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NASA NTRS1992

The 3 micron spectrum of the classical Be star Beta Monocerotis A

A 3.1-3.7-micron spectrum of the classical Be star Beta Mon A is presented at a resolution of lambda/Delta-lambda of 700-800. The spectrum shows strong hydrogen recombination lines, including Pf-delta and a series of Humphreys lines from Hu 19 to Hu 28. The relative recombination line strengths suggest that Pf-delta has a large optical depth. The Humphreys lines have relative strengths consistent with case B and may be optically thin. The line widths observed are broader than the Balmer lines and similar in width to Fe II lines, consistent with a disk model in which optically thinner lines arise primarily from a faster rotating inner disk, while optically thicker lines come mainly from a slower rotating outer disk. The apparent lack of Stark broadening of the Humphreys lines is used to place an upper limit on the circumstellar electron density of about 10 exp 12/cu cm.

Sellgren, K.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The far-infrared and optical structure of Arp 220

The spatial structure of the luminous peculiar galaxy Arp 220 has been investigated in the far infrared. The results reveal that most of the luminosity is from a source less than 3 kpc in extent, located in the nuclear region of the galaxy. The size constraints yield a lower limit of 0.05 for the 100 micron optical depth, implying a hydrogen column density over 5 x 10 to the 22nd/sq cm. New optical images confirm that the double-lobed optical appearance results from strong absorption across the true nucleus. Arp 220 exhibits three primary features which provide strong evidence for an external source of energy: (1) a chaotic and highly asymmetric galactic halo; (2) a large internal velocity dispersion in CO and H I; and (3) extreme compression of gas and dust. These features are natural consequences of previously proposed models which invoke a direct galactic collision and merger, and are unlikely to result from a long-range tidal interaction with the neighboring galaxy IC 4554.

Joy, M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Spatial variation of the physical conditions of molecular gas in galaxies

Multi-line studies of CO-12, CO-13, C-18O, HCN, and HCO(+) at 3 mm, 1.3 mm, and 0.8 mm using the Institute for Radio Astronomy in the Millimeter range (IRAM) 30 m telescope, with the IRAM superconductor insulator superconductor (SIS) receivers and the Max Planck Institute for External Physics (MPE) 350 GHz SIS receiver, show that the densities and temperatures of molecular gas in external galaxies change significantly with position. CO-12 measures the densities and temperature of diffuse interclump molecular gas, but not the bulk of the molecular gas. Simple one-component models, with or without external heating, cannot account for the weakness of the CO-12 J = 3 to 2 line relative to J = 2 to 1 and J = 1 to 0. CO-12 does not trace the bulk of the molecular gas, and optical depth effects obviate a straightforward interpretation of CO-12 data. Instead, researchers turned to the optically thin CO isotopes and other molecular species. Isotopic CO lines measure the bulk of the molecular gas, and HCN and HCO(+) pick out denser regions. Researchers find a warm ridge of gas in IC 342 (Eckart et al. 1989), denser gas in the starburst nucleus of IC 342, and a possible hot-spot in NGC 2903. In IC 342, NGC 2146, and NGC 6764, the CO-13 J = 2 to 1 line is subthermally populated, implying gas densities less than or equal to 10(exp 4) cm(-3).

Jackson, James M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Luminosity limit for alpha-viscosity accretion disks

The existence of a luminosity limit for alpha-viscosity physically thin accretion disks around black holes is established, using a new formulation of the radiation equation bridging optically thick and thin regimes. For alpha close to unity, this limit can be lower than the Eddington limit. Physically, this limit is due to the combined effects of gas and radiation pressure which become too large to satisfy vertical hydrostatic balance at intermediate optical depths for sufficiently high luminosities. This effect was overlooked in previous treatments using only the optically thin or thick limits of the radiative equation.

