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At least 91 records · Page 5

Mars Climate Monitoring Mission

For future missions to Mars, Nasa wants a better understanding of the regular weather patterns on Mars. Current models of martian weather are not up to the task of predicting weather that could impair future martian prospects. To improve our models, we need accurate data, measured directly from orbiters or surface stations, like rovers or probes. One solution is to send a web of permanent surface weather stations to various locations on the surface, in order to get accurate data about large-scale martian weather patterns. Such data could be used to improve our models which could greatly aid in improving the safety of future exploration. Such a mission, though, would have countless moving parts, from launch till landing. We created this short animation to demonstrate how such a mission might be carried out, what it might tell us, and how that information could prove critically useful for future martian exploration, including human missions to the surface.

Mars

NCAR-RAL Surface Hydrometeorological Observation Network Data for LASSO-CACTI Overview Paper

This data set contains the 15 minute resolution surface meteorology and soils data from the 15 NCAR/RAL weather stations that were operated around central Argentina during the RELAMPAGO (Remote sensing of Electrification, Lightning, And Meso-scale/micro-scale Processes with Adaptive Ground Observations) Extended Observing Period (EOP). Data providence, citation, and acknowledgement This ARM data set is a copy of v1.0 of the NCAR data set obtained in June 2024 from https://doi.org/10.26023/KW8Z-F2WX-H0Y. The citation for the original data source is: Gochis, D., et al. 2019. NCAR-RAL Surface Hydrometeorological Observation Network Data. Version 1.0. UCAR/NCAR - Earth Observing Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.26023/KW8Z-F2WX-H0Y Accessed June 2024. In addition to the citation reference and any other acknowledgements, please acknowledge NCAR/EOL in your publications with text such as: “Data provided by NCAR/EOL under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation. https://data.eol.ucar.edu/”

air temperature

Historic climate, cosmogenic 10Be, denudation-rate, and geospatial datasets from the Pikes Peak region, Colorado, USA

This data package contains geographic information system (GIS) layers and tabular datasets associated with the study of elevation-dependent denudation rates on Pikes Peak in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA. The package includes GIS layers used to produce the study-area map, including sample locations, sample watershed boundaries, the Pikes Peak batholith, Pleistocene glacier extent, weather station locations, and elevation and hillshade rasters, together with comma-separated value (CSV) tables and matching CSV data dictionaries. These mapped layers provide the geographic framework for interpreting denudation patterns across the Pikes Peak region and for relating sample locations to watershed geometry, bedrock setting, glacial history, and nearby climate stations. The first group of tables reports climate and geospatial context for the study area. These files include station-based temperature and precipitation data used to characterize elevational gradients in mean annual climate and monthly climate seasonality, sample locations, denudation-rate and topographic metrics, fixed frost-cracking model parameters, frost-cracking intensity and precipitation-frequency metrics, and stream-power inversion results. Together, these data provide the basis for evaluating how denudation varies with elevation, climate, and landscape form across sampled catchments on Pikes Peak. The second group of tables reports cosmogenic nuclide and erosion-model results used in the denudation analysis. Included files contain accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurements for in situ-produced cosmogenic beryllium-10 (10Be), including sample identifiers, measured 10Be:9Be ratios, analytical uncertainties, carrier mass, quartz mass, blank corrections, blank-group statistics, and calculated 10Be concentrations and uncertainties. Additional tables summarize stream-power-law inversion results for sampled catchments, including optimized model parameters, predicted erosion rates, residual metrics, channel-pixel counts, and convergence status, as well as regression equations and summary statistics used to evaluate relationships among elevation, climate, frost cracking, precipitation forcing, and denudation rate. The package contains GIS files, comma-separated value files (.csv), Microsoft Excel files (.xlsx), CSV data dictionaries, a file-level metadata table, and a readme text file.

