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Thermal Radiation Analyzer

Thermal Radiation Analyzer System TRASYS II solves radiation related aspects of thermal analysis problems. TRASYS II provides for calculation of internode radiation interchange data and for calculation of incident and absorbed heat rate data originating from environmental radiant heat sources. When TRASYS II used in conjunction with generalized thermal analysis program such as Systems Improved Numerical Differencing Analyzer (SINDA), any thermal problem expressed in terms of lumped parameter RC thermal network solved.

Vogt, R. A.↗

Development of Multi-Sensor Global Cloud and Radiance Composites for Earth Radiation Budget Monitoring from DSCOVR

The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) enables analysis of the daytime Earth radiation budget via the onboard Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Radiometer (NISTAR). Radiance observations and cloud property retrievals from low earth orbit and geostationary satellite imagers have to be co-located with EPIC pixels to provide scene identification in order to select anisotropic directional models needed to calculate shortwave and longwave fluxes. A new algorithm is proposed for optimal merging of selected radiances and cloud properties derived from multiple satellite imagers to obtain seamless global hourly composites at 5-kilometer resolution. An aggregated rating is employed to incorporate several factors and to select the best observation at the time nearest to the EPIC measurement. Spatial accuracy is improved using inverse mapping with gradient search during reprojection and bicubic interpolation for pixel resampling. The composite data are subsequently remapped into EPIC-view domain by convolving composite pixels with the EPIC point spread function (PSF) defined with a half-pixel accuracy. PSF-weighted average radiances and cloud properties are computed separately for each cloud phase. The algorithm has demonstrated contiguous global coverage for any requested time of day with a temporal lag of under 2 hours in over 95 percent of the globe.

Khlopenkov, Konstantin↗

Compliance with High-Intensity Radiated Fields Regulations - Emitter's Perspective

NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) uses high-power transmitters on its large antennas to communicate with spacecraft of NASA and its partner agencies. The prime reflectors of the DSN antennas are parabolic, at 34m and 70m in diameter. The DSN transmitters radiate Continuous Wave (CW) signals at 20 kW - 500 kW at X-band and S-band frequencies. The combination of antenna reflector size and high frequency results in a very narrow beam with extensive oscillating near-field pattern. Another unique feature of the DSN antennas is that they (and the radiated beam) move mostly at very slow sidereal rate, essentially identical in magnitude and at the opposite direction of Earth rotation.The DSN is in the process of revamping its documentation to provide analysis of the High Intensity Radiation Fields (HIRF) environment resulting from radio frequency radiation from DSN antennas for comparison to FAA regulations regarding certification of HIRF protection as outlined in the FAA regulations on HIRF protection for aircraft electrical and electronic systems (Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) [section sign][section sign] 23.1308, 25.1317, 27.1317, and 29.1317).This paper presents work done at JPL, in consultation with the FAA. The work includes analysis of the radiated field structure created by the unique DSN emitters (combination of transmitters and antennas) and comparing it to the fields defined in the environments in the FAA regulations. The paper identifies areas that required special attention, including the implications of the very narrow beam of the DSN emitters and the sidereal rate motion. The paper derives the maximum emitter power allowed without mitigation and the mitigation zones, where required.Finally, the paper presents summary of the results of the analyses of the DSN emitters and the resulting DSN process documentation.

DSN emitters↗

Polarizing Grids, their Assemblies and Beams of Radiation

This article gives an analysis of the behavior of polarizing grids and reflecting polarizers by solving Maxwell's equations, for arbitrary angles of incidence and grid rotation, for cases where the excitation is provided by an incident plane wave or a beam of radiation. The scattering and impedance matrix representations are derived and used to solve more complicated configurations of grid assemblies. The results are also compared with data obtained in the calibration of reflecting polarizers at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). From these analysis, we propose a method for choosing the optimum grid parameters (wire radius and spacing). We also provide a study of the effects of two types of errors (in wire separation and radius size) that can be introduced in the fabrication of a grid.