Liang, Edison P.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Consequences of impacts of small asteroids and comets with Earth

The fragmentation of a small asteroid in the atmosphere greatly increases its cross sections for aerodynamic braking and energy dissipation. At a typical impact velocity of 22 km/s, the atmosphere absorbs more than half the kinetic energy of stony meteoroids with diameters, D(sub m), less than 220 m and iron meteoroids with D(sub m) less than 80 m. The corresponding diameter for comets with impact velocity 50 km/s is D(sub m) less than 1600 m. Most of the atmospheric energy dissipation occurs in a fraction of a scale height, so large meteors appear to 'explode' or 'flare' at the end of their visible paths. This dissipation of energy in the atmosphere protects the earth from direct impact damage (e.g., craters), but it produces a blast wave that can do considerable damage. The area of destruction around the impact point in which the over-pressure in the blast wave exceeds 4 lb/sq in = 2.8 x 10(exp 5) dynes/cu cm, which is enough to knock over trees and destroy buildings, increases rapidly from zero for chondritic meteoroids less than 56 m in diameter (15 megatons) to about 200 sq km for those 80 m in diameter (48 megatons); the probable diameter of the tunguska impactor of 1908 is about 80 m. Crater formation and earthquakes are not significant in land impacts by stony asteroids less than about 200 m in diameter because of the air protection. A tsunami is probably the most devastating type of damage for asteroids 200 m to 1 km in diameter. An impact by an asteroid this size anywhere in the Atlantic would devastate coastal areas on both sides of the ocean. An asteroid a few kilometers across would produce a tsunami that would reach the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the upper half of the East Coast of the United States. Most of Florida is protected from a tsunami by the gradual slope of the ocean off its coast, which causes most of the tsunami energy to be reflected back into the Atlantic. The atmosphere plume produced by asteroids with diameters exceeding about 120 m cannot be contained by the atmosphere, so this bubble of high-temperature gas forms a new layer on top of the atmosphere. The dust entrapped in this hot gas is likely to have optical depths exceeding tau = 10 for asteroids with diameters exceeding about 0.5 to 1 km. The optical flux from asteroids 60 m or more in diameter is enough to ignite pine forests. However, the blast wave from an impacting asteroid goes beyond the radius in which the fire starts. The blast wave tends to blow out the fire, so it is likely that the impact will char the forest, as at Tunguska, but the impact will not produce a sustained fire. Because comets dissipate their energy much higher in the atmosphere than asteroids, they illuminate a much larger region and their blast wave is weaker. So they are much more effective in producing large fires. This suggests that the KT impactor was a comet rather than an asteroid.

Hills, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Measurements of Aerosol Vertical Profiles and Optical Properties during INDOEX 1999 Using Micro-Pulse Lidars

Micro-pulse lidar systems (MPL) were used to measure aerosol properties during the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) 1999 field phase. Measurements were made from two platforms: the NOAA ship RN Ronald H. Brown, and the Kaashidhoo Climate Observatory (KCO) in the Maldives. Sunphotometers were used to provide aerosol optical depths (AOD) needed to calibrate the MPL. This study focuses on the height distribution and optical properties (at 523 nm) of aerosols observed during the campaign. The height of the highest aerosols (top height) was calculated and found to be below 4 km for most of the cruise. The marine boundary layer (MBL) top was calculated and found to be less than 1 km. MPL results were combined with air mass trajectories, radiosonde profiles of temperature and humidity, and aerosol concentration and optical measurements. Humidity varied from approximately 80% near the surface to 50% near the top height during the entire cruise. The average value and standard deviation of aerosol optical parameters were determined for characteristic air mass regimes. Marine aerosols in the absence of any continental influence were found to have an AOD of 0.05 +/- 0.03, an extinction-to-backscatter ratio (S-ratio) of 33 +/- 6 sr, and peak extinction values around 0.05/km (near the MBL top). The marine results are shown to be in agreement with previously measured and expected values. Polluted marine areas over the Indian Ocean, influenced by continental aerosols, had AOD values in excess of 0.2, S-ratios well above 40 sr, and peak extinction values approximately 0.20/km (near the MBL top). The polluted marine results are shown to be similar to previously published values for continental aerosols. Comparisons between MPL derived extinction near the ship (75 m) and extinction calculated at ship-level using scattering measured by a nephelometer and absorption using a PSAP were conducted. The comparisons indicated that the MPL algorithm (using a constant S-ratio throughout the lower troposphere) calculates extinction near the surface in agreement with the ship-level measurements only when the MBL aerosols are well mixed with aerosols above. Finally, a review of the MPL extinction profiles showed that the model of aerosol vertical extinction developed during an earlier INDOEX field campaign (at the Maldives) did not correctly describe the true vertical distribution over the greater Indian Ocean region. Using the average extinction profile and AOD obtained during marine conditions, a new model of aerosol vertical extinction was determined for marine atmospheres over the Indian Ocean. A new model of aerosol vertical extinction for polluted marine atmospheres was also developed using the average extinction profile and AOD obtained during marine conditions influenced by continental aerosols.

