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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Technical report series on global modeling and data assimilation. Volume 6: A multiyear assimilation with the GEOS-1 system: Overview and results

The Data Assimilation Office (DAO) at Goddard Space Flight Center has produced a multiyear global assimilated data set with version 1 of the Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System (GEOS-1 DAS). One of the main goals of this project, in addition to benchmarking the GEOS-1 system, was to produce a research quality data set suitable for the study of short-term climate variability. The output, which is global and gridded, includes all prognostic fields and a large number of diagnostic quantities such as precipitation, latent heating, and surface fluxes. Output is provided four times daily with selected quantities available eight times per day. Information about the observations input to the GEOS-1 DAS is provided in terms of maps of spatial coverage, bar graphs of data counts, and tables of all time periods with significant data gaps. The purpose of this document is to serve as a users' guide to NASA's first multiyear assimilated data set and to provide an early look at the quality of the output. Documentation is provided on all the data archives, including sample read programs and methods of data access. Extensive comparisons are made with the corresponding operational European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts analyses, as well as various in situ and satellite observations. This document is also intended to alert users of the data about potential limitations of assimilated data, in general, and the GEOS-1 data, in particular. Results are presented for the period March 1985-February 1990.

Suarez, Max J.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Measurement of Precision Geometric Distances to Three Anchor Points in the Local Universe

We proposed a program to measure distances directly with accuracies of 5% to three anchor points in the Local Universe. We planned to accomplish this by conducting Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations of NGC 4258, M 33, and Sgr A*. These distance estimates should have a minimum of systematic uncertainty and can be used to re-calibrate several 'standard candles,' such as Cepheid and RR Lyrae variables. This will place the Galactic and extragalactic distance scales on much firmer ground. The primary contribution of our program will be to provide crucial independent checks and calibrations of extragalactic distance measurements. This will contribute to the ultimate success and impact of the HST Key Project on Extragalactic Distances and the Full-Sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer (FAME). Additionally, since distances are fundamental to astrophysics, our results will affect a large number of general projects on NASA facilities such as the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and Next Generation Space Telescope.

Reid, Mark J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Forest discrimination with multipolarization imaging radar

The use of radar polarization diversity for discriminating forest canopy variables on airborne synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) images is evaluated. SAR images were acquired at L-Band (24.6 cm) simultaneously in four linear polarization states (HH, HV, VH, and VV) in South Carolina on March 1, 1984. In order to relate the polarization signatures to biophysical properties, false-color composite images were compared to maps of forest stands in the timber compartment. In decreasing order, the most useful correlative forest data are stand basal area, forest age, site condition index, and forest management type. It is found that multipolarization images discriminate variation in tree density and difference in the amount of understory, but do not discriminate between evergreen and deciduous forest types.

Ford, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Blazars with arcminute-scale radio halos

About 10-arcsec resolution 20-cm wavelength maps are presented for three nearby BL Lac objects: Mkn 180, whose halo has a linear size of 85 kpc, 2155-304, with a halo about 375 kpc across, and 1727 + 502, whose one-sided diffuse emission extends to a distance of about 145 kpc from its radio core. Little evidence is found for strong radio variability in the cores of the three blazars; these and other results obtained are consistent with the assertion that the three objects should be classified as normal low luminosity double radio galaxies with optically dull nuclei, if seen from other directions.

Ulvestad, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Correlations of TOMS total ozone data (Nimbus-7 satellite) with tropopause height

Two correlation studies of Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data with tropopause height from radiosondes performed over Europe showed a correlation coefficient of 0.94 and 0.96. As a result, the rms error in the prediction of tropopause height from total ozone was found to be 20 mb. Correlation between tropopause height and TOMS data was the highest of all the other correlations with variables directly derived from radiosondes or simulated thermal radiances over the location of radiosondes. Comparing the two dimensional fields of TOMS, tropopause height from radiosondes and tropopause height field from TIROS-N retrievals, we can say that the first field is much closer to the true field from radiosondes than the third. The correlation coefficient for a ten-day study between TOMS data and tropopause height from radiosondes is between 0.85 and 0.9 for 30-70N. Tropopause analysis provided by GLA model also shows a very high correlation with TOMS data.

