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At least 901 records · Page 50

Tropospheric range-rate tracking data correction

A formula for correcting the tropospheric error in range-rate satellite tracking data is given. The formula is based on the method which was used to obtain corrections for elevation-angle and range data. In addition, an improved method is given for calculating some of the parameters required in the correction formulas.

Marini, J. W.↗

Correction of satellite tracking data for an arbitrary tropospheric profile.

A procedure is given for deriving elevation-error and range-error correction equations in a form suitable for use in the rapid processing of satellite tracking data. The refractivity of the troposphere is assumed to have spherical symmetry, but may have any given profile that does not depart greatly from standard. When the procedure was tested for numerical accuracy by application to an exponential profile, the corrections calculated agreed with those obtained by ray tracing to 0.3% or better over a range of surface refractivity from 200 to 450 and a range of radiowave arrival angles from horizontal to vertical.

Marini, J. W.↗

Tropospheric refraction effects on satellite range measurements.

A model for predicting the atmospheric effect for earth-to-orbit range or range-rate measurements is described. The model treats the dry and wet components of refractivity (N) as different functions of its surface value and of height above the earth. It provides a zenith integral of the dry component that is consistent with the equation for the zenith range effect in dry air. For low angle use, it gives a reasonable approximation of observed N profiles. The use of the model is discussed, and data and computed positions without and with a correction for the troposphere are presented.

Hopfield, H. S.↗

Spectral structure of tropospheric vertical temperature profiles over Cape Kennedy, Florida.

Recent Jimsphere/Jimsonde measurements of tropospheric temperature profile spectra in the wavelength band from 50 to 2000 meters above the atmospheric boundary layer, taken over Cape Kennedy, Florida, are summarized. The results suggest that the spectra can be represented in the nondimensional form (omega sub g/sigma sub w)phi(k)/sigma sub T squared = S(K), where phi(k) is the temperature profile spectrum at wave number k, omega sub g is the Brunt-Vasala frequency, sigma sub w and sigma sub T denote the standard deviations of the vertical velocity and temperature profiles, and S is a universal function of nondimensional wave number K = k sigma sub w/omega sub g.

Fichtl, G. H.↗

A simplified scheme for computing radiation transfer in the troposphere

A scheme is presented, for the heating of clear and cloudy air by solar and infrared radiation transfer, designed for use in tropospheric general circulation models with coarse vertical resolution. A bulk transmission function is defined for the infrared transfer. The interpolation factors, required for computing the bulk transmission function, are parameterized as functions of such physical parameters as the thickness of the layer, the pressure, and the mixing ratio at a reference level. The computation procedure for solar radiation is significantly simplified by the introduction of two basic concepts. The first is that the solar radiation spectrum can be divided into a scattered part, for which Rayleigh scattering is significant but absorption by water vapor is negligible, and an absorbed part for which absorption by water vapor is significant but Rayleigh scattering is negligible. The second concept is that of an equivalent cloud water vapor amount which absorbs the same amount of radiation as the cloud.

Katayama, A.↗

A photochemical theory of tropospheric ozone

We present a photochemical theory for tropospheric ozone in which the methane oxidation chain constitutes a large local source. This source produces about one trillion odd oxygen molecules per square centimeter per second and implies a photochemical lifetime for ozone of about 1 day, much shorter than characteristic mixing times. The photochemical model reproduces the altitude and seasonal dependence of ozone at 30 deg N. It also gives qualitative agreement with observed day-to-day variations of the ozone density.

Chameides, W.↗

The vertical distribution of soluble gases in the troposphere

The thermodynamic properties of several water-soluble gases are reviewed to determine the likely effect of the atmospheric water cycle on their vertical profiles. It is found that gaseous HCl, HNO3, and HBr are sufficiently soluble in water to suggest that their vertical profiles in the troposphere have a similar shape to that of water vapor. It is predicted that HCl, HNO3, and HBr exhibit a steep negative gradient with altitude roughly equal to the altitude gradient of water vapor. Therefore, ground-based sources of inorganic chlorine, odd nitrogen, and inorganic bromine compounds are not likely to affect the stratosphere directly in the mean. Calculations also show that while SO2 and NH3 are significantly affected by the atmospheric water cycle, their abundances may not decrease with altitude as rapidly as does that of water vapor.

Stedman, D. H.↗

A chemical model of the troposphere and stratosphere

A time-dependent, one-dimensional model of the coupled chemistry and vertical mixing of the atmosphere is used to compute the distribution for many atmospheric constituents of the troposphere and stratosphere. The model treats the photochemistry of the carbon-hydrogen-oxygen-nitrogen system and is (with the exception of H2O) self-consistent in the sense of requiring no assumptions regarding minor constituent distributions.

