Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “atmospheric physics”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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

At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

A multi‐variable framework for selecting WRF physics configurations at convection‐permitting scales: An Amazon wet‐season case study

Tropical convection over rainforests modulates atmospheric circulation and the energy and hydrological cycles across multiple scales. However, the scarcity of observations still limits our understanding of these processes. Although numerical models are utilized to investigate atmospheric physical processes, their performance depends on the choice of parameterizations and grid resolution. Here, in this work, we introduce and apply a multi‐variable, multi‐physics framework to evaluate and rank the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF–ARW) configurations at 1‐km resolution over the central Amazon during the wet season. A 48‐member ensemble combines three land‐surface models (LSMs), four planetary boundary layer (PBL), and four microphysics (MP) schemes. Model performance for seven convection‐related near‐surface and boundary‐layer variables is assessed using Taylor diagrams and the Taylor skill score (TSS), analysis of variance (ANOVA)‐based sensitivity metrics, and non‐parametric rank tests. We then construct a combined, weighted TSS to identify configurations that are comparatively robust across variables. Results showed that most configurations reproduce near‐surface temperature, sensible and latent heat fluxes, and boundary‐layer height reasonably well, whereas humidity and rainfall remain challenging. LSM choice has the strongest impact on the surface fluxes and a secondary influence on near‐surface temperature and humidity, PBL schemes dominate boundary‐layer height, and MP schemes exert the largest control on rainfall. No single configuration is optimal for all variables, but the combination of Noah (LSM), Yonsei University (PBL), and Morrison (MP) emerges as the most robust configuration for this case, with the WRF single‐moment six‐class scheme (WSM6) providing a competitive, computationally cheaper MP alternative. The framework is general and can be applied to other regions, seasons, and convective regimes.

Amazon rainforest↗
NASA NTRS2019

Soil Moisture in the Climate System

The moisture held within the top meter or two of soil is a very tiny fraction (less than 0.01) of the Earthstotal water (Eagleson, 1970). Nevertheless, its presence at the interface of the land and atmosphere gives it inordinateimportance in the context of climate variability. Simply put, soil moisture variations can help determine meteorologicalvariations. Consider, for example, an anomalously high evapotranspiration rate induced by a high soil moisture content.The high evapotranspiration can lead to an anomalously cooled land surface and thus cooler air temperatures(Seneviratne et al. 2010), and it can also lead to modifications in the evolution of the boundary layer, with concomitantimpacts on the generation of convective rainfall (Betts et al., 1994).Given this potential for feedback on the atmosphere,soil moisture is particularly important in the context of prediction. Atmospheric physics and dynamics are fast andcontribute little to the lifetime of an atmospheric anomaly, as reflected in the well-known time scale of typical weatherforecaststhese rely heavily on atmospheric initialization and are valid for only a week or so. Soil moisture processes, incontrast, are relatively slow. A soil moisture anomaly may persist for a month or more and is thus predictable at such timescales. As a result, and because (as noted above) the atmosphere may respond in a predictable way to a given soilmoisture anomaly, aspects of the atmosphere may also be predictable at the monthly time scale (NRC, 2010).

Koster, Randal↗
NASA NTRS1982

French activities relevant to middle atmosphere research

Interface between atomic and molecular physics and atmospheric physics; middle atmospheric research; and atmospheric exchange are discussed. Also included are proposals for research from 1982 through 1985, priorities, and available support.

Chanin, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS2001

High Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy of Molecules of Terrestrial and Planetary Interest

In collaboration with the laboratory spectroscopy group of the Ames Atmospheric Physics Research Branch (SGP), high resolution infrared spectra of molecules that are of importance for the dynamics of the earth's and other planets' atmospheres were acquired using the SGP high resolution Fourier transform spectrometer and gas handling apparatus. That data, along with data acquired using similar instrumentation at the Kitt Peak National Observatory was analyzed to determine the spectral parameters for each of the rotationally resolved transitions for each molecule. Those parameters were incorporated into existing international databases (e.g. HITRANS and GEISA) so that field measurements could be converted into quantitative information regarding the physical and chemical structures of earth and planetary atmospheres.