Houde, Martin↗

MULTI-OMICS ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC LOW-DOSE RADIATION AND HINDLIMB SUSPENSION ON MURINE BRAIN AND RETINA

The space environment includes hazards like radiation and microgravity which can adversely affect biological systems. We assessed multi-omics multi-tissue NASA GeneLab datasets where 6-month-old female mice were gamma irradiated (IR) and/or hindlimb unloaded (HLU) for 21 days. Whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing (RNA-Seq) and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) of brain and retina samples collected at 4 months post-exposure was performed to better characterize the retinal and neurological responses to spaceflight. We compared epigenomic and transcriptomic profiles within each exposure group for both tissue types to identify correlation (Pearson’s correlation test; p-value < 0.05) between gene expression and DNA methylation levels that may be related to transcriptional regulation. We then obtained genes with methylation-expression correlation that also showed differences in mean expression or dispersion between exposed and control groups (adjusted p-value < 0.25; relaxed to denote ‘hypothesis’) in the brain (37 genes in HLU, 4 in IR, and 156 in HLU+IR) or retina (92 genes in HLU, 1 in IR, and 55 in HLU+IR). Enriched Gene Ontology (GO) terms for these genes are listed in Table 1 for HLU and HLU+IR for both tissue types. No enriched terms and only a few genes were detected with IR-only exposure in the brain (Chmp1a, Limd1, Rab40b, Ubc) and retina (retinoblastoma binding protein Rbbp7). Cellular components related to synapse were enriched in both tissue types. Previous analysis of differentially expressed genes in the retina after 1 month of HLU+IR showed enrichment in the somatodendritic compartment of the neuron, which was also observed in the brain 4 months post-exposure. Interestingly, genes related to ubiquitination showed correlation between methylation and expression and were differentially expressed or dispersed in different exposure groups indicating that this pathway may play an important role in multi-stressor response (Figure 1). The current multi-omics and multi-tissue analysis interrogates the epigenomic and transcriptomic impacts of radiation and hindlimb unloading, in isolation and in combination, on the retina and the brain. The results provide insight into the adaptive response to individual spaceflight hazard analogs and their interplay, as well as hypotheses to be further tested for understanding spaceflight-induced neurological and vision effects.

Prachi Kothiyal↗

The Mariner 5 ultraviolet photometer experiment - Analysis of Rayleigh-scattered and 1304-A radiation from Venus

Airglow measurements of the disk of Venus, made by the ultraviolet photometer on Mariner 5 on October 19, 1967, are analyzed to determine the sources of the observed emission. Rayleigh-scattering models for a semi-infinite atmosphere are used to determine the scale height and single-scattering albedo of the scatterer and to determine the 1304-A emission rate. It is found that (1) the scale height of the Rayleigh-scattered radiation is about 4.5 km, (2) the single-scattering albedo near 2000 A is about 0.8, and (3) 500 R of 1304-A radiation is detected at solar zenith angles between 90 and 95 deg.

Anderson, D. E., Jr.↗

An analysis of the Wheeler method for measuring the radiating efficiency of antennas

A model problem is formulated to evaluate the limitations imposed by the assumptions in the Wheeler or cap method for measuring the radiating efficiency of antennas. The antenna in the model is a circular loop and the radiation shield is a spherical metal shell. Calculated values of the actual efficiency of the antenna and the efficiency that would be measured using the Wheeler method are compared to determine the accuracy of the method and set guidelines for its application.

Smith, G. S.↗

Analysis of the thermal performance of heat pipe radiators

A comprehensive mathematical model and computational methodology are presented to obtain numerical solutions for the transient behavior of a heat pipe radiator in a space environment. The modeling is focused on a typical radiator panel having a long heat pipe at the center and two extended surfaces attached to opposing sides of the heat pipe shell in the condenser section. In the set of governing equations developed for the model, each region of the heat pipe - shell, liquid, and vapor - is thermally lumped to the extent possible, while the fin is lumped only in the direction normal to its surface. Convection is considered to be the only significant heat transfer mode in the vapor, and the evaporation and condensation velocity at the liquid-vapor interface is calculated from kinetic theory. A finite-difference numerical technique is used to predict the transient behavior of the entire radiator in response to changing loads.

