information about the composite overwrapped pressure vessel load conditions. For example, low frequency measurements can be used to monitor the overwrap thickness and changes associated with pressure level. High frequency data is dominated by the properties of the overwrap, including the fiber orientations and lay-up of the layers.

Russell, Rick↗

Creating Data-Driven Vector Visualizations of Satellite Orbit Tracks Using NASA GIBS and Worldview

NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) currently operates dozens of remote sensing satellites, many of which can be viewed directly in NASA’s open-source Worldview application. Much of this satellite imagery can be viewed in near-real time as it is processed and served by NASA’s Global Imagery Browse Service (GIBS). To better educate users on the time and location of imagery, GIBS serves orbit track specific layers for each satellite. Worldview has historically served these layers as raster images but recent updates have enabled the application to now serve these layers using vector tiles. With the release of Worldview v3.0, orbit track layers can be displayed using mapbox vector tiles (MVT). This visualization format allows users to not only view and change the color of orbit track layers, as they could do previously with rasters, but also inspect individual vector points and filter layers by specific parameters such as time. The data contained within a MVT is further enhanced in Worldview with the combination of a JSON description file served from GIBS used to describe the MVT data. This presentation will provide an overview of the process of consuming orbit track vector tiles and data files from GIBS using a pipeline to configure, build and ultimately display the orbit tracks in Worldview. Furthermore, the presentation aims to describe how others can leverage our open-source code to display and enhance vector layers in their own applications.

Rice, Zachary↗