10Be cosmogenic nuclides

The use of polar-orbiting satellite sounding data to estimate rural maximum and minimum temperatures

Atmospheric sounding products from NOAA's polar-orbiting satellites were used to derive and test predictive equations of rural shelter-level maximum and minimum temperatures. Sounding data from both winter and summer months were combined with surface data from over 5300 cooperative weather stations in the continental United States to develop multiple linear regression equations. Separate equations were developed for both maximum and minimum temperature, using the three types of sounding retrievals (clear, partly cloudy, and cloudy). Clear retrieval models outperformed others, and maximum temperatures were more accurately predicted than minimums. Average standard deviations of observed rural shelter temperatures within sounding search areas were of similar magnitude to root-mean-square errors from satellite estimates for most clear and partly cloudy cases, but were significantly less for cloudy retrieval cases. Model validation for surrogate polar and tropical climatic regions showed success in application of the four clear retrieval models (maximum and minimum temperature, for both winter and summer). This indicates the potential adaptability of these models to estimates of rural shelter temperature in areas outside of the United States.

Johnson, Gregory L.

Evaluation of Decision Trees for Cloud Detection from AVHRR Data

Automated cloud detection and tracking is an important step in assessing changes in radiation budgets associated with global climate change via remote sensing. Data products based on satellite imagery are available to the scientific community for studying trends in the Earth's atmosphere. The data products include pixel-based cloud masks that assign cloud-cover classifications to pixels. Many cloud-mask algorithms have the form of decision trees. The decision trees employ sequential tests that scientists designed based on empirical astrophysics studies and simulations. Limitations of existing cloud masks restrict our ability to accurately track changes in cloud patterns over time. In a previous study we compared automatically learned decision trees to cloud masks included in Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data products from the year 2000. In this paper we report the replication of the study for five-year data, and for a gold standard based on surface observations performed by scientists at weather stations in the British Islands. For our sample data, the accuracy of automatically learned decision trees was greater than the accuracy of the cloud masks p < 0.001.

AVHRR (ADVANCED VERY HIGH RESOLUTION RADIOMETER)

Importance of Spatially Continuous Urban Surface Properties in Urban‐Resolving Earth System Modeling

Accurate representation of urban properties and processes at higher resolutions in global modeling systems is essential for advancing our ability to capture the complexities of urban systems and informing effective resilience strategies. However, the prescription of coarse global-scale urban properties in most state-of-the-art Earth system models (ESMs) is limiting their potential for capturing urban signals as they advance toward kilometer-scale simulation capabilities. To bridge this gap in inadequate urban property representation and to advance urban-resolving Earth system modeling, this work integrates the newly-developed global 1 km-resolution facet-level urban surface property data set, U-Surf, into the land component of Community Earth System Model (CESM)—Community Terrestrial System Model (CTSM). The land-only CTSM simulations are validated against satellite measurements, ground-based urban weather stations, flux tower observations, and reanalysis data. Results demonstrate that the enhanced urban properties allow improved simulations of urban meteorology and surface energy fluxes compared to the default coarse-resolution categorical urban canopy parameters. Spatial scaling analysis reveals regime-dependent information loss during resolution aggregation, as well as substantial scale-dependent variations in urban surface energy flux representation. Furthermore, these findings have critical implications for coupled Earth system modeling when including the effect of land-atmosphere interaction. This work establishes a foundation for future urban-resolving kilometer-scale ESM development, which will enable systematic intra- and inter-city comparisons that inform urban adaptation strategies across diverse global urban environments.

Cheng, Yifan [University of Illinois Urbana-Champa

Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR) Sensor Development

One of the recommendations of the National Aviation Weather Program Council was to expand and institutionalize the generation, dissemination, and use of automated pilot reports (PIREPS) to the full spectrum of the aviation community, including general aviation. In response to this and other similar recommendations, NASA initiated cooperative research into the development of an electronic pilot reporting capability (Daniels 2002). The ultimate goal is to develop a small low-cost sensor, collect useful meteorological observations below 25,000 ft., downlink the data in near real time, and use the data to improve weather forecasts. Primary users of the data include pilots, who are one targeted audience for the improved weather information that will result from the TAMDAR data. The weather data will be disseminated and used to improve aviation safety by providing pilots with enhanced weather situational awareness. In addition, the data will be used to improve the accuracy and timeliness of weather forecasts. Other users include air traffic controllers, flight service stations, and airline weather centers. Additionally, the meteorological data collected by TAMDAR is expected to have a significant positive impact on forecast accuracy for ground based applications.

