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NASA NTRS2001

Enhanced Climatic Warming in the Tibetan Plateau Due to Double CO2: A Model Study

The NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) regional climate model (RegCM2) with time-dependent lateral meteorological fields provided by a 130-year transient increasing CO2 simulation of the NCAR Climate System Model (CSM) has been used to investigate the mechanism of enhanced ground temperature warming over the TP (Tibetan Plateau). From our model results, a remarkable tendency of warming increasing with elevation is found for the winter season, and elevation dependency of warming is not clearly recognized in the summer season. This simulated feature of elevation dependency of ground temperature is consistent with observations. Based on an analysis of surface energy budget, the short wave solar radiation absorbed at the surface plus downward long wave flux reaching the surface shows a strong elevation dependency, and is mostly responsible for enhanced surface warming over the TP. At lower elevations, the precipitation forced by topography is enhanced due to an increase in water vapor supply resulted from a warming in the atmosphere induced by doubling CO2. This precipitation enhancement must be associated with an increase in clouds, which results in a decline in solar flux reaching surface. At higher elevations, large snow depletion is detected in the 2xCO2run. It leads to a decrease in albedo, therefore more solar flux is absorbed at the surface. On the other hand, much more uniform increase in downward long wave flux reaching the surface is found. The combination of these effects (i.e. decrease in solar flux at lower elevations, increase in solar flux at higher elevation and more uniform increase in downward long wave flux) results in elevation dependency of enhanced ground temperature warming over the TP.

Chen, Baode↗

NASA NTRS1998

Fractal Particles: Titan's Thermal Structure and IR Opacity

Titan's haze particles are the principle opacity at solar wavelengths. Most past work in modeling these particles has assumed spherical particles. However, observational evidence strongly favors fractal shapes for the haze particles. We consider the implications of fractal particles for the thermal structure and near infrared opacity of Titan's atmosphere. We find that assuming fractal particles with the optical properties based on laboratory tholin material and with a production rate that allows for a match to the geometric albedo results in warmer troposphere and surface temperatures compared to spherical particles. In the near infrared (1-3 microns) the predicted opacity of the fractal particles is up to a factor of two less than for spherical particles. This has implications for the ability of Cassini to image Titan's surface at 1 micron.

McKay, C. P.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Photolysis Rate Coefficient Calculations in Support of SOLVE II

A quantitative understanding of photolysis rate coefficients (or "j-values") is essential to determining the photochemical reaction rates that define ozone loss and other crucial processes in the atmosphere. j-Values can be calculated with radiative transfer models, derived from actinic flux observations, or inferred from trace gas measurements. The primary objective of the present effort was the accurate calculation of j-values in the Arctic twilight along NASA DC-8 flight tracks during the second SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE II), based in Kiruna, Sweden (68 degrees N, 20 degrees E) during January-February 2003. The JHU/APL radiative transfer model was utilized to produce a large suite of j-values for photolysis processes (over 70 reactions) relevant to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. The calculations take into account the actual changes in ozone abundance and apparent albedo of clouds and the Earth surface along the aircraft flight tracks as observed by in situ and remote sensing platforms (e.g., EP-TOMS). A secondary objective was to analyze solar irradiance data from NCAR s Direct beam Irradiance Atmospheric Spectrometer (DIAS) on-board the NASA DC-8 and to start the development of a flexible, multi-species spectral fitting technique for the independent retrieval of O3,O2.02, and aerosol optical properties.

Swartz, William H.↗

NASA NTRS2014

Early On-Orbit Performance of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Onboard the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) Satellite

