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At least 91 records · Page 5

Development of a Coherent Bistatic Vegetation Model for Signal of Opportunity Applications at VHF UHF-Bands

A coherent bistatic vegetation scattering model, based on a Monte Carlo simulation, is being developed to simulate polarimetric bi-static reflectometry at VHF/UHF-bands (240-270 MHz). The model is aimed to assess the value of geostationary satellite signals of opportunity to enable estimation of the Earth's biomass and root-zone soil moisture. An expression for bistatic scattering from a vegetation canopy is derived for the practical case of a ground-based/low altitude platforms with passive receivers overlooking vegetation. Using analytical wave theory in conjunction with distorted Born approximation (DBA), the transmit and receive antennas effects (i.e., polarization, orientation, height, etc.) are explicitly accounted for. Both the coherency nature of the model (joint phase and amplitude information) and the explicit account of system parameters (antenna, altitude, polarization, etc) enable one to perform various beamforming techniques to evaluate realistic deployment configurations. In this paper, several test scenarios will be presented and the results will be evaluated for feasibility for future biomass and root-zone soil moisture application using geostationary communication satellite signals of opportunity at low frequencies.

UFH↗

Providing Satellite-Assisted Particulate Matter (SAPM) Estimates for the Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) Working Group

The Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) Working Group is an international forum that promotes collaboration amongst researchers of these three atmospheric aerosol communities. MIRA currently consists of a collection of five interdisciplinary and independently funded Topic groups with focused goals and generally involve requests for additional scientific datasets. Participants of the MIRA Satellite-Assisted Particulate Matter (SAPM) Topic group study particulate matter with diameters smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), because of its substantial role in air pollution and the resulting negative impacts on human health. SAPM seeks to provide intercomparisons of different methods and techniques for obtaining surface PM2.5 proxies using spaceborne passive and active remote sensors, aerosol models, and in situ observations. The ultimate motivation of SAPM is to provide greater PM2.5 coverage than in situ ground stations, which are limited in some areas of the contiguous United States and large regions throughout the globe. In this poster presentation, we provide an overview of the PM2.5 estimation techniques applied by current SAPM team members, as well as the strengths and limitations of each technique. These approaches include spaceborne lidar (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) only, combined spaceborne lidar (Cloud Aerosol Transport System) and a model (Goddard Earth Observing System), and using aerosol optical depth (AOD) from a spaceborne passive remote sensor (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) to explore city trends in AOD and relate those to city trends in PM2.5. Also in this poster presentation, we highlight results of our SAPM study of India, a country characterized by high levels of PM2.5 concentrations. We show the temporal and spatial variability of PM2.5 over India derived using various approaches and validation with ground-based in situ PM2.5 observations. The SAPM Topic group actively seeks additional collaborators, including those working with in situ aerosol measurements, and is interested in aerosol datasets to improve and/or validate the PM2.5 estimates.

Travis D Toth↗

Ultrafast field-driven valley polarization of transition metal dichalcogenide quantum dots

Abstract We study theoretically the electron dynamics of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) quantum dots (QDs) in the field of an ultrashort and ultrafast circularly polarized optical pulse. The QDs have the shape of a disk and their electron systems are described within an effective model with infinite mass boundary conditions. Similar to TMDC monolayers, a circularly polarized pulse generates ultrafast valley polarization of such QDs. The dependence of the valley polarization on the size of the dot is sensitive to the dot material and, for different materials, show both monotonic increase with the dot radius and nonmonotonic behavior with a local maximum at a finite dot radius.