Welton, Ellsworth J.↗

NASA NTRS2014

CLASS: The Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor

The Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS) is an experiment to measure the signature of a gravitational wave background from inflation in the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). CLASS is a multi-frequency array of four telescopes operating from a high-altitude site in the Atacama Desert in Chile. CLASS will survey 70% of the sky in four frequency bands centered at 38, 93, 148, and 217 GHz, which are chosen to straddle the Galactic-foreground minimum while avoiding strong atmospheric emission lines. This broad frequency coverage ensures that CLASS can distinguish Galactic emission from the CMB. The sky fraction of the CLASS survey will allow the full shape of the primordial B-mode power spectrum to be characterized, including the signal from reionization at low-length. Its unique combination of large sky coverage, control of systematic errors, and high sensitivity will allow CLASS to measure or place upper limits on the tensor-to-scalar ratio at a level of r = 0:01 and make a cosmic-variance-limited measurement of the optical depth to the surface of last scattering, tau. (c) (2014) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

propagation↗

NASA NTRS2014

Scientific Impact of MODIS C5 Calibration Degradation and C6+ Improvements

The Collection 6 (C6) MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) land and atmosphere data sets are scheduled for release in 2014. C6 contains significant revisions of the calibration approach to account for sensor aging. This analysis documents the presence of systematic temporal trends in the visible and near-infrared (500 m) bands of the Collection 5 (C5) MODIS Terra and, to lesser extent, in MODIS Aqua geophysical data sets. Sensor degradation is largest in the blue band (B3) of the MODIS sensor on Terra and decreases with wavelength. Calibration degradation causes negative global trends in multiple MODIS C5 products including the dark target algorithm's aerosol optical depth over land and Ångstrom exponent over the ocean, global liquid water and ice cloud optical thickness, as well as surface reflectance and vegetation indices, including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). As the C5 production will be maintained for another year in parallel with C6, one objective of this paper is to raise awareness of the calibration-related trends for the broad MODIS user community. The new C6 calibration approach removes major calibrations trends in the Level 1B (L1B) data. This paper also introduces an enhanced C6C calibration of the MODIS data set which includes an additional polarization correction (PC) to compensate for the increased polarization sensitivity of MODIS Terra since about 2007, as well as detrending and Terra- Aqua cross-calibration over quasi-stable desert calibration sites. The PC algorithm, developed by the MODIS ocean biology processing group (OBPG), removes residual scan angle, mirror side and seasonal biases from aerosol and surface reflectance (SR) records along with spectral distortions of SR. Using the multiangle implementation of atmospheric correction (MAIAC) algorithm over deserts, we have also developed a detrending and cross-calibration method which removes residual decadal trends on the order of several tenths of 1% of the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance in the visible and near-infrared MODIS bands B1-B4, and provides a good consistency between the two MODIS sensors. MAIAC analysis over the southern USA shows that the C6C approach removed an additional negative decadal trend of Terra (Delta)NDVI approx.0.01 as compared to Aqua data. This change is particularly important for analysis of vegetation dynamics and trends in the tropics, e.g., Amazon rainforest, where the morning orbit of Terra provides considerably more cloud-free observations compared to the afternoon Aqua measurements.