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is one of the key environmental remote-sensing instruments onboard the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership spacecraft, which was successfully launched on October 28, 2011 from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Following a series of spacecraft and sensor activation operations, the VIIRS nadir door was opened on November 21, 2011. The first VIIRS image acquired signifies a new generation of operational moderate resolution-imaging capabilities following the legacy of the advanced very high-resolution radiometer series on NOAA satellites and Terra and Aqua Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer for NASA's Earth Observing system. VIIRS provides significant enhancements to the operational environmental monitoring and numerical weather forecasting, with 22 imaging and radiometric bands covering wavelengths from 0.41 to 12.5 microns, providing the sensor data records for 23 environmental data records including aerosol, cloud properties, fire, albedo, snow and ice, vegetation, sea surface temperature, ocean color, and nigh-time visible-light-related applications. Preliminary results from the on-orbit verification in the postlaunch check-out and intensive calibration and validation have shown that VIIRS is performing well and producing high-quality images. This paper provides an overview of the onorbit performance of VIIRS, the calibration/validation (cal/val) activities and methodologies used. It presents an assessment of the sensor initial on-orbit calibration and performance based on the efforts from the VIIRS-SDR team. Known anomalies, issues, and future calibration efforts, including the long-term monitoring, and intercalibration are also discussed.

viirs↗

NASA NTRS2015

Comparison and Validation of FLUKA and HZETRN as Tools for Investigating the Secondary Neutron Production in Large Space Vehicles

NASA's exploration goals are focused on deep space travel and Mars surface operations. To accomplish these goals, large structures will be necessary to transport crew and logistics in the initial stages, and NASA will need to keep the crew and the vehicle safe during transport and any surface activities. One of the major challenges of deep space travel is the space radiation environment and its impacts on the crew, the electronics, and the vehicle materials. The primary radiation from the sun (solar particle events) and from outside the solar system (galactic cosmic rays) interact with materials of the vehicle. These interactions lead to some of the primary radiation being absorbed, being modified, or producing secondary radiation (primarily neutrons). With all vehicles, the high energy primary radiation is of most concern. However, with larger vehicles that have large shielding masses, there is more opportunity for secondary radiation production, and this secondary radiation can be significant enough to cause concern. When considering surface operations, there is also a secondary radiation source from the surface of the planet, known as albedo, with neutrons being one of the most significant species. Given new vehicle designs for deep space and Mars missions, the secondary radiation environment and the implications of that environment is currently not well understood. Thus, several studies are necessary to fill the knowledge gaps of this secondary radiation environment. In this paper, we put forth the initial steps to increasing our understanding of neutron production from large vehicles by comparing the neutron production resulting from our radiation transport codes and providing a preliminary validation of our results against flight data. This paper will review the details of these results and discuss the finer points of the analysis.

Rojdev, Kristina↗

NASA NTRS2016

Characterization of the High-Albedo NEA 3691 Bede

Characterization of NEAs provides important inputs to models for atmospheric entry, risk assessment and mitigation. Diameter is a key parameter because diameter translates to kinetic energy in atmospheric entry. Diameters can be derived from the absolute magnitude, H(PA=0deg), and from thermal modeling of observed IR fluxes. For both methods, the albedo (pv) is important - high pv surfaces have cooler temperatures, larger diameters for a given Hmag, and shallower phase curves (larger slope parameter G). Thermal model parameters are coupled, however, so that a higher thermal inertia also results in a cooler surface temperature. Multiple parameters contribute to constraining the diameter. Observations made at multiple observing geometries can contribute to understanding the relationships between and potentially breaking some of the degeneracies between parameters. We present data and analyses on NEA 3691 Bede with the aim of best constraining the diameter and pv from a combination of thermal modeling and light curve analyses. We employ our UKIRT+Michelle mid-IR photometric observations of 3691 Bede's thermal emission at 2 phase angles (27&43 deg 2015-03-19 & 04-13), in addition to WISE data (33deg 2010-05-27, Mainzer+2011). Observing geometries differ by solar phase angles and by moderate changes in heliocentric distance (e.g., further distances produce somewhat cooler surface temperatures). With the NEATM model and for a constant IR beaming parameter (eta=constant), there is a family of solutions for (diameter, pv, G, eta) where G is the slope parameter from the H-G Relation. NEATM models employing Pravec+2012's choice of G=0.43, produce D=1.8 km and pv≈0.4, given that G=0.43 is assumed from studies of main belt asteroids (Warner+2009). We present an analysis of the light curve of 3691 Bede to constrain G from observations. We also investigate fitting thermophysical models (TPM, Rozitis+11) to constrain the coupled parameters of thermal inertia (Gamma) and surface roughness, which in turn affect diameter and pv. Surface composition can be related to pv. This study focuses on understanding and characterizing the dependency of parameters with the aim of constraining diameter, pv and thermal inertia for 3691 Bede.