Daniels, Taumi S.

The Baltimore Community Weather Station Network: Filling the Urban Measurement Desert

Quantification and understanding of how heat, rainfall, and air quality vary within cities are needed to identify the area with the worst conditions, develop solutions to extreme weather, and assess the impact of proposed policies. However, neighborhood-level variability is not well quantified because there are few environmental measurement stations within cities. In Baltimore City, a community-based network of weather stations to address this issue has been developed through a partnership between universities, state agencies, and Baltimore residents. The weather stations are hosted by community partners, and the data collected are enabling the mapping of urban weather across the city and the testing of models and proposed mitigation strategies. In addition, the network provides direct community involvement, with resulting benefits of increased community engagement, education, and empowerment. Researchers have an opportunity to democratize the scientific process and ensure that local knowledge and lived experiences of city residents inform future decision-making. The approach could be used as a model for other cities that apply similar monitoring instruments for other environmental exposures.

community

Environmental change pattern in central Japan as revealed by LANDSAT data

The author has identified the following significant results. A patched cirrus reported by weather stations was hardly recognizable by the eye in LANDSAT MSS data of a three year time lapse. The cloud cover affected radiance values significantly in band 4, while its effect was minimal in bands 6 and 7 (near infrared spectra). The cross correlation coefficient analysis between the two images indicated that the highest value obtained in central Japan was 0.963 for the area where little change occurred in land use over the three period. An analysis of land use in Nagoya showed little change in the metropolitan area while a fairly large change occurred in the northern periphery of the city where large scale housing projects are located.

Maruyasu, T.

Hourly gap-filled meteorological data from PIE LTER measurements (2004-2023) used as drivers to run ELM PFLOTRAN simulations

This dataset contains continuous gap-filled precipitation, solar radiation, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and barometric pressure data recorded primarily at the Marshview Farm weather station within the Plum Island Long Term Ecosystems Research (PIE LTER) in Newbury Massachusetts (MA) from 2004 to 2023. We compiled the data set from published annual data packages in 15min resolution available on DataOne. Gaps were filled using different statistical techniques or available observations from the vicinity, e.g. the US-PLo and the US-PHM Ameriflux sites, also located within the PIE LTER. Flags are included in this dataset to indicate the origin of each data point. Metadata files ELMPFLOTRAN_met_dd.csv and ELMPFLOTRAN_met_flmd.csv contain more information on site locations, gap filling protocols, data variables, flags, and QA/QC methods. The data set was used in the spin up and simulations of a land surface model coupled to a biogeochemical reaction network (ELM PFLOTRAN) assessing impacts of hydrology and salinity input on methane fluxes in 2022 and 2023 (Sulman et al., 2024).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Building Energy Analysis of Manufactured and Multifamily Housing Types in Juneau, Alaska

This report details the results of building energy modeling analysis evaluating the potential energy savings, economic outcomes, and grid-level electricity reduction associated with cold climate air source heat pump (ccASHP) adoption across multifamily and manufactured housing (MMFH) building typologies in the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ). Three building archetypes were evaluated: multifamily 4-plex apartments, multifamily 8-plex apartments, and manufactured housing units. Building energy models were developed using OpenStudio-HPXML and calibrated to actual utility consumption data and local meteorological data from the Juneau International Airport weather station using an automated calibration tool following the BPI-2400-S-2015 v.2 standard for model calibration. Occupant behaviors present the greatest variability in successful calibrations. Calibrated models were benchmarked against a baseline electric resistance heating condition, with the selected ccASHP modeled as the retrofit condition and typical meteorological year weather data for all results generation.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY

Impact of Extreme Heat on Emergency Department Admissions for Childhood and Adult Asthma: An Evaluation of Earth Observations and Heat Wave Definitions