Freedman, Richard S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exogeological inferences from white dwarf pollutants: the impact of stellar physics

Many white dwarfs have accreted material from their own planetary systems. These objects can be used to infer the composition of exoplanetary material and identify evidence for key geological processes. However, the white dwarf atmospheric physics distorts the inferred material composition away from the true composition, mainly through differential atomic diffusion of the accreted metals. Correcting for this effect is essential, but is dependent on various physical assumptions associated with the white dwarf itself. We first focus on the effect of assumptions related to convective overshoot and thermohaline mixing on the atomic diffusion time-scales. For white dwarfs with H-dominated atmospheres between 12000 K and 18000 K⁠, we find that including a complete treatment of convective overshoot decreases the inferred Fe and O abundances in accreted material. For these white dwarfs, we also find that including thermohaline mixing decreases Fe and O abundances. For He-dominated systems, the effect of convective overshoot is comparatively minor. We then explore the overall effect of other physical assumptions by comparing publicly available grids of diffusion time-scales. We find that the choice of model grid can have a large impact for white dwarfs with He-dominated atmospheres, notably on the inferred core to mantle ratio of accreted material. We identify several systems for which the geological interpretation is robust against these systematics. We also present a ‘discrepancy metric’ which can be used to estimate the potential impact of changing the stellar physics without requiring detailed modelling.

Astronomy and AstroPhysics↗
DOE OSTI2025

User Guide: A Curated Dataset of Regional Meteor Events with Simultaneous Optical and Infrasound Observations

This user guide supports a curated dataset of 71 meteor events recorded between 2006 and 2011 in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Each event was simultaneously observed by ground-based optical cameras and an infrasound array, providing a rare opportunity to examine meteor trajectories and acoustic signals from the same atmospheric entry events. The dataset includes raw and processed optical data, meteor trajectories, photometric light curves, infrasound waveforms, and atmospheric specifications relevant for acoustic modeling. The archive is structured to support reproducible research in meteor physics, atmospheric acoustics, and shock wave analysis. It is organized following transparent file naming conventions and structured folders to facilitate scientific reuse, comparison, and integration across research domains. The dataset is freely available on Zenodo, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.15868512.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1977

Research in space science and technology

Progress in various space flight research programs is reported. Emphasis is placed on X-ray astronomy and interplanetary plasma physics. Topics covered include: infrared astronomy, long base line interferometry, geological spectroscopy, space life science experiments, atmospheric physics, and space based materials and structures research. Analysis of galactic and extra-galactic X-ray data from the Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-3) and HEAO-A and interplanetary plasma data for Mariner 10, Explorers 47 and 50, and Solrad is discussed.

Beckley, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Descriptive and sensitivity analyses of WATBALI: A dynamic soil water model

A soil water computer model that uses the IBM Continuous System Modeling Program III to solve the dynamic equations representing the soil, plant, and atmospheric physical or physiological processes considered is presented and discussed. Using values describing the soil-plant-atmosphere characteristics, the model predicts evaporation, transpiration, drainage, and soil water profile changes from an initial soil water profile and daily meteorological data. The model characteristics and simulations that were performed to determine the nature of the response to controlled variations in the input are described the results of the simulations are included and a change that makes the response of the model more closely represent the observed characteristics of evapotranspiration and profile changes for dry soil conditions is examined.

Hildreth, W. W.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Fast Machine Learning Lidar Surrogate Simulator: Pristine Clear Sky

The simulations of lidar signals and retrievals rely on a range of optic-physical models, such as radiative transfer models, particle scattering and absorption models, along with the output data from atmospheric physical models. Integrating these different models to represent signals of a lidar system is computationally expensive, and performing backward retrievals can be complex and ambiguous. However, with the advantages of Machine Learning, there is a new potential for building effective lidar signal database linked to corresponding atmospheric profiles. For this project, we are developing a fast pre-trained neural network as the lidar surrogate simulator using simulated data for a CALIPSO-like lidar (355 nm, 532nm, and 1064nm), and a CO2 differential absorption lidar (DIAL) near 1571nm. Specifically, we utilize a long short-term memory (LSTM) model to map the relationships between atmospheric profiles (pressure, temperature, air density and CO2 mixing ratio) and lidar signals. This approach allows us to build machine learning based simulators that can reconstruct lidar signals at specific bands from MERRA reanalysis data, and perform retrievals of atmospheric profiles using lidar signals at various wavelengths. As a first step, the results show the potential of this method to establish a foundational model for sensor signals. This model offers the promise of enabling both accurate predictions and rapid retrievals, providing a more efficient approach to signal processing and analysis.