Wooden, Diane H.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Laser Pulse Bidirectional Reflectance from CALIPSO Mission

In this Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) study, we present a simple way of determining laser pulse bidirectional reflectance over snow/ice surface using the Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) 532 nanometer polarization channels' measurements. The saturated laser pulse returns from snow and ice surfaces are recovered based on surface tail information. The method overview and initial assessment of the method performance will be presented. The retrieved snow surface bidirectional reflectance is compared with reflectance from both CALIOP cloud cover regions and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (Earth Observing System (EOS)) (MODIS) Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) / Albedo model parameters. The comparisons show that the snow surface bidirectional reflectance over Antarctica for saturation region are generally reliable with a mean value of about 0.90 plus or minus 0.10, while the mean surface reflectance from cloud cover region is about 0.84 plus or minus 0.13 and the calculated MODIS reflectance at 555 nanometers from the BRDF / Albedo model with near nadir illumination and viewing angles is about 0.96 plus or minus 0.04. The comparisons here demonstrate that the snow surface reflectance underneath the cloud with cloud optical depth of about 1 is significantly lower than that for a clear sky condition.

Lu, Xiaomei↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

MISR Level 2 Surface parameters (MIL2ASLS_V1)

The Land Surface data include bihemispherical and directional-hemispherical reflectances (albedo), hemispherical directional and bidirectional reflectance factors (BRF), BRF model parameters, leaf-area index (LAI), fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) on a 1.1 km grid. The land surface data include hemispherical directional reflectance factor, bihemispherical reflectance (i.e., albedo), bidirectional reflectance factor, directional hemispherical reflectance, BRF model parameters, FPAR, and terrain-referenced view and illumination angles. [Location=GLOBAL LAND] [Temporal_Coverage: Start_Date=2000-02-24; Stop_Date=] [Spatial_Coverage: Southernmost_Latitude=-90; Northernmost_Latitude=90; Westernmost_Longitude=-180; Easternmost_Longitude=180] [Data_Resolution: Latitude_Resolution=1.1 km - 17.6 km; Longitude_Resolution=1.1 km - 17.6 km; Horizontal_Resolution_Range=1 km - < 10 km or approximately .01 degree - < .09 degree; Temporal_Resolution=about 15 orbits/day].

DIRECTIONAL HEMISPHERICAL REFLECTANCE↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

MISR Level 2 Surface parameters (MIL2ASLS_V2)

BIDIRECTIONAL REFLECTANCE FACTOR↗

NASA NTRS1998

Titania and Oberon: Surface Composition from New Near-Infrared Observations and Reflectance Models

Here we report the combination of new near-ir spectra (1.45-2.48 micrometers), of Titania and Oberon obtained in September 1995 at a resolving power of approx. 800, with older near-ir observations (0.5- 1.44 micrometers), and recent UV (0.22-0.48 micrometers) observations obtained with HST. Previous interpretations suggest these surfaces are chiefly composed of water ice and varying amounts of spectrally neutral material. The new near-ir data provide the opportunity to search for absorption bands that could be attributable to surface materials other than water ice and because the combined spectra include such a broad wavelength region, to undertake improved models of water and neutral components on the surface. The calculated near-ir geometric albedos clearly exhibit three broad spectral features. Two (1.52- & 2.05 micrometer) have previously been used to demonstrate the presence of water ice on these satellites. The third (approx. 1.65 micrometer), suggests the presence of hexagonal water ice at low temperatures, and may provide a mechanism of estimating the surface temperature. There is no spectral evidence for ices of CO2, CO, NH3 or CH4. At UV wavelengths there is a broad absorption near 0.27-0.28 micrometer previously attributed to OH formed by magnetospheric-surface interactions and retained at the low surface temperatures of these satellites. Surface components used in a Hapke scattering models include values for a combination of irradiated water ice in the UV and hexagonal water ice at 100k in the near-ir (IR), amorphous carbon (AC), and tholins (T) (produced from gas and solid). Results of these models suggest the surfaces of Titania/Oberon are composed of IW (-77/52%) with AC the next most abundant component (approx. 19/52%) and finally T (approx. 4/7%).