Stewart, R. W.↗

A single field of view method for retrieving tropospheric temperature profiles from cloud-contaminated radiance data

An iterative method is presented to retrieve single field of view (FOV) tropospheric temperature profiles directly from cloud-contaminated radiance data. A well-defined temperature profile may be calculated from the radiative transfer equation (RTE) for a partly cloudy atmosphere when the average fractional cloud amount and cloud-top height for the FOV are known. A cloud model is formulated to calculate the fractional cloud amount from an estimated cloud-top height. The method is then examined through use of simulated radiance data calculated through vertical integration of the RTE for a partly cloudy atmosphere using known values of cloud-top height(s) and fractional cloud amount(s). Temperature profiles are retrieved from the simulated data assuming various errors in the cloud parameters. Temperature profiles are retrieved from NOAA-4 satellite-measured radiance data obtained over an area dominated by an active cold front and with considerable cloud cover and compared with radiosonde data. The effects of using various guessed profiles and the number of iterations are considered.

Hodges, D. B.↗

Spectroscopic detection and vertical distribution of HCl in the troposphere and stratosphere

HCl has been observed in both the troposphere and stratosphere from ground-based and airborne spectroscopic measurements of the 1-0 band at 3-micron wavelength. The results, which are specific to the HCl molecule in the gas phase, show a decreasing mixing ratio with altitude in the lower stratosphere. The stratospheric layer, which commences at about 15 km, reaches its maximum concentration at an altitude above 21 km (the limiting height of the observations to date). The local value for the volume mixing ratio at 21 km is 7 + or - 1 times 10 to the minus 10th. However, the zenith column abundance observed above 21 km implies that the mixing ratios at greater altitudes are unlikely to reach values much in excess of the local value at 21 km.

Farmer, C. B.↗

Curvature of the wind profile in the troposphere versus regions of CAT and non-CAT in the stratosphere

A discussion of the theoretical importance of the curvature of the wind profile to the amplitude of mountain waves is presented. Mechanisms favorable for clear air turbulence (CAT) are discussed in relation to such wave motions. It is shown that CAT encountered by the XB-70 aircraft in the stratosphere during expected mountain-wave conditions is related to the vertical gradient of curvature of the wind profile in the troposphere. Results indicate that 89% of the turbulent regions in the stratosphere occurred in expected mountain-wave areas and that 79% were located where the vertical gradient of curvature was positive in the 10-30,000 ft layer below. For the nonturbulent regions, 74% were outside expected mountain-wave areas and 98% of these occurred where the vertical gradient of curvature was negative. All the nonturbulent regions within expected mountain-wave areas occurred where the vertical gradient of curvature was negative.

Possiel, N.↗

Radiative transfer within the earth's troposphere and stratosphere - A simplified radiative-convective model

A radiative transfer model of the troposphere and stratosphere is presented which includes both long-wave cooling and solar heating due to H2O, CO2 and O3 and has a simplified formulation which facilitates the inclusion of Doppler broadening, H2O continuum bands, hot and minor isotopic bands of CO2, and overlap of H2O bands with CO2 and O3 bands. The radiative model is used to develop an accurate radiative-convective model for studying the global surface temperature, stratospheric thermal structure and the net outgoing long-wave flux.

Ramanathan, V.↗

Evaluation of upwelling infrared radiance from the earth's troposphere

Basic equations for calculating the upwelling atmospheric radiance are presented. Theoretical formulation of the transmittance models (line-by-line and quasi-random band) and computational procedures for the evaluation of transmittance and radiance are discussed. This information is useful in the interpretation of the data obtained from measuring gaseous pollutants in the troposphere.

Tiwari, S. N.↗

A computer simulation of the afterburning processes occurring within solid rocket motor plumes in the troposphere

As part of a continuing study of the environmental effects of solid rocket motor (SRM) operations in the troposphere, a numerical model was used to simulate the afterburning processes occurring in solid rocket motor plumes and to predict the quantities of potentially harmful chemical species which are created. The calculations include the effects of finite-rate chemistry and turbulent mixing. It is found that the amount of NO produced is much less than the amount of HCl present in the plume, that chlorine will appear predominantly in the form of HCl although some molecular chlorine is present, and that combustion is complete as is evident from the predominance of carbon dioxide over carbon monoxide.

Gomberg, R. I.↗

An investigation of the temporal character of mesoscale perturbations in the troposphere and stratosphere

The effectiveness of mesoscale models in explaining perturbations observed in vertical detailed wind profile measurements in the troposphere and lower stratosphere is assessed. The structure and persistence of the data were analyzed and interpreted in terms of several physical models with the goal of establishing explanations for the observed persistent features of the mesoscale flow patterns. The experimental data used in the investigation were obtained by a unique detailed wind profile measurement system. This system is capable of providing resolution of 50 to 100 m wavelengths for the altitude region from approximately 200 m to 18 km. The system consists of a high-resolution tracking radar and special super-pressure balloon configuration known as a Jimsphere.

Vaughan, W. W.↗

Modification of the DSN radio frequency angular tropospheric refraction model

The previously derived DSN Radio Frequency Angular Tropospheric Refraction Model contained an assumption which was subsequently seen to be at a variance with the theoretical basis of angular refraction. The modification necessary to correct the model is minor in that the value of a constant is changed.

Berman, A. L.↗