Terra and Aqua↗

NASA NTRS1986

An X-ray heated wind in NGC 1068

Recent work published by Antonucci and Miller in 1985 has demonstrated the existence of a type 1 Seyfert nucleus inside the archetypical type 2 Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068. This nucleus is surrounded by an obscuring torus and is visible only by reflection from a warm electron scattering region on the torus's axis. Here it is shown that the warm region must be in a dynamic state and out of radiative equilibrium with the nuclear continuum. It is suggested that the source of this moving gas is the cold obscuring torus itself, and that the warm region is part of a wind driven by heating due to the central continuum. The obscuring torus may be an inner extension of the starburst region already known in NGC 1068. This model gives estimates of the temperature and optical depth of the electron scattering region consistent with the observed values. Variations in viewing angle and optical thickness in the torus may account for the range of observed properties in active galactic nuclei.

Krolik, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Far-infrared observations of a luminous dust-shrouded source in the nucleus of NGC 4945

High-resolution far-infrared observations of the galaxy NGC 4945 have been obtained from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. Using new observational techniques and nonlinear deconvolution routines, it is found that virtually all of the far-infrared luminosity originates from a nuclear source no larger than 12 arcsec x 9 arcsec (225 pc x 170 pc) in extent. This size constraint, coupled with the far-infrared dust temperature, indicates that the source is deeply embedded in dust: the lower limit for the 100 micron optical depth is 0.35, which is by far the largest yet measured in an external galaxy. Published optical spectra of NGC 4945 reveal a heavily obscured nonthermal source which exhibits broad line profiles typical of a Seyfert 2 active nucleus; it is concluded that the far-infrared emission is probably due to thermal radiation from dust grains surrounding the nonthermal nuclear source. A compact cluster of massive young stars may also contribute to the infrared luminosity, but the evidence for such star-forming activity is weak.

Brock, David↗

NASA NTRS1992

The remote sensing of ocean primary productivity - Use of a new data compilation to test satellite algorithms

Global pigment and primary productivity algorithms based on a new data compilation of over 12,000 stations occupied mostly in the Northern Hemisphere, from the late 1950s to 1988, were tested. The results showed high variability of the fraction of total pigment contributed by chlorophyll, which is required for subsequent predictions of primary productivity. Two models, which predict pigment concentration normalized to an attenuation length of euphotic depth, were checked against 2,800 vertical profiles of pigments. Phaeopigments consistently showed maxima at about one optical depth below the chlorophyll maxima. CZCS data coincident with the sea truth data were also checked. A regression of satellite-derived pigment vs ship-derived pigment had a coefficient of determination. The satellite underestimated the true pigment concentration in mesotrophic and oligotrophic waters and overestimated the pigment concentration in eutrophic waters. The error in the satellite estimate showed no trends with time between 1978 and 1986.

Balch, William↗

NASA NTRS2007

Global Aerosol Optical Models and Lookup Tables for the New MODIS Aerosol Retrieval over Land

Since 2000, MODIS has been deriving aerosol properties over land from MODIS observed spectral reflectance, by matching the observed reflectance with that simulated for selected aerosol optical models, aerosol loadings, wavelengths and geometrical conditions (that are contained in a lookup table or 'LUT'). Validation exercises have showed that MODIS tends to under-predict aerosol optical depth (tau) in cases of large tau (tau greater than 1.0), signaling errors in the assumed aerosol optical properties. Using the climatology of almucantur retrievals from the hundreds of global AERONET sunphotometer sites, we found that three spherical-derived models (describing fine-sized dominated aerosol), and one spheroid-derived model (describing coarse-sized dominated aerosol, presumably dust) generally described the range of observed global aerosol properties. The fine dominated models were separated mainly by their single scattering albedo (omega(sub 0)), ranging from non-absorbing aerosol (omega(sub 0) approx. 0.95) in developed urban/industrial regions, to neutrally absorbing aerosol (omega(sub 0) approx.90) in forest fire burning and developing industrial regions, to absorbing aerosol (omega(sub 0) approx. 0.85) in regions of savanna/grassland burning. We determined the dominant model type in each region and season, to create a 1 deg. x 1 deg. grid of assumed aerosol type. We used vector radiative transfer code to create a new LUT, simulating the four aerosol models, in four MODIS channels. Independent AERONET observations of spectral tau agree with the new models, indicating that the new models are suitable for use by the MODIS aerosol retrieval.

