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At least 811 records · Page 45

DEVELOP’s Approach to Experiential Learning

The NASA DEVELOP Program addresses environmental decision making needs and geoscience workforce development through 10-week feasibility studies that apply Earth observations to environmental issues at hand. The program builds capacity to use geospatial information in both its participants (students, recent graduates, early career professionals, and transitioning career professionals) and partner organizations (federal agencies, state & local governments, non-profits, and private industry). This is accomplished through a structured project execution model that provides opportunities for participants to have autonomy, learn “on the job,” and gain new skillsets for working with remote sensing data. A pipeline of leadership positions enhances opportunities for individuals engaged in the program to get hands-on experience conducting data analyses, communicating their work, leading technical projects, and building their knowledge bank of Earth-observing satellite capabilities. These skillsets and knowledge are then transferred to partners through the projects. This panel contribution will introduce the DEVELOP model, highlight experiences of participants, and share the program’s insights into good practices for effective experiential learning.

Capacity Building↗

Aerosol Layer Height with Enhanced Spectral Coverage Achieved by Synergy between VIIRS and OMPS-NM Measurements

This letter presents a near production-ready algorithm to retrieve the height of biomass burning smoke and mineral dust aerosols as part of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Deep Blue aerosol data product suite. It utilizes the enhanced spectral coverage achieved by using colocated data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Nadir Mapper (OMPS-NM), both aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite. In particular, the 412-nm top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance from VIIRS and the ultraviolet aerosol index from OMPS-NM are used to determine the height and single-scattering albedo of the absorbing aerosols simultaneously. Constraints on aerosol optical depth at 550 nm and surface reflectance for the 412-nm band are provided by the operational VIIRS Deep Blue aerosol product. Wildfire smoke layer heights obtained from the algorithm over North America, where smoke plumes often stretched thousands of kilometers, are shown to agree with those from Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) measurements, with an uncertainty generally within 1–1.5 km. This new height data set will be included in the upcoming Version 2 VIIRS Deep Blue aerosol product.

aerosol↗

Concentrator enhanced solar arrays design study

The analysis and preliminary design of a 25 kW concentrator enhanced lightweight flexible solar array are presented. The study was organized into five major tasks: (1) assessment and specification of design requirements; (2) mechanical design; (3) electric design; (4) concentrator design; and (5) cost projection. The tasks were conducted in an iterative manner so as to best derive a baseline design selection. The objectives of the study are discussed and comparative configurations and mass data on the SEP (Solar Electric Propulsion) array design, concentrator design options and configuration/mass data on the selected concentrator enhanced solar array baseline design are presented. Design requirements supporting design analysis and detailed baseline design data are discussed. The results of the cost projection analysis and new technology are also discussed.

Lott, D. R.↗

MODIS On-Orbit Calibration and Lessons Learned

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is a key instrument for NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra and Aqua missions. Since launch, Terra and Aqua MODIS have successfully operated for more than 12 and 10 years, respectively, and generated an unprecedented amount of data products for the science and user community over a wide range of applications. MODIS was developed with improved design and stringent calibration requirements over its heritage sensors in order . to extend and enhance their long-term data records. Its follow-on instrument, the Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), was launched on-board the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) spacecraft October 28, 2011. MODIS collects data in 36 spectral bands, covering wavelengths from 0.41 to 14.S!Jlll, and at 250m, SOOm, and lkm spatial resolutions (nadir). MODIS on-orbit calibration is provided by a set of onboard calibrators (OBC), including a solar diffuser (SO), a solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM), a blackbody (BB), and a spectroradiometric calibration assembly (SRCA). In addition to the onboard calibrators, regular lunar observations are made by both Terra and Aqua MODIS to track their calibration stability in the reflective solar region. This tutorial session provides an overview of MODIS on-orbit calibration and characterization methodologies. It discusses challenging issues and lessons learned from sensor design, operation, calibration, and inter-comparisons. Examples of instrument on-orbit performance are illustrated with a focus on the improvements made based on various lessons learned. It is expected that MODIS experience and lessons will continue to provide valuable information for future earth observing missions/sensors.