Physics↗

Theoretical dissociation energies for ionic molecules

Ab initio calculations at the self-consistent-field and singles plus doubles configuration-interaction level are used to determine accurate spectroscopic parameters for most of the alkali and alkaline-earth fluorides, chlorides, oxides, sulfides, hydroxides, and isocyanides. Numerical Hartree-Fock (NHF) calculations are performed on selected systems to ensure that the extended Slater basis sets employed for the diatomic systems are near the Hartree-Fock limit. Extended Gaussian basis sets of at least triple-zeta plus double polarization equality are employed for the triatomic system. With this model, correlation effects are relatively small, but invariably increase the theoretical dissociation energies. The importance of correlating the electrons on both the anion and the metal is discussed. The theoretical dissociation energies are critically compared with the literature to rule out disparate experimental values. Theoretical (sup 2)Pi - (sup 2)Sigma (sup +) energy separations are presented for the alkali oxides and sulfides.

Langhoff, S. R.↗

Assessment of the Breakup of the Antarctic Polar Vortex in Two New Chemistry-Climate Models

Successful simulation of the breakup of the Antarctic polar vortex depends on the representation of tropospheric stationary waves at Southern Hemisphere middle latitudes. This paper assesses the vortex breakup in two new chemistry-climate models (CCMs). The stratospheric version of the UK Chemistry and Aerosols model is able to reproduce the observed timing of the vortex breakup. Version 2 of the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS V2) model is typical of CCMs in that the Antarctic polar vortex breaks up too late; at 10 hPa, the mean transition to easterlies at 60 S is delayed by 12-13 days as compared with the ERA-40 and National Centers for Environmental Prediction reanalyses. The two models' skill in simulating planetary wave driving during the October-November period accounts for differences in their simulation of the vortex breakup, with GEOS V2 unable to simulate the magnitude and tilt of geopotential height anomalies in the troposphere and thus underestimating the wave driving. In the GEOS V2 CCM the delayed breakup of the Antarctic vortex biases polar temperatures and trace gas distributions in the upper stratosphere in November and December.

Hurwitz, M. M.↗

A model for the evolution of CO2 on Mars

We have constructed a model that predicts the evolution of CO2 on Mars from the end of the heavy bombardment period to the present. The model draws on published estimates of the main processes believed to affect the fate of CO2 during this period: chemical weathering, regolith uptake, polar cap formation, and atmospheric escape. Except for escape, the rate at which these processes act is controlled by surface temperatures which we calculate using a modified version of the Gierasch and Toon energy balance model. The modifications account for the change in solar luminosity with time, the greenhouse effect, and a polar and equatorial energy budget. Using published estimates for the main parameters, we find no evolutionary scenario in which CO2 is capable of producing a warm (global mean temperatures greater than 250 K) and wet (surface pressures greater than 30 mbar) early climate, and then evolves to present conditions with approximately 7 mbar in the atmosphere, less than 300 mbar in the regolith, and less than 5 mbar in the caps. Such scenarios would only exist if the early sun were brighter than standard solar models suggest, if greenhouse gases other than CO2 were present in the early atmosphere, or if the polar albedo were significantly lower than 0.75. However, these scenarios generally require the storage of large amounts of CO2 (greater than 1 bar) in the carbonate reservoir. If the warm and wet early Mars constraint is relaxed, then we find best overall agreement with present day reservoirs for initial CO2 inventories of 0.5-1.0 bar. We also find that the polar caps can have a profound effect on how the system evolves. If the initial amount of CO2 is less than some critical value, then there is not enough heating of the poles to prevent permanent caps from forming. Once formed, these caps control how the system evolves, because they set the surface pressure and, hence, the thermal environment. If the initial amount of CO2 is greater than this critical value, then caps do not form initially, but can form later on, when weathering and escape lower the surface pressure to a point at which polar heating is no longer sufficient to prevent cap formation and the collapse of the climate system. Our modeling suggests this critical initial amount of CO2 is between 1 and 2 bar, but its true value will depend on all factors affecting the polar heat budget.