Munteanu, Marie-Jeanne↗
NASA NTRS2002

Enhancing Human Health Using Space Imagery: Summary of Research

The International Space University (ISU) 2002 Summer Session was conducted in Pomona, California, June 29-August 30, 2002. Ninety-nine professionals and students from thirty-one countries attended the Summer Session. More than half of these students participated in the Student Research Design Project entitled, "HI-STAR: Health Improvements through Space Technologies and Resources." ISU's interdisciplinary Student Research Design Projects are intended to have great educational value for the participants and, at the same time, to result in a product that will be useful to the field. The HI-STAR project was a success on both counts. The mission of the ISU students' effort on HI-STAR was to develop and promote a global strategy to help combat malaria using space technology. Like the tiny yet powerful mosquito, HI-STAR is a small program that aspires to make a difference. Timely detection of malaria danger zones is essential to help health authorities and policy makers make decisions about how to manage limited resources for combating malaria. In 2001, the technical support network for prevention and control of malaria epidemics published a study called "Malaria Early Warning Systems: Concepts, Indicators and Partners." This study, funded by Roll Back Malaria, a World Health Organization initiative, offered a framework for a monitoring and early warning system. HI-STAR seeks to build on this proposal and enhance the space elements of the suggested framework. Malaria disease dynamics and distributions are related to environmental variables. From space, environmental conditions that support the growth of mosquito populations can be monitored, Malaria-specific information can be gathered from satellite-borne remote sensing instruments and ground-based sensors. This information can be integrated via geographic information systems (GIS) into a Malaria Information System (MIS) that can provide assessment analyses and risk maps as output. HI-STAR defines and suggests the development of an active MIS as a low-cost tool to help organizations plan their efforts to fight malaria.

Finarelli, Margaret G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Quasi Stationary States in the Southern Hemisphere

Pattern correlations between daily anomalies (Horel 1984) were used to study the persistency of the Southern Hemisphere circulations. The data set consists of the daily Australian analyses of 500 mb heights and sea level pressure for the period from 1972 and 1983. Compared to the Northern Hemisphere, the pattern correlations are much smaller and more variable in the Southern Hemisphere. The mean one day lag is only 0.57, (0.82 for the NH). The correlations increase significantly for the filtered anomalies which consist of the long planetary waves from 0 to 4. Subjective criteria based on the pattern correlations are used to select the quasi stationary events. A series of 5 or more daily maps is quasi stationary if the pattern correlations between all consecutive pairs of maps in this time series are larger or equal to 0.5.

Mo, K. C.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Mid-Infrared OPO for High Resolution Measurements of Trace Gases in the Mars Atmosphere

The Martian atmosphere is composed primarily (>95%) of CO2 and N2 gas, with CO, O2, CH4, and inert gases such as argon comprising most of the remainder. It is surprisingly dynamic with various processes driving changes in the distribution of CO2, dust, haze, clouds and water vapor on global scales in the meteorology of Mars atmosphere [I]. The trace gases and isotopic ratios in the atmosphere offer important but subtle clues as to the origins of the planet's atmosphere, hydrology, geology, and potential for biology. In the search for life on Mars, an important process is the ability of bacteria to metabolize inorganic substrates (H2, CO2 and rock) to derive energy and produce methane as a by-product of anaerobic metabolism. Trace gases have been measured in the Mars atmosphere from Earth, Mars orbit, and from the Mars surface. The concentration of water vapor and various carbon-based trace gases are observed in variable concentrations. Within the past decade multiple groups have reported detection of CH4, with concentrations in the 10's of ppb, using spectroscopic observations from Earth [2]. Passive spectrometers in the mid-infrared (MIR) are restricted to the sunlit side of the planet, generally in the mid latitudes, and have limited spectral and spatial resolution. To accurately map the global distribution and to locate areas of possibly higher concentrations of these gases such as plumes or vents requires an instrument with high sensitivity and fine spatial resolution that also has global coverage and can measure during both day and night. Our development goal is a new MIR lidar capable of measuring, on global scales, with sensitivity, resolution and precision needed to characterize the trace gases and isotopic ratios of the Martian atmosphere. An optical parametric oscillator operating in the MIR is well suited for this instrument. The sufficient wavelength tuning range of the OPO can extend the measurements to other organic molecules, CO2, atmospheric water vapor, clouds, temperature, dust, and aerosols, as well as possibly polar-cap properties. Our OPO-approach may allow a new capability for active remote sensing of the outer planets and moons, where the weaker sunlight further limit passive instruments. Here we report on the OPO development effort for this lidar instrument.