Shan Zeng↗
NASA NTRS2018

Technologies and Methods Used at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) to Serve Solar Irradiance Data

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado in Boulder, USA operates the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) NASA mission, as well as several other NASA spacecraft and instruments. Dozens of Solar Irradiance data sets are produced, managed, and disseminated to the science community. Data are made freely available to the scientific immediately after they are produced using a variety of data access interfaces, including the LASP Interactive Solar Irradiance Datacenter (LISIRD), which provides centralized access to a variety of solar irradiance data sets using both interactive and scriptable/programmatic methods. This poster highlights the key technological elements used for the NASA SORCE mission ground system to produce, manage, and disseminate data to the scientific community and facilitate long-term data stewardship. The poster presentation will convey designs, technological elements, practices and procedures, and software management processes used for SORCE and their relationship to data quality and data management standards, interoperability, NASA data policy, and community expectations.

Pankratz, Chris↗
DOE OSTI2024

Evaluation of dynamical downscaling in a fully coupled regional earth system model

A set of decadal simulations has been completed and evaluated for gains using the Regional Arctic System Model (RASM) to dynamically downscale data from a global Earth system model and two atmospheric reanalyses. RASM is a fully coupled atmosphere–land–ocean–sea ice regional Earth system model. Nudging to the forcing data is applied to approximately the top half of the atmospheric domain. RASM simulations were also completed with a modification to the atmospheric physics for evaluating changes to the modeling system. The results show that for the top half of the atmosphere, the RASM simulations follow closely to that of the forcing data, regardless of the forcing data. The results for the lower half of the atmosphere, as well as the surface, show a clustering of atmospheric state and surface fluxes based on the modeling system. At all levels of the atmosphere the imprint of the weather from the forcing data is present as indicated in the pattern of the annual means. Biases, in comparison to reanalyses, are evident in the Earth system model forced simulations for the top half of the atmosphere but are not present in the lower atmosphere. This suggests that bias correction is not needed for fully coupled dynamical downscaling simulations. While the RASM simulations tended to go to the same mean state for the lower atmosphere, there are a differences in the variability and changes of weather patterns across the ensemble of simulations. These differences in the weather result in variances in the sea ice and oceanic states.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1999

Spacelab Science Results Study: Executive Summary

Beginning with OSTA-1 in November 1981, and ending with Neurolab in March 1998, thirty-six shuttle missions are considered Spacelab missions because they carried various Spacelab components such as the Spacelab module, the pallet, the Instrument Pointing System (IPS), or the MPESS. The experiments carried out during these flights included astrophysics, solar physics, plasma physics, atmospheric science, Earth observations, and a wide range of microgravity experiments in life sciences, biotechnology, materials science, and fluid physics which includes combustion and critical point phenomena. In all, some 764 experiments were conducted by investigators from the United States, Europe, and Japan. These experiments resulted in several thousand papers published In refereed journals, and thousands more in conference proceedings, chapters in books, and other publications. The purpose of this Spacelab Science Results Study is to document the contributions made in each of the major research areas by giving a brief synopsis of the more significant experiments and an extensive list of the publications that were produced. We have also endeavored to show how these results impacted the existing body of knowledge, where they have spawned new fields, and, if appropriate, where the knowledge they produced has been applied.