Levy, Robert C.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Evaluation of Brightness Temperature Sensitivity to Snowpack Physical Properties Using Coupled Snow Physics and Microwave Radiative Transfer Models

There are multiple existing microwave radiative transfer models (RTMs) to simulate the brightness temperature (Tb) of snowpacks. It is still challenging to have consistent Tb responses from RTMs due to individual physical formulations of the snowpack scattering process. This article examines three of the widely-used multi-layer RTMs: 1) the microwave emission model of layered snowpacks (MEMLS); 2) the dense media radiative transfer based on the quasi-crystalline approximation (QCA) of Mie scattering of densely packed sticky spheres (DMRTQMS); and 3) the Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) model. Interestingly, these models yield slightly different Tb responses when driven by the same physical snowpack properties. Tb variations, dependent on the choice of RTMs, are then evaluated to improve the understanding of model differences in microwave emission from a snowpack. We first perform a sensitivity study of the Tb predictions from the three RTMs as a function of snow grain sizes, densities, and depths. While Tb from all three RTMs decreases with increasing snow grain sizes, it is found that a scaling factor is required to have the same amount of Tb attenuation for small grain sizes within the Rayleigh scattering regime. For larger grain sizes, however, a scaling coefficient is not enough to match the model outputs due to the different scattering assumptions of the RTMs. For a single snow layer with increasing snow depths and densities, all three RTMs exhibit Tb attenuations arising from the increase in path lengths and optical depths. Further evaluations are conducted by feeding the three RTMs with the output of a snow physics model driven by in situ weather forcing in a coupled simulation. Outputs of this coupled model include snowpack physical properties and Tbs. By using snow stratigraphy observations, another set of Tb simulation is also conducted with RTMs driven by in situ snowpit observations. The snow physics outputs from the coupled case are compared against in situ snow stratigraphy observations.

Do Hyuk Kang↗

NASA NTRS2001

Energetic Ion and Electron Irradiation of the Icy Galilean Satellites

Galileo Orbiter measurements of energetic ions (20 keV to 100 MeV) and electrons (20-700 keV) in Jupiter's magnetosphere are used, in conjunction with the JPL electron model (less than 40 MeV), to compute irradiation effects in the surface layers of Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Significant elemental modifications are produced on unshielded surfaces to approximately centimeter depths in times of less than or equal to 10(exp 6) years, whereas micrometer depths on Europa are fully processed in approximately 10 years. Most observations of surface composition are limited to optical depths of approximately 1 mm, which are indirect contact with the space environment. Incident flux modeling includes Stormer deflection by the Ganymede dipole magnetic field, likely variable over that satellite's irradiation history. Delivered energy flux of approximately 8 x 10(exp 10) keV/square cm-s at Europa is comparable to total internal heat flux in the same units from tidal and radiogenic sources, while exceeding that for solar UV energies (greater than 6 eV) relevant to ice chemistry. Particle energy fluxes to Ganymede's equator and Callisto are similar at approximately 2-3 x 10(exp 8) keV/square cm-s with 5 x 10(exp 9) at Ganymede's polar cap, the latter being comparable to radiogenic energy input. Rates of change in optical reflectance and molecular composition on Europa, and on Ganymede's polar cap, are strongly driven by energy from irradiation, even in relatively young regions. Irradiation of nonice materials can produce SO2 and CO2, detected on Callisto and Europa, and simple to complex hydrocarbons. Iogenic neutral atoms and meteoroids deliver negligible energy approximately 10(exp 4-5) keV/square cm-s but impacts of the latter are important for burial or removal of irradiation products. Downward transport of radiation produced oxidants and hydrocarbons could deliver significant chemical energy into the satellite interiors for astrobiological evolution in putative sub-surface oceans.