Xiong, Jack↗

Enabling the Assimilation of CrIS Shortwave Infrared Observations in Global NWP at NOAA. Part I: Background and Methods

Radiance observations from Earth-observing satellites have a significant positive impact on numerical weather prediction (NWP) forecasts, but some spectral regions are not fully exploited. Observations from hyperspectral infrared (IR) sounders in the longwave region (650-1100 cm -1 ), for instance, are routinely assimilated in many NWP models, but observations in the shortwave region (2155-2550 cm -1 ) are not. Each of these regions provides information on the temperature structure of the atmosphere, but the shortwave IR (SWIR) region is considered challenging to assimilate due to noise equivalent delta temperature (NEDT) that is highly variable depending on scene brightness temperature and to phenomena that are difficult to model, like non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (NLTE) and solar reflectance. With recent advances in small-satellite technology, SWIR temperature sounders may provide an agile and cost-effective complement to the current constellation of IR sounders. Therefore, a better understanding of the use and impact of SWIR observations in data assimilation for NWP is warranted. In part one of this study, as presented here, the amount of unique information (as determined by Empirical Orthogonal Decomposition (EOD)) made available to a data assimilation system by Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) SWIR observations is reviewed, recent advancements to the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) for the simulation of CrIS shortwave radiances are tested, and enhancements to NOAA’s Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) for the assimilation of CrIS SWIR observations are implemented and evaluated. Part two of this study, which seeks to assess the value of assimilating shortwave IR observations in global NWP, is also introduced.

Erin Jones↗

Determining economic benefits of satellite data in short-range forecasting

The chances of enhanced short term weather predictions and economic benefits from the use of GOES satellite data were examined. Results for a meteorological consulting firm before and after the introduction of GOES data were chosen as the method, and monetary benefits were selected as the measure. Services were provided for use by road and street departments, commodities dealers, and marine clients of the consulting firm. The Man-computer Interactive Data Access Program (McIDAS) was employed to furnish 1/2 hour visual or IR imagery for remote access. The commodities clients reconnected the GOES real-time imagery once the study was completed, while the consulting firm, which was personnel and not equipment intensive, did not. Further development of the flexibility of access to the GOES data and improvements in the projected grids are indicated.

Suchman, D.↗

Blast from the Past: ASDC Curation for NASA Suborbital Legacy Missions to Promote Data Discovery and Accessibility

NASA has an extensive history of conducting suborbital field campaigns to further advances in atmospheric sciences. Beginning with the Chemical Instrument Test and Evaluation (CITE) conducted in 1983-1984, NASA has completed many suborbital campaigns over the past three decades. Since the early 2010s, suborbital missions are typically assigned to a NASA Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) prior to the mission for long-term archival and distribution. Efforts are being made by NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project and the Airborne Data Management Group (ADMG) to assign legacy missions to DAACs for permanent archival and distribution, so that these valuable datasets remain to be available to the scientific community. NASA’s Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) has been named the assigned DAAC for nearly 20 atmospheric composition legacy missions, including missions conducted as part of the Global Tropospheric Experiment (GTE) and expects to be named the assigned DAAC for more of these missions over the next few years. The primary goal of the ASDC is to provide access to the datasets as they are currently formatted to the broad user community and enhance their findability and accessibility. However, data reporting standards have evolved significantly since 1983 and the datasets span a wide variety of file formats, including text, Ames, GTE, and ICARTT (International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation), and the amount of metadata and relevant information included in the files also varies greatly and can not be readily extracted without subject matter knowledge. This has caused challenges for the ASDC’s suborbital metadata extraction pipeline in ensuring that accurate and necessary metadata is being provided for the missions by all the ASDC’s existing search mechanisms. To make the data more findable and accessible, the ASDC has begun researching ways to further enhance the datasets, including distributing value-added products (i.e. consistent file format such as ICARTT or netCDF), adding standard names from the ESDIS Standards Coordination Office (ESCO)-approved Atmospheric Composition Variable Standard Names Convention (ACVSNC), and creating outreach materials such as ArcGIS StoryMaps, User Guides, and Micro Articles, providing overviews of the missions and what type of data was collected during the missions. These efforts also help support NASA’s Open-Source Science by enhancing the FAIRness of the legacy data products. This presentation will review the ASDC’s ongoing efforts, progress made, and future plans for legacy missions.