Extreme heat has been associated with adverse health outcomes, yet its impact on asthma exacerbations remains understudied. This is, in part, due to data limitations: research that relies on weather station records and aggregated health statistics cannot resolve fine-scale differences in heat impacts. This study investigates the association between heat wave definitions and summertime asthma-related emergency department visits in Baltimore, Maryland from 2016 to 2022, including 819 adult and 695 pediatric exacerbations. Using geocoded electronic health records and air temperature measurements at several spatial resolutions, we applied a case-crossover design with conditional logistic regressions at the census block group and tract levels. We found strong associations between asthma exacerbations and nighttime heat wave definitions based on relative thresholds of minimum temperatures when census block group or tract level temperature estimates were used. These relationships were significant for both age groups and showed elevated risks in socially vulnerable areas. In contrast, heat wave definitions derived from the city's primary National Weather Service synoptic weather station show associations between asthma and daytime heat extremes, suggesting that the character of the heat hazard depends on the scale at which it is defined. The extreme heat event definition used by Baltimore City's Code Red system showed no significant association with exacerbations. These findings highlight the importance of data resolution in shaping health inferences related to extreme heat in urban environments. Further, this study demonstrates that, regardless of spatial scale, extreme heat is associated with asthma exacerbations in both age groups.

Corpuz, B. [Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, M

A cursory glance at results from NASA's B-57B gust gradient program

The Gust Gradient Program is a data intensive effort involving tripple Doppler radar, a surface weather station mesonet and other aircraft. The Joint Airport Weather Studies was utilized to gain additional data. The data were used to fill in the gap in turbulence modeling.

Warren Campbell

Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU)

This Quarter's Highlights incllude: completion of the second phase of verifying the performance of the MesoNAM weather model at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). (1) The data was delivered to the 45th Weather Squadron (45 WS) and the final report was distributed (2) Staff completed modifying and updating lightning c1imatologies for KSC/CCAFS and other airfields around central Florida. We delivered the tool to the National Weather Service in Melbourne and 45 WS and distributed the final report (3) Staff completed modifying the AMU peak wind tool by analyzing wind tower data to determine peak wind behavior during times of onshore and offshore flow. This was delivered the to the 45 WS and distributed the final report.

Bauman, William

Cloud Masking and Surface Temperature Distribution in the Polar Regions Using AVHRR and other Satellite Data

Surface temperature is one of the key variables associated with weather and climate. Accurate measurements of surface air temperatures are routinely made in meteorological stations around the world. Also, satellite data have been used to produce synoptic global temperature distributions. However, not much attention has been paid on temperature distributions in the polar regions. In the polar regions, the number of stations is very sparse. Because of adverse weather conditions and general inaccessibility, surface field measurements are also limited. Furthermore, accurate retrievals from satellite data in the region have been difficult to make because of persistent cloudiness and ambiguities in the discrimination of clouds from snow or ice. Surface temperature observations are required in the polar regions for air-sea-ice interaction studies, especially in the calculation of heat, salinity, and humidity fluxes. They are also useful in identifying areas of melt or meltponding within the sea ice pack and the ice sheets and in the calculation of emissivities of these surfaces. Moreover, the polar regions are unique in that they are the sites of temperature extremes, the location of which is difficult to identify without a global monitoring system. Furthermore, the regions may provide an early signal to a potential climate change because such signal is expected to be amplified in the region due to feedback effects. In cloud free areas, the thermal channels from infrared systems provide surface temperatures at relatively good accuracies. Previous capabilities include the use of the Temperature Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) onboard the Nimbus-7 satellite which was launched in 1978. Current capabilities include the use of the Advance Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) aboard NOAA satellites. Together, these two systems cover a span of 16 years of thermal infrared data. Techniques for retrieving surface temperatures with these sensors in the polar regions have been developed. Errors have been estimated to range from 1K to 5K mainly due to cloud masking problems. With many additional channels available, it is expected that the EOS-Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) will provide an improved characterization of clouds and a good discrimination of clouds from snow or ice surfaces.

Comiso, Joey C.

DATA COLLECTION BY SATELLITES

Discussion of future meteorological satellite data collection system consisting of automatic land, sea and balloon relay weather stations

SATELLITE OBSERVATION