Roush, Ted L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The bare nucleus of comet Neujmin 1

Simultaneous visible and infrared observations of comet P/Neujmin 1 1984c are presented which show that the comet has a large (mean radius 10 km), dark (geometric albedo 2-3 percent) nucleus with a surface which is mostly inert material but which still shows a low level of gaseous activity. This is the first physical evidence that cometary nuclei can leave behind an inert body after the coma activity ceases. No asteroid or asteroid class has been found to match the reflectance and albedo of this comet except possibly some D asteroids.

Campins, Humberto↗

NASA NTRS1989

The impact of summer rainfall on the temperature gradient along the United States-Mexico border

The international border running through the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona and northern Sonora is marked by a sharp discontinuity in albedo and grass cover. The observed differences in surface properties are a result of long-term, severe overgrazing of the Mexican lands. Recently, investigators have shown the Mexican side of the border to have higher surface and air temperatures when compared to adjacent areas in the United State. The differences in temperatures appear to be more associated with differential evapotranspiration rates than with albedo changes along the border. In this study, the impact of summer rainfall on the observed seasonal and daily gradient in maximum temperature is examined. On a seasonal time scale, the temperature gradient increases with higher moisture levels, probably due to a vegetative response on the United States' side of the border; at the daily level, the gradient in maximum temperature decreases after a rain event as evaporation rates equalize between the countries. The results suggest that temperature differences between vegetated and overgrazed landscapes in arid areas are highly dependent upon the amount of moisture available for evapotranspiration.

Balling, Robert C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1994

K'-band observations of the evil eye galaxy: Are the optical and near-infrared dust albedos identical?

New measurements of the reduction of the V-band surface brightness across the prominent dust feature in the galaxy NGC 4826 are compared with corresponding increases in the V-K' color within the context of radiative transfer models invoking both absorption and scattering. The K'-band surface brightness is found to be higher than expected from standard dust models. We interpret the difference as resulting from a high effective dust albedo at K', with a likely value in excess of 0.8, provided the near-IR extinction curve in NGC 4826 is identical to the Galactic one. The high effective albedo may result from scattering by dust with a maximum grain size at least twice as large as assumed by standard models, a conclusion already indirectly hinted at by recent studies of dust star-forming regions and reflection nebulae. At least part of the high effective albedo at K' may result from near-IR nonequilibrium continuum emission attributable to very small grains.

Witt, Adolf N.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Microstructure and particulate properties of the surfaces of Io and Ganymede - Comparison with other solar system bodies

The phase curves of Io and Ganymede between 0 and 40 deg solar phase angle have been compiled from Voyager photopolarimeter and ground-based observations. Modeling the data with the Lumme-Bowell theory made it possible to determine improved estimates of the surface texture and particulate properties. Accurate V-band zero-phase geometric albedos, phase integrals, and Bond albedos are also obtained. The properties of the particles on Io's surface appear to be different from those of other solar system objects whose surfaces are totally controlled by impact cratering processes. Sulfur and SO2 frost, previously identified by spectral analysis, seem to exist in a physical form not commonly found on earth. The agglomeration of volcanic ash into aggregates on Io's surface is postulated.

Pang, K. D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Daily temperature variations on Mars

It is noted that for approximately 32% of the Martian surface area no values of thermal inertia or albedo can fit the thermal observations. These temperature anomalies do not correlate with elevation, geologic units, morphology, or atmospheric dust content. All regions having a Lambert albedo less than 0.18 can be well fit with the standard thermal model, but all areas with albedo greater than 0.28 are anomalous. A strong inverse correlation is seen between the magnitude of the anomaly and the thermal inertia. This correlation is seen as indicating that some surface property is responsible for the anomaly. In the anomalous region the temperatures are observed to be warmer in the morning and cooler late in the afternoon and to decrease more slowly during the night than the Viking model temperatures. It is believed that of all the physical processes likely to occur on Mars but not included in the Viking thermal model, only a layered soil can explain the observations. A possible explanation of the layering deduced from the infrared thermal mapper observations is a layer of aeolian deposited dust about one thermal skin depth thick (1 to 4 cm), covering a duricrust.