Megan Buzanowicz↗

Analysis of the characteristics appearing in LANDSAT multispectral images in the geological structural mapping of the midwestern portion of the Rio Grande do Sul shield

The central-western part of Rio Grande do Sul Shield was geologically mapped to test the use of MSS-LANDSAT data in the study of mineralized regions. Visual interpretation of the images a the scale of 1:500,000 consisted, in the identification and analysis of the different tonal and textural patterns in each spectral band. After the structural geologic mapping of the area, using visual interpretation techniques, the statistical data obtained were evaluated, specially data concerning size and direction of fractures. The IMAGE-100 system was used to enlarge and enhance certain imagery. The LANDSAT MSS data offer several advantages over conventional white and black aerial photographs for geological studies. Its multispectral characteristic (band 6 and false color composition of bands 4, 5 and 7 were best suitable for the study). Coverage of a large imaging area of about 35,000 sq km, giving a synoptical view, is very useful for perceiving the regional geological setting.

Parada, N. D. J.↗

Performance Evaluation of a Data Validation System

Online data validation is a performance-enhancing component of modern control and health management systems. It is essential that performance of the data validation system be verified prior to its use in a control and health management system. A new Data Qualification and Validation (DQV) Test-bed application was developed to provide a systematic test environment for this performance verification. The DQV Test-bed was used to evaluate a model-based data validation package known as the Data Quality Validation Studio (DQVS). DQVS was employed as the primary data validation component of a rocket engine health management (EHM) system developed under NASA's NGLT (Next Generation Launch Technology) program. In this paper, the DQVS and DQV Test-bed software applications are described, and the DQV Test-bed verification procedure for this EHM system application is presented. Test-bed results are summarized and implications for EHM system performance improvements are discussed.

Wong, Edmond↗

Effect of Scattering Angle on DSCOVR/EPIC Observations

The Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) on the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) routinely captures reflected radiation from the whole sunlit side of the Earth in the near backward direction to monitor the changing planet. The instrument had routinely operated until 27 June 2019, when the spacecraft was placed in an extended safe hold due to degradation of an inertial navigation unit. DSCOVR returned to full operations on 2 March 2020. Since then, the range of scattering angles between the incident sunlight and sensor direction has been larger than before and the largest scattering angle reaches ∼178°, only 2° from perfect backscattering, proving a unique opportunity to study the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance under such extreme conditions. In the paper, we compare EPIC global spectral reflectances in 2021–2016. We found that there are four occasions when the scattering angle reaches about 178° and associated with them enhanced global daily average spectral reflectances in 2021. The scattering angle related reflectance enhancements are not found in 2016 data when the maximum scattering angle is about 174.5°. CERES data do not show such occasions in global daily reflected shortwave flux. As a result, those enhanced reflectance occasions are primarily due to the change in scattering angle. The enhancement due to changes in scattering angle depends strongly on wavelength, primarily because of wavelength dependence of cloud scattering phase function. Radiative transfer calculations show that the change in scattering angles has the largest impact on reflectance in the red and NIR channels at 680 nm and 780 nm and the smallest influence on reflectance in the UV channel at 388 nm, consistent with EPIC observations. The change of global average cloud amount also plays an important role in the reflectance enhancement. The influence of the cloud effect depends on whether the change is in phase or not with the change of scattering angle.