Yu, Anthony W.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Defining Constellation Suit Helmet Field of View Requirements Employing a Mission Segment Based Reduction Process

Field of view has always been a design feature paramount to helmet design, and in particular space suit design, where the helmet must provide an adequate field of view for a large range of activities, environments, and body positions. For Project Constellation, a slightly different approach to helmet requirement maturation was utilized; one that was less a direct function of body position and suit pressure and more a function of the mission segment in which the field of view is required. Through taxonimization of various parameters that affect suited FOV, as well as consideration for possible nominal and contingency operations during that mission segment, a reduction process was able to condense the large number of possible outcomes to only six unique field of view angle requirements that still captured all necessary variables without sacrificing fidelity. The specific field of view angles were defined by considering mission segment activities, historical performance of other suits, comparison between similar requirements (pressure visor up versus down, etc.), estimated requirements from other teams for field of view (Orion, Altair, EVA), previous field of view tests, medical data for shirtsleeve field of view performance, and mapping of visual field data to generate 45degree off-axis field of view requirements. Full resolution of several specific field of view angle requirements warranted further work, which consisted of low and medium fidelity field of view testing in the rear entry ISuit and DO27 helmet prototype. This paper serves to document this reduction progress and followup testing employed to write the Constellation requirements for helmet field of view.

McFarland, Shane M.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Source Regions of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field and Variability in Heavy-Ion Elemental Composition in Gradual Solar Energetic Particle Events

Gradual solar energetic particle (SEP) events are those in which ions are accelerated to their observed energies by interactions with a shock driven by a fast coronal mass-ejection (CME). Previous studies have shown that much of the observed event-to-event variability can be understood in terms of shock speed and evolution in the shock-normal angle. But an equally important factor, particularly for the elemental composition, is the origin of the suprathermal seed particles upon which the shock acts. To tackle this issue, we (1) use observed solar-wind speed, magnetograms, and the PFSS model to map the Sun-L1 interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) line back to its source region on the Sun at the time of the SEP observations; and (2) then look for correlation between SEP composition (as measured by Wind and ACE at approx. 2-30 MeV/nucleon) and characteristics of the identified IMF-source regions. The study is based on 24 SEP events, identified as a statistically-significant increase in approx. 20 MeV protons and occurring in 1998 and 2003-2006, when the rate of newly-emergent solar magnetic flux and CMEs was lower than in solar-maximum years and the field-line tracing is therefore more likely to be successful. We find that the gradual SEP Fe/O is correlated with the field strength at the IMF-source, with the largest enhancements occurring when the footpoint field is strong, due to the nearby presence of an active region. In these cases, other elemental ratios show a strong charge-to-mass (q/M) ordering, at least on average, similar to that found in impulsive events. These results lead us to suggest that magnetic reconnection in footpoint regions near active regions bias the heavy-ion composition of suprathermal seed ions by processes qualitatively similar to those that produce larger heavy-ion enhancements in impulsive SEP events. To address potential technical concerns about our analysis, we also discuss efforts to exclude impulsive SEP events from our event sample.

magnetic field↗
NASA NTRS2013

Characterization of Canopy Layering in Forested Ecosystems Using Full Waveform Lidar

Canopy structure, the vertical distribution of canopy material, is an important element of forest ecosystem dynamics and habitat preference. Although vertical stratification, or "canopy layering," is a basic characterization of canopy structure for research and forest management, it is difficult to quantify at landscape scales. In this paper we describe canopy structure and develop methodologies to map forest vertical stratification in a mixed temperate forest using full-waveform lidar. Two definitions-one categorical and one continuous-are used to map canopy layering over Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire with lidar data collected in 2009 by NASA's Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS). The two resulting canopy layering datasets describe variation of canopy layering throughout the forest and show that layering varies with terrain elevation and canopy height. This information should provide increased understanding of vertical structure variability and aid habitat characterization and other forest management activities.

lidar↗
NASA NTRS1987

Seasonal variability of the OH Meinel bands

The influence of seasonal and latitudinal changes in the distribution of mesospheric components on the OH Meinel-band nightglow is investigated by means of numerical simulations using the two-dimensional dynamical/chemical model of Garcia and Solomon (1985). The processes responsible for the formation and destruction of vibrationally excited OH in the mesosphere are described; the seasonal/latitudinal evolution for the higher (v greater than 6) and lower (v = 1-6) levels is shown in graphs and maps and characterized in detail; and the theoretical results are compared with published observational data. The lower-level emission is shown to depend on both O and H, suggesting that the variation of the Meinel-band nightglow can provide important information on the roles of advection and diffusion in the transport of water vapor and odd oxygen near the mesopause.