Naumann, Robert J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Spacelab Science Results Study: Microgravity Science - Volume 3

Beginning with OSTA-1 in November 1981, and ending with Neurolab in March 1998, thirty-six shuttle missions are considered Spacelab missions because they carried various Spacelab components such as the Spacelab module, the pallet, the Instrument Pointing System (IPS), or the MPESS. The experiments carried out during these flights included astrophysics, solar physics, plasma physics, atmospheric science, Earth observations, and a wide range of microgravity experiments in life sciences, biotechnology, materials science, and fluid physics which includes combustion and critical point phenomena. In all, some 764 experiments were conducted by investigators from the United States, Europe, and Japan. These experiments resulted in several thousand papers published in refereed journals, and thousands more in conference proceedings, chapters in books, and other publications. The purpose of this Spacelab Science Results Study is to document the contributions made in each of the major research areas by giving a brief synopsis of the more significant experiments and an extensive list of the publications that were produced. We have also endeavored to show how these results impacted the existing body of knowledge, where they have spawned new fields, and, if appropriate, where the knowledge they produced has been applied.

Naumann, Robert J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Spacelab Science Results Study: Microgravity Science - Volume 2

Beginning with OSTA-1 in November 1981, and ending with Neurolab n March 1998, thirty-six shuttle missions are considered Spacelab missions because they carried various Spacelab components such as the Spacelab module, the pallet, the Instrument Pointing System (IPS), or the MPESS (Mission Peculiar Experiment Support Structure). The experiments carried out during these flights included astrophysics, solar physics, plasma physics, atmospheric science, Earth observations, and a wide range of microgravity experiments in life sciences, biotechnology, materials science, and fluid physics which includes combustion and critical point phenomena. In all, some 764 experiments were conducted by investigators from the United States, Europe, and Japan. These experiments resulted in several thousand papers published in refereed journals, and thousands more in conference proceedings, chapters in books, and other publications. The purpose of this Spacelab Science Results Study is to document the contributions made in each of the major research areas by giving a brief synopsis of the more significant experiments and an extensive list of the publications that were produced. We have also endeavored to show how these results impacted the existing body of knowledge, where they have spawned new fields, and, if appropriate, where the knowledge they produced has been applied.

Naumann, Robert J.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Spacelab Science Results Study

Beginning with OSTA-1 in November 1981 and ending with Neurolab in March 1998, a total of 36 Shuttle missions carried various Spacelab components such as the Spacelab module, pallet, instrument pointing system, or mission peculiar experiment support structure. The experiments carried out during these flights included astrophysics, solar physics, plasma physics, atmospheric science, Earth observations, and a wide range of microgravity experiments in life sciences, biotechnology, materials science, and fluid physics which includes combustion and critical point phenomena. In all, some 764 experiments were conducted by investigators from the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The purpose of this Spacelab Science Results Study is to document the contributions made in each of the major research areas by giving a brief synopsis of the more significant experiments and an extensive list of the publications that were produced. We have also endeavored to show how these results impacted the existing body of knowledge, where they have spawned new fields, and if appropriate, where the knowledge they produced has been applied.

Naumann, R. J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

An extensible perturbed parameter ensemble for the Community Atmosphere Model version 6

This paper documents the methodology and preliminary results from a perturbed parameter ensemble (PPE) technique, where multiple parameters are varied simultaneously and the parameter values are determined with Latin hypercube sampling. This is done with the Community Atmosphere Model version 6 (CAM6), the atmospheric component of the Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2). We apply the PPE method to CESM2–CAM6 to understand climate sensitivity to atmospheric physics parameters. The initial simulations vary 45 parameters in the microphysics, convection, turbulence and aerosol schemes with 263 ensemble members. These atmospheric parameters are typically the most uncertain in many climate models. Control simulations and targeted simulations to understand climate forcing due to aerosols and fast climate feedbacks are analyzed. The use of various emulators is explored in the multi-dimensional space mapping input parameters to output metrics. Parameter impacts on various model outputs, such as radiation, cloud and aerosol properties, are evaluated. Machine learning is also used to probe optimal parameter values against observations. Our findings show that PPE is a valuable tool for climate uncertainty analysis. Furthermore, by varying many parameters simultaneously, we find that many different combinations of parameter values can produce results consistent with observations, and thus careful analysis of tuning is important. The CESM2–CAM6 PPE is publicly available and extensible to other configurations to address questions of other model processes in the atmosphere and other model components (e.g., coupling to the land surface).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