DSCOVR EPIC↗

Design and implementation of a prototype data system for earth radiation budget, cloud, aerosol, and chemistry data

Activities at the NASA Langley Research Center's distributed active archive centers (DAACs) intended to capitalize on existing centers of scientific expertise and to prevent a single point of failure are described. A Version 0 Langley DAAC, a prototype of an Earth Observing System Data and Information System, started archiving and distributing existing datasets on the earth's radiation budget, clouds, aerosols, and tropospheric chemistry in late 1992. The major goals of the LaRC Version 0 effort include to enhance scientific use of existing data; to develop institutional expertise in maintaining and distributing data; to encourage cooperative interagency and international involvement with datasets and research; and to use institutional capability for processing data from previous missions to prepare for processing the future EOS satellite data.

Baum, Bryan A.↗

Enabling and Enhancing Space Mission Success and Reduction of Risk through the Application of an Integrated Data Architecture

The engineering phases of design, development, test, and evaluation (DDT and E) and subsequent planning, preparation, and operation (Ops) of space vehicles in a complex and distributed environment requires massive and continuous flows of information across the enterprise and across temporal stages of the vehicle lifecycle. The resulting capabilities at each subsequent stage depend in part on the capture, preparation, storage, and subsequent provision of information from prior stages. The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is currently designing a fleet of new vehicles that will replace the Space Shuttle and expand space operations and exploration capabilities. This includes the 2 stage human rated lift vehicle Ares 1 and its associated crew vehicle the Orion, and a service module; the heavy lift cargo vehicle, Ares 5, and an associated cargo stage known as the Earth Departure Stage; and a Lunar Lander vehicle that contains a descent stage, and ascent stage, and a habitation module. A variety of concurrent assorted ground operations infrastructure including software and facilities are also being developed, assorted technology and assembly designs and development for equipment such as EVA suits, life support systems, command and control technologies are also in the pipeline. The development is occurring in a distributed manner, with project deliverables being contributed by a large and diverse assortment of vendors and most space faring nations. Critical information about all of the components, software, and procedures must be shared during the DDT and E phases and then made readily available to the mission operations staff for access during the planning, preparation, and operations phases, and also need to be readily available for system to system interactions. The Constellation Data Systems Project (CxDS) is identifying the needs, and designing and deploying systems and processes to support these needs. This paper details the steps and processes that NASA is applying within the Constellation Program to manage this data and information, and to insure that the correct information is available, correctly annotated, and can be provisioned digitally to enhance response times, and support engineering analysis and anomaly resolution.

Brummett, Robert C.↗

Aerosol Layer Height With Enhanced Spectral Coverage Achieved by Synergy Between VIIRS and OMPS-NM Measurements

This study presents a near production-ready algorithm to retrieve the height of biomass burning smoke and mineral dust aerosols as part of NASA’s Deep Blue aerosol data product suite. It utilizes the enhanced spectral coverage achieved by using co-located data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Nadir Mapper (OMPS-NM), both aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite. Specifically, the 412 nm top-of-atmosphere reflectance from VIIRS and the ultraviolet aerosol index from OMPS-NM are used to determine the height and single-scattering albedo of the absorbing aerosols simultaneously. Constraints on aerosol optical depth at 550 nm and surface reflectance for the 412 nm band are provided by the operational VIIRS Deep Blue aerosol product. Wildfire smoke layer heights obtained from the algorithm over North America, where smoke plumes often stretched thousands of kilometers, are shown to agree with those from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) measurements, with an uncertainty generally within 1-1.5 km. This new height data set will be included in the upcoming Version 2 VIIRS Deep Blue aerosol product.