Ditteon, R.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Results and interpretation of measurements of the light flux in the near-surface layer of the Venusian atmosphere

The characteristics of the field of radiation in the near surface layer of the atmosphere and on the surface of Venus are reported. Optical measurements made during the landing of the descent vehicles are described. The relief of the surface and the amount of dust on it are examined. The spectral relationship of the albedo of the soil and the light flux incident on the surface is discussed.

Golovin, Y. M.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Bright is the New Black - Multi-Year Performance of Generic High-Albedo Roofs in an Urban Climate

High-albedo white and cool roofing membranes are recognized as a fundamental strategy that dense urban areas can deploy on a large scale, at low cost, to mitigate the urban heat island effect. We are monitoring three generic white membranes within New York City that represent a cross-section of the dominant white membrane options for U.S. flat roofs: (1) an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber membrane; (2) a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membrane and; (3) an asphaltic multi-ply built-up membrane coated with white elastomeric acrylic paint. The paint product is being used by New York City s government for the first major urban albedo enhancement program in its history. We report on the temperature and related albedo performance of these three membranes at three different sites over a multi-year period. The results indicate that the professionally installed white membranes are maintaining their temperature control effectively and are meeting the Energy Star Cool Roofing performance standards requiring a three-year aged albedo above 0.50. The EPDM membrane however shows evidence of low emissivity. The painted asphaltic surface shows high emissivity but lost about half of its initial albedo within two years after installation. Given that the acrylic approach is an important "do-it-yourself," low-cost, retrofit technique, and, as such, offers the most rapid technique for increasing urban albedo, further product performance research is recommended to identify conditions that optimize its long-term albedo control. Even so, its current multi-year performance still represents a significant albedo enhancement for urban heat island mitigation.

Gaffin, S. R.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Performance Tests of Snow-Related Variables Over the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas Using a New Version of NASA GEOS-5 Land Surface Model that Includes the Snow Darkening Effect

The snow darkening effect, i.e. the reduction of snow albedo, is caused by absorption of solar radiation by absorbing aerosols (dust, black carbon, and organic carbon) deposited on the snow surface. This process is probably important over Himalayan and Tibetan glaciers due to the transport of highly polluted Atmospheric Brown Cloud (ABC) from the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). This effect has been incorporated into the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System model, version 5 (GEOS-5) atmospheric transport model. The Catchment land surface model (LSM) used in GEOS-5 considers 3 snow layers. Code was developed to track the mass concentration of aerosols in the three layers, taking into account such processes as the flushing of the compounds as liquid water percolates through the snowpack. In GEOS-5, aerosol emissions, transports, and depositions are well simulated in the Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GO CART) module; we recently made the connection between GOCART and the GEOS-5 system fitted with the revised LSM. Preliminary simulations were performed with this new system in "replay" mode (i.e., with atmospheric dynamics guided by reanalysis) at 2x2.5 degree horizontal resolution, covering the period 1 November 2005 - 31 December 2009; we consider the final three years of simulation here. The three simulations used the following variants of the LSM: (1) the original Catchment LSM with a fixed fresh snowfall density of 150 kg m-3 ; (2) the LSM fitted with the new snow albedo code, used here without aerosol deposition but with changes in density formulation and melting water effect on snow specific surface area, (3) the LSM fitted with the new snow albedo code as same as (2) but with fixed aerosol deposition rates (computed from GOCART values averaged over the Tibetan Plateau domain [Ion.: 60-120E; lat.: 20-50N] during March-May 2008) applied to all grid points at every time step. For (2) and (3), the same setting on the fresh snowfall density as in (1) was used.

Yasunari, Tppei J.↗