Boo, J. H.↗

Analysis and comparison of diurnal variations of cloud radiative forcing: Earth Radiation Budget Experiment and International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project results

Cloud radiative forcing (CRF) is the radiative impact of clouds on the Earth's radiation budget. This study examines the diurnal variations of CRF using the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) monthly hourly flux data and the flux data derived from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) using the Goddard Institute for Space Studies general circulation model radiation code. The results for the months of April, July, and October 1985 and January 1986 are analyzed. We found that, in general, two data sets agreed. For longwave (LW) CRF the diurnal range over land is generally greater than that observed over oceans. For the 4-month averages the ERBE values are 15.8 W/sq m and 6.8 W/sq m for land and ocean, respectively, compared with the ISCCP calculated values of 18.4 W/sq m and 8.0 W/sq m, respectively. The land/ocean contrast is largely associated with changes in cloud amount and the temperature difference between surface and cloud top. It would be more important to note that the clear-sky flux (i.e., surface temperature) variabilities are shown to be a major contributor to the large variabilities over land. The maximum diurnal range is found to be in the summer hemisphere, and the minimum values in the winter hemisphere. It is also shown that the daytime maximum and the nighttime minimum are seen over large portions of land, whereas they occur at any local hour over most oceans. For shortwave (SW) CRF the daytime maximum values are about twice as large as monthly averages, and their highest frequency occurs at local noon, indicating that solar insolation is a primary factor for the diurnal variation of SW CRF. However, the comparison of the ERBE data with the ISCCP results demonstrated that the largest differences in the diurnal range and monthly mean of LW CRF were associated with tropical convergence zones, where clear-sky fluxes could be easily biased by persistent cloudiness and the inadequate treatment of the atmospheric water vapor.

Kim, Yongseung↗

A Framework for Understanding and Quantifying the Loss and Acceleration of Relativistic Electrons in the Outer Radiation Belt During Geomagnetic Storms

We present detailed analysis of the global relativistic electron dynamics as measured by total radiation belt content (RBC) during coronal mass ejection (CME) and corotating interaction region (CIR)-driven geomagnetic storms. Recent work has demonstrated that the response of the outer radiation belt is consistent and repeatable during geomagnetic storms. Here we build on this work to show that radiation belt dynamics can be divided into two sequential phases, which have different solar wind dependencies and which when analyzed separately reveal that the radiation belt responds more predictably than if the overall storm response is analyzed as a whole. In terms of RBC, in every storm we analyzed, a phase dominated by loss is followed by a phase dominated by acceleration. Analysis of the RBC during each of these phases demonstrates that they both respond coherently to solar wind and magnetospheric driving. However, the response is independent of whether the storm response is associated with either a CME or CIR. Our analysis shows that during the initial phase, radiation belt loss is organized by the location of the magnetopause and the strength of Dst and ultralow frequency wave power. During the second phase, radiation belt enhancements are well organized by the amplitude of ultralow frequency waves, the auroral electroject index, and solar wind energy input. Overall, our results demonstrate that storm time dynamics of the RBC is repeatable and well characterized by solar wind and geomagnetic driving, albeit with different dependencies during the two phases of a storm.

Kyle R. Murphy↗

Radiative Susceptibility of Cloudy Atmospheres to Droplet Number Perturbations: 1. Theoretical Analysis and Examples from MODIS

Theoretical and satellite-based assessments of the sensitivity of broadband shortwave radiative fluxes in cloudy atmospheres to small perturbations in the cloud droplet number concentration (N) of liquid water clouds under constant water conditions are performed. Two approaches to study this sensitivity are adopted: absolute increases in N, for which the radiative response is referred to as absolute cloud susceptibility, and relative increases in N or relative cloud susceptibility. Estimating the former is more challenging as it requires an assumed value for either cloud liquid water content or geometrical thickness; both susceptibilities require an assumed relationship between the droplet volume and effective radius. Expanding upon previous susceptibility studies, present radiative calculations include the effect of AN perturbations on droplet asymmetry parameter and single-scattering albedo, in addition to extinction. Absolute cloud susceptibility has a strong nonlinear dependence on the droplet effective radius as expected, while relative cloud susceptibility is primarily dependent on optical thickness. Molecular absorption and reflecting surfaces both reduce the relative contribution of the cloud to the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) flux and therefore also reduce the TOA albedo susceptibility. Transmittance susceptibilities are negative with absolute values similar to albedo susceptibility, while atmospheric absorptance susceptibilities are about an order of magnitude smaller than albedo susceptibilities and can be either positive or negative. Observation-based susceptibility calculations are derived from MODIS pixel-level retrievals of liquid water cloud optical thickness, effective radius, and cloud top temperature; two data granule examples are shown. Susceptibility quantifies the aerosol indirect effect sensitivity in a way that can be easily computed from model fields. As such, susceptibilities derived from MODIS observations provide a higher-order test of model cloud properties used for indirect effect studies. MODIS-derived global distributions of cloud susceptibility and radiative forcing calculations are presented in a companion paper.