Aerosol↗

Data Access Technology Workshop Position Paper

This paper addresses the seven questions that were requested of attendees prior to attending the Data Access Technology Workshop that is scheduled for October 8-9,2002. Each of the questions is addressed in the following seven sections. The seven questions are: 1) What emerging technologies do you feel would best enhance user access to EOSDIS data and why? 2) How do you envision these technologies being used? How should they be used in combination with each other? 3) Can technologies be readily leveraged to achieve these results today? If not, when do you think they will be viable? 4) What investments do you think EOSDIS should make in these technologies today? Over the next 5 years? 5) What are reasonable cost expectations for leveraging these technologies as you've suggested? 6) What are the anticipated impacts on end users if these technologies are deployed, including investments required? 7) What unique researcher data access requirements need to be supported?

Hinke, Thomas H.↗

The 35-d X-ray profile of Her X-1

Results of an analysis of more than 500 days of Ariel 5 All-Sky Monitor data are reported which support the view that enhanced X-ray emission from Her X-1 occurs regularly in the source's 35-day cycle. The data analyzed show that the enhancement is centered at phase 0.55 (+ or - 0.05) relative to the maximum, has an intensity of at least one-fourth of the maximum, and has an apparent duration not exceeding 10% of the 35-day cycle. It is strongly suggested that the enhancement occurs in every cycle at about one-third of the maximum.

Holt, S. S.↗

Promoting Collaborative Open Science through the Stakeholder Engagement Program

Since 2016, the Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG), an initiative of the U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO), has surveyed federal agencies biennially to identify their satellite Earth observation needs. Coordinating with the agencies, NASA-led assessment teams work to identify solutions for each expressed need. Solutions to a need can involve existing data products or even the formation of new data products and technologies, such as the Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) product and the Catalog of Archived Sub-Orbital Earth Science Investigations (CASEI). To enhance community engagement with these new data products and technologies, the SNWG Management Office’s Stakeholder Engagement Program (SEP) was established. The SEP within NASA’s Interagency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (IMPACT) at Marshall Space Flight Center has three goals: to increase awareness of the SNWG survey and its outcomes, to ensure training coordination and outreach efforts supporting integration and use of SNWG solutions, and to enhance coordination among solution development teams, NASA’s Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs), SNWG stakeholders, and end user communities. These goals align with NASA Earth Science Data System’s (ESDS) Open Science initiative by establishing a collaborative community focused on enhancing scientific research at diverse levels of understanding. This presentation will highlight SEP’s facilitation of these open science goals through its support in SNWG’s past and current survey cycles as well as its plans for future involvement.

Jenny Wood↗

An initial approach to the utilization of VAS satellite sounding data

The primary objective is the development of methods to utilize satellite soundings. To achieve that, a more precise understanding of the characteristics of satellite derived soundings is required. The initial approach in the utilization of satellite soundings is to find a way to combine rawinsondes and satellite data into a unified data set. If this can be done in a meaningful way, satellite data could be integrated into existing data and interpretation would be enhanced. In this attempt, both rawinsonde and satellite soundings will be decomposed by the use of the Fourier cosine series. Then, each harmonic will be compared to get a better understanding of the representativeness of the satellite sounding data. Harmonics taken from satellite and rawinsonde soundings will be combined to provide a unified data set that can be used both over data sparse ocean areas as well as over land where rawinsonde data are available.

Shin, Kyung-Sup↗

Conceptual test of frequency diversity lidar

The present consideration of the estimation accuracy of lidar-backscattered signals in atmospheric remote sensing proposes a method that can furnish additional uncorrelated data within the atmospheric decorrelation time, with enhanced energy efficiency. This frequency-diversity method recognizes that additional uncorrelated data from a given illuminated region is obtainable by changing the frequency of the incoming radiation. The mathematical analysis of the frequency-diversity concept by Wallace (1953) confirms the physical scenario employed. A simple version of a coherent lidar system incorporating the frequency-diversity concept is included to illustrate the design principles involved.

Schotland, Richard M.↗