Haberle, Robert M.↗

Performance portable ice-sheet modeling with MALI

High-resolution simulations of polar ice sheets play a crucial role in the ongoing effort to develop more accurate and reliable Earth system models for probabilistic sea-level projections. These simulations often require a massive amount of memory and computation from large supercomputing clusters to provide sufficient accuracy and resolution; therefore, it has become essential to ensure performance on these platforms. Many of today’s supercomputers contain a diverse set of computing architectures and require specific programming interfaces in order to obtain optimal efficiency. In an effort to avoid architecture-specific programming and maintain productivity across platforms, the ice-sheet modeling code known as MPAS-Albany Land Ice (MALI) uses high-level abstractions to integrate Trilinos libraries and the Kokkos programming model for performance portable code across a variety of different architectures. In this article, we analyze the performance portable features of MALI via a performance analysis on current CPU-based and GPU-based supercomputers. The analysis highlights not only the performance portable improvements made in finite element assembly and multigrid preconditioning within MALI with speedups between 1.26 and 1.82x across CPU and GPU architectures but also identifies the need to further improve performance in software coupling and preconditioning on GPUs. We perform a weak scalability study and show that simulations on GPU-based machines perform 1.24–1.92x faster when utilizing the GPUs. The best performance is found in finite element assembly, which achieved a speedup of up to 8.65x and a weak scaling efficiency of 82.6% with GPUs. We additionally describe an automated performance testing framework developed for this code base using a changepoint detection method. The framework is used to make actionable decisions about performance within MALI. We provide several concrete examples of scenarios in which the framework has identified performance regressions, improvements, and algorithm differences over the course of 2 years of development.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Radar scene generation for tactical decision aids

The Mueller matrix and polarization covariance matrix for polarimetric radar systems was studied. The clutter is modeled by a layer of random permittivity, described by a three-dimensional correlation function, with variance, and horizontal and vertical correlation lengths. A general mixing formula was derived for discrete scatters immersed in a host medium. The results are applicable to general multiphase mixtures. The strong fluctuation theory was used to derive the backscattering cross sections, and was further extended to include higher order co-polarized and cross-polarized moments. A two-layer anisotropic random medium model was developed for the active and passive remote sensing of ice fields. A three-layer random medium model was adopted to study the volume scattering effects for the active and passive microwave remote sensing of snow-covered ice fields. The snow layer was simulated by an isotropic random medium and the ice layer by an anisotropic random medium. The vegetation canopy and snow-covered ice field were studied with a three-layer model, an isotropic random medium layer overlying an anisotropic random medium. The dyadic Green's function of the three-layer medium and the scattered electromagnetic intensities with Born approximation were calculated.

Kong, J. A.↗

Noncollinear polar magnet Fe 2 (SeO 3 ) 3 (H 2 O) 3 with inequivalent Fe 3+ sites

The emergence of novel magnetic states becomes more likely when the inversion symmetry of the crystal field, relative to the center between two spins, is broken. We propose that placing magnetic spins in inequivalent sites in a polar lattice can promote a realization of nontrivial magnetic states and associated magnetic properties. To test our hypothesis, we study Fe 2 (SeO 3 )(H 2 O) 3 as a model system that displays two distinct Fe(1) and Fe(2) magnetic sites in a polar structure (R3c space group). At low fields μ 0 H≤ 0.06 T, the material undergoes an antiferromagnetic ordering with T N1 = 77 K and a second transition at T N2 ≈ 4 K. At μ 0 H≥ 0.06 T and 74 K ≤T≤ 76 K, a positive entropy change of ∼0.12 mJ mol −1 K −1 can be associated with a metamagnetic transition to possibly nontrivial spin states. At zero field, Fe(1) is nearly fully ordered at T≈ 25 K, while Fe(2) features magnetic frustration down to T = 4 K. The magnetic ground state, a result corroborated by single-crystal neutron diffraction and 57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, is a noncollinear antiparallel arrangement of ferrimagnetic Fe(1)–Fe(2) dimers along the c-axis. The results demonstrate that placing distinct magnetic sites in a polar crystal lattice can enable a new pathway to modifying spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom for unconventional magnetism.