Le Texier, H.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Tropospheric Ozone Pollution Transport Traced from the TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) Instrument During the Nashville-1999 Campaign

Over the past several years, we have developed two new tropospheric ozone retrievals from the TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) satellite instrument that are of sufficient resolution to follow pollution episodes. The modified-residual technique [Hudson and Thompson, 1998; Thompson and Hudson, 1999] uses v. 7 TOMS total ozone and is applicable to tropical regimes in which the wave-one pattern in total ozone is observed. The TOMS-direct method [("TDOT" = TOMS Direct Ozone in the Troposphere; Frolov et al., 2000] represents a new algorithm that uses TOMS radiances directly (i.e., not previously processed for TOMS ozone) to extract tropospheric ozone in regions of constant stratospheric ozone and tropospheric ozone displaying high mixing ratios and variability characteristic of pollution. These events tend to occur in certain meteorological regimes. For example, mid-latitude pollution usually occurs on the backside of subtropical fronts, as low pv, usually moist air intrudes to the extra-tropics. July 1999 was a month characterized by robust pollution in the eastern US, with high ozone, as detected by TOMS, originating over south central states and moving up the Atlantic seaboard. This corresponds to 50-80 DU in tropospheric ozone column depth. In most cases, further transport occurred to the North Atlantic, with ozone plumes traveling to western Europe in 4-5 days. Examples of high ozone and transit across boundaries within the US, as well as US->Europe, give a regional context for model results and field measurements taken in the SE US during the Nashville-1999 campaign period. Validation of the TDOT maps is made with ozonesondes taken during that time. TDOT maps also show ozone pollution from Asia traveling to the western US in July 1999.

Thompson, Anne M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Aeroacoustics: Fan noise and control; Duct acoustics; Rotor noise

The recent progress in duct acoustic research is reflected by fourteen papers which cover essentially the areas of linear duct acoustics, the characteristics of absorbent materials, and nonlinear duct acoustics. With respect to propagation in ducts, emphasis is placed on computational methods aimed at attaining effective economical modeling of propagation in variable-geometry and in hard-wall or soft-wall ducts. Computational methods developed to reduce computer processing and storage requirements are outlined, along with a wave envelope technique for reducing processing and storage needs. The latter technique is applied to the optimum segmented acoustic duct linear design. A finite difference technique is used in combination with conformal mapping to compute the optimum multisection duct linear design.

Schwartz, I. R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Overview of Boeing supersonic transport efforts, 1971 - 1979

Following cancellation of the United States Supersonic Transport program, the status of the technology was assessed carefully and emphasis was put on finding solutions for what were considered the major technical difficulties. In particular, work on the breakthroughs needed to advance the technology was emphasized. Currently, solutions to all major technical problems are identified. Depending on the subject, either the problem is no longer a concern or the steps needed to bring about a solution are mapped out clearly. Throughout the NASA SCR program, important strides were made in the identification of design advances which would greatly improve supersonic airplane fuel efficiency, noise, and other performance and cost affecting parameters. Furthermore, these efforts created an atmosphere in which it was possible for new ideas to flourish and positive inventions to take place such as the variable cycle engine and the blended fuselage. These technical gains show that, given availability of such technology, advanced supersonic transports could be developed that would be economically successful and environmentally acceptable.

Sigalla, A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Flow aerodynamics modeling of an MHD swirl combustor - Calculations and experimental verification

The paper describes a computer code for calculating the flow dynamics of a constant-density flow in the second-stage trumpet shaped nozzle section of a two-stage MHD swirl combustor for application to a disk generator. The primitive pressure-velocity variable, finite-difference computer code has been developed for the computation of inert nonreacting turbulent swirling flows in an axisymmetric MHD model swirl combustor. The method and program involve a staggered grid system for axial and radial velocities, and a line relaxation technique for the efficient solution of the equations. The code produces as output the flow field map of the nondimensional stream function, axial and swirl velocity. It was found that the best location for seed injection to obtain a uniform distribution at the combustor exit is in the central location for seed injected at the entrance to the second stage combustor.

Gupta, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The R Aquarii-jet at UV and radio wavelengths

The jet and central star of the peculiar symbiotic variable R Aquarii was monitored with IUE low resolution SWP 1200 to 2000 A spectra, in order to detect possible temporal variations. The absolute line intensities of N V, C IV and He II, as well as numerous other ionic species in the jet are found to vary on a timescale of 1.5 yr. High spatial resolution radio VLA maps and SiO maser millimeter interferometer observations of the star are quoted.

Michalitsianos, A. G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Laser interferometric measurement of ion electrode shape and charge exchange erosion

A projected fringe profilometry system was applied to surface contour measurements of an accelerator electrode from an ion thrustor. The system permitted noncontact, nondestructive evaluation of the fine and gross structure of the electrode. A 3-D surface map of a dished electrode was generated without altering the electrode surface. The same system was used to examine charge exchange erosion pits near the periphery of the electrode to determine the depth, location, and volume of material lost. This electro-optical measurement system allowed rapid, nondestructive, digital data acquisition coupled with automated computer data processing. In addition, variable sensitivity allowed both coarse and fine measurements of objects having various surface finishes.

Macrae, Gregory S.↗