Platnick, Steven↗

Observation of impurity accumulation and its compatibility with high plasma performance in W7-X

At the W7-X stellarator, the bolometer system has measured an intensive radiation zone in the inner plasma region (at a normalized radius $ρ$ ~ 0.3–0.4) in the hydrogen plasma generated by electron cyclotron resonance heating; it differs from the normal plasma radiation distribution with an edge-localized emission zone. Spectroscopic diagnostics have recorded high-Z elements such as iron. This phenomenon happens in the plasma phases after gas supply turn-off, which results in all impurity relevant diagnostic signals increasing for several seconds. Despite the enhancement of the core radiation, the plasma energy confinement is improved. A transport analysis shows that this impurity radiation behavior is associated with a low diffusion coefficient ($D$~ 0.02 m 2 s -1 ) and a reversal of the convection around the radial position of the emission peak, which, under normal conditions, separates the zones of outward convection in the central (|$V$| ~ 0.1 m s -1 ) and inward convection in the outer region (|$V$| ~ 0.3 m s -1 ). An impurity accumulation around this radial position has been identified. The transport coefficients obtained are comparable with the theoretical predictions of collisional impurity transport. In the plasma phases studied, both impurity and energy confinement are enhanced. The mechanism responsible for the improvement is believed to be a reduction of micro-instabilities associated with the observed steepening of the density profile, initiated by a low edge plasma density (<1.0 × 10 19 m -3 ) after switching off the gas fueling. The normalized temperature and density gradients fulfil the condition for the suppression of ITG turbulence.

suppression of ITG turbulence↗

Modeling the non-grey-body thermal emission from the full moon

The present series of thermophysical computer models for solid-surfaced planetary bodies whose surface roughness is modeled as paraboloidal craters of specified depth/diameter ratio attempts to characterize the nongrey-body brightness temperature spectra of the moon and of the Galilean satellites. This modeling, in which nondiffuse radiation properties and surface roughness are included for rigorous analysis of scattered and reemitted radiation within a crater, explains to first order the behavior of both limb-scans and disk-integrated IR brightness temperature spectra for the full moon. Only negative surface relief can explain lunar thermal emissions' deviation from smooth Lambert-surface expectations.

Vogler, Karl J.↗

Investigation of biomass burning and aerosol loading and transport in South America utilizing geostationary satellites

This study attempts to assess the extent of burning and associated aerosol transport regimes in South America and the South Atlantic using geostationary satellite observations, in order to explore the possible roles of biomass burning in climate change and more directly in atmospheric chemistry and radiative transfer processes. Modeling and analysis efforts have suggested that the direct and indirect radiative effects of aerosols from biomass burning may play a major role in the radiative balance of the earth and are an important factor in climate change calculations. One of the most active regions of biomass burning is located in South America, associated with deforestation in the selva (forest), grassland management, and other agricultural practices. As part of the NASA Aerosol Interdisciplinary Program, we are utilizing GOES-7 (1988) and GOES-8 (1995) visible and multispectral infrared data (4, 11, and 12 microns) to document daily biomass burning activity in South America and to distinguish smoke/aerosols from other multi-level clouds and low-level moisture. This study catalogues the areal extent and transport of smoke/aerosols throughout the region and over the Atlantic Ocean for the 1988 (July-September) and 1995 (June-October) biomass burning seasons. The smoke/haze cover estimates are compared to the locations of fires to determine the source and verify the haze is actually associated with biomass burning activities. The temporal resolution of the GOES data (half-hourly in South America) makes it possible to determine the prevailing circulation and transport of aerosols by considering a series of visible and infrared images and tracking the motion of smoke, haze and adjacent clouds. The study area extends from 40 to 70 deg W and 0 to 40 deg S with aerosol coverage extending over the Atlantic Ocean when necessary. Fire activity is estimated with the GOES Automated Biomass Burning Algorithm (ABBA). To date, our efforts have focused on GOES-7 and GOES-8 ABBA development, algorithm development for aerosol monitoring, data acquisition and archiving, and participation in the SCAR-C and SCAR-B field programs which have provided valuable information for algorithm testing and validation. Implementation of the initial version of the GEOS-8 ABBA on case studies in North, Central, and South America has demonstrated the improved capability for monitoring diurnal fire activity and smoke/aerosol transport with the GOES-8 throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Menzel, Paul↗