Cooper, John F.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Multiple scattered radiation emerging from continental haze layers. 2: Ellipticity and direction of polarization

The ellipticity and the direction of polarization are calculated for radiation that has undergone multiple scattering from plane parallel layers. Both the radiation emerging from the top of the layer and that transmitted through the bottom are considered. Two different phase functions are used for the scattering layer: Rayleigh and haze L. The direction of polarization of the reflected radiation shows little variation as the optical depth of the layer increases, while there is a much larger variation for the transmitted radiation. When the optical thickness is small, the direction of polarization for haze L varies rapidly with zenith angle near those angles at which the single scattered polarization is zero. The ellipticity of the radiation from haze L layers increases at first in direct proportion to the optical thickness of the layer. In general the ellipticity of the transmitted radiation is considerably greater than that of the reflected because of the greater average number of photon collisions in the former case.

Plass, G. N.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Longwave radiation effects of the Harmattan haze

Infrared in situ radiance observations at 8.0 to 14 microns and 9.5 to 11.5 microns of the West African Harmattan haze during the 1974 Global Atmospheric Research Project Atlantic Tropical Experiment field phase made possible the determination of some of the radiative properties of this tropospheric phenomenon. This in turn permitted development of a simple calculation model for radiative transfer through the haze. Radiometric observations of the dust haze, reaching from 600 m to 6.25 km, were analyzed for haze IR transmission. A transfer model incorporating these transmission properties gave an average calculated IR cooling rate of 0.09 C/h for the entire haze layer as compared to a haze-free cloudless-troposphere cooling rate of 0.06 C/h for the same levels. The haze volume-absorption coefficient was approximately 0.042/km for layers of all depths. This uniformity of the haze transmission was further evident in the direct correlation of its transmission and optical depth.

Kuhn, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Multiple scattered radiation emerging from Rayleigh and continental haze layers. II - Ellipticity and direction of polarization

The ellipticity and the direction of polarization are calculated for radiation that has undergone multiple scattering from plane-parallel layers. Both the radiation emerging from the top of the layer and that transmitted through the bottom are considered. Two different phase functions are used for the scattering layer: Rayleigh and haze L. The direction of polarization of the reflected radiation shows little variation as the optical depth of the layer increases, but there is a much larger variation for the transmitted radiation. When the optical thickness is small, the direction of polarization for haze L varies rapidly with zenith angle near those angles at which the single-scattered polarization is zero. The ellipticity of the radiation from haze L layers increases at first in direct proportion to the optical thickness of the layer. In general, the ellipticity of the transmitted radiation is considerably greater than that of the reflected due to the greater average number of photon collisions in the former case. When the ellipticity is small, it is shown that the product of the polarization and the ellipticity is closely equal to -V/2I, where I and V are the first and fourth components of the Stokes vector.

Plass, G. N.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Solar Si II line ratios from the high-resolution telescope and spectrograph

Theoretical emission-line ratios involving multiplets near 1262, 1306, and 1530 A are derived on the basis of new calculations of electron-impact excitation rates for allowed transition in Si II. A comparison of these line ratios with observational data from a quiet solar region, a sunspot, and an active region, obtained with the HIRTS on board a sounding rocket flight reveals that the 1530-A multiplet is optically thick, which is consistent with a calculation of the optical depth of these lines through a model atmosphere. The 1262- and 1306-A multiplets appear to be effectively optically thin. The average discrepancy between the theoretical and observed ratios is about 40 percent, which may not be significant, since the estimated uncertainties in both the calculated and experimental data are approximately 30 percent.

Keenan, F. P.↗