Crystal lattices↗

Integrated laboratory, modeling and observational investigations of the condensation of benzene on Titan's stratospheric aerosols

Aerosols in Titan’s atmosphere play an important role in determining its thermal structure and can act as condensation nuclei for the formation of clouds. The global circulation of Titan’s atmosphere reversed within the two years following the northern spring equinox in August 2009, increasing the mixing ratios of benzene (C6H6) and other species at the South pole. A simultaneous strong cooling above the south pole (dropping temperatures below 120 K) resulted in conditions where molecules could condense at unusually high altitudes (>250 km). C6H6 and HCN ices have been detected by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) and the Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS), respectively, in the South polar cloud system, but the existing laboratory data is insufficient to allow models to reproduce the formation of the observed cloud system. We will present the preliminary results and the overall scope of a newly funded NASA SMD Cassini Data Analysis Program (CDAP) project which proposes to combine laboratory, modeling and observational studies to investigate the condensation of benzene on Titan’s aerosol as an important component of the cloud system that appeared during the autumn at 300 km above Titan’s South pole.

E. Sciamma-O’Brien↗

Field-aligned currents and magnetospheric convection - A comparison between MHD simulations and observations

A time-dependent three-dimensional MHD model was used to investigate the magnetospheric configuration as a function of the interplanetary magnetic field direction when it was in the y-z plane in geocentric solar magnetospheric coordinates. The model results show large global convection cells, tail lobe cells, high-latitude polarcap cells, and low latitude cells. The field-aligned currents generated in the model magnetosphere and the model convection system are compared with observations from low-altitude polar orbiting satellites.

Walker, Raymond J.↗

Temperature of nitrogen ice on Pluto and its implications for flux measurements

Previous work by K. A. Tryka et al. (1993) has shown that the profile of the 2.148-micron band of solid nitrogen can be used as a 'thermometer' and determined the tempertature of nitrogen ice on Triton to be 38(sup +2)(sub -1) K. Here we reevalute that data and refine the temperature value to 38 +/- 1 K. Applying the same technique to Pluto we determine that the temperature of the N2 ice on that body is 40 +/- 2 K. Using this result we have created a nonisothermal flux model of the Pluto-Charon system. The model treats Pluto as a body with symmetric N2 polar caps and an equatorial region devoid of N2. Comparison with the infrared and millimeter flux measurements shows that the published fluxes are consistent with models incorporating extensive N2 polar caps (down to +/- 15 deg ot +/- 20 deg latitude) and an equatorial region with a bolometric albedo less than or equal to 0.2.

Tryka, Kimberly A.↗

Enhanced Monitoring and Forecasting of South Asian Air Quality Episodes with Multi-Sensor Satellite Products and Dispersion Modeling

Air pollution and particulates represent a serious environmental, public health, and overarching societal concern in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region of south-central Asia, especially during the boreal winter and spring months. Frequent contributors to poor air quality of the region include dust and particulate matter transport from the Middle East region and western India, persistent nocturnal fog and smog during the stable dry monsoon months, and biomass burning during the pre-monsoon months of boreal spring. Nocturnal and multi-day persistent stable fog and smog events can occur during the stable conditions of the dry monsoon months that lead to hazardous visibility reductions (e.g., at major airports such as Delhi, India)and poor air quality, particularly in urban corridors.Our project goal is therefore to design and implement a robust air quality and chemistry observation and modeling system using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) and the Weather Research and Forecasting coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) models. This system effectively assimilates aerosol and trace gas retrievals from geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites to advance the monitoring and prediction capabilities of air quality and visibility reductions throughout the HKH region. For this presentation, we highlight several[multi-spectral] geostationary satellite products and dispersion modeling capabilities being developed and implemented for improved situational awareness and forecasting of air quality episodes.Launched in December 2018, the Advanced Meteorological Imager (AMI) aboard the Geostationary-Korean Multi-Purpose Satellite-2A (GEO-KOMPSAT-2A, or GK2A) provides 16 channels of multi-spectral information similar to the U.S. GOES-16/17 satellites. Proven community recipes for generating multi-spectral Red-Green-Blue (RGB) composite products to detect specific meteorological phenomena are applied to the AMI data for the HKH region. We implemented four such RGB products consisting of truecolor with Rayleigh correction to aid in smoke detection; dust RGB for monitoring larger particulate matter; nighttime microphysics for fog/smog detection;and natural color fire RGB and the shortwave 3.8 micron channel for fire hot-spot detection.We additionally configured HYSPLIT for dust/sand dispersion and concentration forecasts over HKH. The HYSPLIT dispersion simulations are initially being conducted with two different methodologies: (1) dust/sand lofting based on initializing plume releases from visual inspection of the dust RGB imagery; and (2) dust/sand release and dispersion using the internal HYSPLIT algorithm that determines lofting from input wind speeds and prescribed land use. The goal is to develop a near real-time HYSPLIT modeling solution for routinely simulating the transport and dispersion of dust plumes across the HKH region. This presentation illustrates these products and capabilities for various use cases from the 2019 to 2021 period, highlighting a particularly unhealthy episode during late March 2021 across Nepal.

Remote Sensing↗

Polarized metal–metal multiple bonding and reactivity of phosphinoamide-bridged heterobimetallic group IV/cobalt compounds

Heterobimetallic complexes are studied for their ability to mimic biological systems as well as active sites in heterogeneous catalysts. While specific interest in early/late heterobimetallic systems has fluctuated, they serve as important models to fundamentally understand metal–metal bonding. Specifically, the polarized metal–metal multiple bonds formed in highly reduced early/late heterobimetallic complexes exemplify how each metal modulates the electronic environment and reactivity of the complex as a whole. In this Perspective, we chronicle the development of phosphinoamide-supported group IV/cobalt heterobimetallic complexes. This combination of metals allows access to a low valent Co −I center, which performs a rich variety of bond activation reactions when coupled with the pendent Lewis acidic metal center. Conversely, the low valent late transition metal is also observed to act as an electron reservoir, allowing for redox processes to occur at the d 0 group IV metal site. Most of the bond activation reactions carried out by phosphinoamide-bridged M/Co −I (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) complexes are facilitated by cleavage of metal–metal multiple bonds, which serve as readily accessible electron reservoirs. Comparative studies in which both the number of buttressing ligands as well as the identity of the early metal were varied to give a library of heterobimetallic complexes are summarized, providing a thorough understanding of the reactivity of M/Co −I heterobimetallic systems

Hunter, Nathanael H.↗

Top-of-Atmosphere Shortwave Broadband Observed Radiance and Estimated Irradiance over Polar Regions from Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Instruments on Terra

Empirical angular distribution models for estimating top-of-atmosphere shortwave irradiances from radiance measurements over permanent snow, fresh snow and sea ice are developed using CERES measurements on Terra. Permanent snow angular distribution models depend on cloud fraction, cloud optical thickness, and snow brightness. Fresh snow and sea ice angular distribution models depend on snow and sea ice fraction, cloud fraction, cloud optical thickness, and snow and ice brightness. These classifications lead to 10 scene types for permanent snow and 25 scene types for fresh snow and sea ice. The average radiance over clear-sky permanent snow is more isotropic with satellite viewing geometry than that over overcast permanent snow. On average, the albedo of clear-sky permanent snow varies from 0.65 to 0.68 for solar zenith angles between 60$logical and\circ$ and 80 deg, while the corresponding albedo of overcast scenes varies from 0.70 to 0.73. Clear-sky permanent snow albedos over Antarctica estimated from two independent angular distribution models are consistent to within 0.6%, on average. Despite significant variability in sea ice optical properties with season, the estimated mean relative albedo error is -1 % for very dark sea ice and 0.1% for very bright sea ice when albedos derived from different viewing angles are averaged. The estimated regional root-mean-square (RMS) relative albedo error is 5.6% and 2.6% when the sea ice angular distribution models are applied to a region that contains very dark and very bright sea ice, respectively. Similarly, the estimated relative albedo bias error for fresh snow is -0.1% for very dark snow.

Kato, S.↗

Multifrequency Analysis of Favored Models for the Messier 87* Accretion Flow

Abstract The polarized images of the supermassive black hole Messier 87* (M87*) produced by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) provide a direct view of the near-horizon emission from a black hole accretion and jet system. The EHT theoretical analysis of the polarized M87* images compared thousands of snapshots from numerical models with a variety of spins, magnetization states, viewing inclinations, and electron energy distributions, and found a small subset consistent with the observed image. In this article, we examine two models favored by EHT analyses: a magnetically arrested disk with moderate retrograde spin and a magnetically arrested disk with high prograde spin. Both have electron distribution functions that lead to strong depolarization by cold electrons. We ray trace five snapshots from each model at 22, 43, 86, 230, 345, and 690 GHz to forecast future very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations and examine limitations in numerical models. We find that even at low frequencies where optical and Faraday rotation depths are large, approximately rotationally symmetric polarization persists, suggesting that shallow depths dominate the polarization signal. However, morphology and spectra suggest that the assumed thermal electron distribution is not adequate to describe emission from the jet. We find 86 GHz images show a ringlike shape determined by a combination of plasma and spacetime imprints, smaller in diameter than recent results from the Global mm-VLBI Array. We find that the photon ring becomes more apparent with increasing frequency, and is more apparent in the retrograde model, leading to large differences between models in asymmetry and polarization structure.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Noise Spectra and Directivity For a Scale-Model Landing Gear

An extensive experimental study has been conducted to acquire detailed noise spectra and directivity data for a high-fidelity, 6.3%-scale, Boeing 777 main landing gear. The measurements were conducted in the NASA Langley Quiet Flow Facility using a 41-microphone directional array system positioned at a range of polar and azimuthal observer angles with respect to the model. DAMAS (Deconvolution Approach for the Mapping of Acoustic Sources) array processing as well as straightforward individual microphone processing were employed to compile unique flyover and sideline directivity databases for a range of freestream Mach numbers (0.11 - 0.17) covering typical approach conditions. Comprehensive corrections were applied to the test data to account for shear layer ray path and amplitude variations. This allowed proper beamforming at different measurement orientations, as well as directivity presentation in free-field emission coordinates. Four different configurations of the landing gear were tested: a baseline configuration with and without an attached side door, and a noise reduction concept "toboggan" truck fairing with and without side door. DAMAS noise source distributions were determined. Spectral analyses demonstrated that individual microphones could establish model spectra. This finding permitted the determination of unique, spatially-detailed directivity contours of spectral band levels over a hemispherical surface. Spectral scaling for the baseline model confirmed that the acoustic intensity scaled with the expected sixth-power of the Mach number. Finally, comparison of spectra and directivity between the baseline gear and the gear with an attached toboggan indicated that the toboggan fairing may be of some value in reducing gear noise over particular frequency ranges.

Humphreys, William M., Jr.↗

Power System Event Classification and Localization Using a Convolutional Neural Network

Detection and timely identification of power system disturbances are essential for situation awareness and reliable electricity grid operation. Because records of actual events in the system are limited, ensemble simulation-based events are needed to provide adequate data for building event-detection models through deep learning; e.g., a convolutional neural network (CNN). An ensemble numerical simulation-based training data set have been generated through dynamic simulations performed on the Polish system with various types of faults in different locations. Such data augmentation is proven to be able to provide adequate data for deep learning. The synchronous generators’ frequency signals are used and encoded into images for developing and evaluating CNN models for classification of fault types and locations. With a time-domain stacked image set as the benchmark, two different time-series encoding approaches, i.e., wavelet decomposition-based frequency-domain stacking and polar coordinate system-based Gramian Angular Field (GAF) stacking, are also adopted to evaluate and compare the CNN model performance and applicability. The various encoding approaches are suitable for different fault types and spatial zonation. With optimized settings of the developed CNN models, the classification and localization accuracies can go beyond 84 and 91%, respectively.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