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At least 955 records · Page 53
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NASA NTRS2018

Investigations of Hail Damage Swaths Using Various Satellite Remote Sensing Platforms

Severe thunderstorms that bring damaging winds and large hail can cause significant damage to agricultural crops. Severe thunderstorms can cause upwards of several hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to agricultural areas. Formal ground surveys are not conducted on these areas of damage, like they are for suspected tornado damaged areas. IF ground surveys were conducted, they would likely be time and resources consuming due to their large spatial extent. Satellite remote sensing has been frequently used in identification and analysis of these hail damage swaths. Previous analysis have looked at the simple change in damaged vegetation to looking at the damage areas in satellite imagery with varying spatial resolutions. One study has even looked at the impacts that these damage swaths can have on the land surface, associated fluxes and how they affect numerical weather prediction. Previous studies have focused on using optical remote (VIS, NIR, SWIR) sensing instruments and derived indices, such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for analysis. NDVI is used to monitor the health (greenness) of the vegetation. Optical sensors however are limited by sky conditions over the areas they are imaging and certain bands are further limited by the diurnal cycle. These limitations can lead to sometimes upwards of 7 to 10 day gaps of the surface not being imaged, especially during the height of summer convection. One way to obtain more views of the surface, regardless of the sky conditions or time of day is through the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR). SAR sensors are active instruments that transmit in the microwave portion of the EM spectrum. The surface and its characteristics will determine the amount of energy scattered back to the sensor. The SAR sensors then measure amplitude and phase of wavelength coming back from surface.

Bell, Jordan R.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Twenty Years of Terra MODIS Spectral Performance using the Spectro-Radiometric Calibration Assembly

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on-board the Terra spacecraft has provided valuable Earth data to the science community for the last 20 years. Equipped with several on-board calibrators (OBCs), MODIS has continued to operate nominally since its launch in December 1999. The Spectro-Radiometric Calibration Assembly (SRCA) is one such OBC that is able to provide on-orbit measurements of the MODIS reflective solar bands (RSBs) in radiometric, spatial and spectral modes. While the SRCA is operating in spectral mode, it is able to monitor the center wavelength (CW), bandwidth (BW) and in-band relative spectral response (RSR) of most RSBs. Prelaunch measurements of the CWs, BWs and RSRs of the RSBs were performed at the system level using the Spectral measurement Assembly (SpMA). Using both the prelaunch measurements and the measurements obtained on-orbit using the SRCA, the changes in the spectral response of the MODIS reflective bands can be monitored throughout the mission. This paper will provide a brief description of the spectral calibration approach and report on-orbit changes in these spectral performance parameters and their uncertainties over the last 20 years. It will also address changes to the SRCA operation on-orbit and their impact on measured spectral calibration results. Despite two decades in orbit, the spectral responses for most Terra MODIS reflective bands continue to remain within their design specifications.

MODIS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

2020 Wildfire Plumes Observed by Satellite and Ground Sensors at San Francisco Bay

The main purpose of this research is to study the spreading of the 2020 wildfire plumes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Last year’s fire plumes have caused severe impact on regional air quality and public health over large part of the west coast. We studied fire plumes with two datasets: aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrieved from MODIS sensor onboard two NASA satellites (Terra and Aqua), and surface PM2.5 measurements from US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Satellite can monitor fire plumes from a top-down view, including active fire location, emission amount, spreading of the fire plume in both horizontal and vertical directions. EPA records air quality using the ground network of in-situ sensors. In general, the two points of view are consistent with each other. But in the peak of the 2020 fire season, we found an episode where the AOD and PM2.5 are out-of-phase for two days, in addition data from NASA satellite AERONET was use to corroborate AOD information for the episode, yielding similar results. Thereafter, we explored the possible mechanism for this shift with available meteorological measurements, including both ground measurements and sounding data. By tracking the evolution of the sounding data, we concluded a heated near surface inversion layer might shield the region from aloft fire plumes for two days before they touch down and severely downgraded the air quality over the whole Bay area.

Hazem Mahmoud↗
NASA NTRS2016

Impact of Scattering Model on Disdrometer Derived Attenuation Scaling

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) are currently entering the third year of a joint propagation study in Milan, Italy utilizing the 20 and 40 GHz beacons of the Alphasat TDP#5 Aldo Paraboni scientific payload. The Ka- and Q-band beacon receivers were installed at the POLIMI campus in June of 2014 and provide direct measurements of signal attenuation at each frequency. Collocated weather instrumentation provides concurrent measurement of atmospheric conditions at the receiver; included among these weather instruments is a Thies Clima Laser Precipitation Monitor (optical disdrometer) which records droplet size distributions (DSD) and droplet velocity distributions (DVD) during precipitation events. This information can be used to derive the specific attenuation at frequencies of interest and thereby scale measured attenuation data from one frequency to another. Given the ability to both predict the 40 gigahertz attenuation from the disdrometer and the 20 gigahertz time-series as well as to directly measure the 40 gigahertz attenuation with the beacon receiver, the Milan terminal is uniquely able to assess these scaling techniques and refine the methods used to infer attenuation from disdrometer data. In order to derive specific attenuation from the DSD, the forward scattering coefficient must be computed. In previous work, this has been done using the Mie scattering model, however, this assumes a spherical droplet shape. The primary goal of this analysis is to assess the impact of the scattering model and droplet shape on disdrometer-derived attenuation predictions by comparing the use of the Mie scattering model to the use of the T-matrix method, which does not assume a spherical droplet. In particular, this paper will investigate the impact of these two scattering approaches on the error of the resulting predictions as well as on the relationship between prediction error and rain rate.

Radio Transmission↗
NASA NTRS2006

Tropospheric and stratospheric ozone from assimilation of Aura data

Ozone is an atmospheric trace gas with multiple impacts on the environment. Global ozone fields are needed for air quality predictions, estimation of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface, climate-radiation studies, and may also have an impact on longer-term weather predictions. We estimate global ozone fields in the stratosphere and troposphere by combining the data from EOS Aura satellite with an ozone model using data assimilation. Ozone exhibits a large temporal variability in the lower stratosphere. Our previous work showed that assimilation of satellite data from limb-sounding geometry helps constrain ozone profiles in that region. We assimilated ozone data from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) into the ozone system at NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO). Ozone is transported within a general circulation model (GCM) which includes parameterizations for stratospheric photochemistry, tropospheric chemistry, and a simple scheme for heterogeneous ozone loss. The focus of this study is on the representation of ozone in the lower stratosphere and tropospheric ozone columns. We plan to extend studies of tropospheric ozone distribution through assimilation of ozone data from the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES). Comparisons with ozone sondes and occultation data show that assimilation of Aura data reproduces ozone gradients and variability in the lower stratosphere well. We proceed by separating the contributions to temporal changes in the ozone field into those that are due to the model and those that are due to the assimilation of Aura data. The impacts of Aura data are illustrated and their role in the representation of ozone variability in the lower stratosphere and troposphere is shown.

Stajner, I.↗
NASA NTRS2016

A Space-based, High-resolution View of Notable Changes in Urban Nox Pollution Around the World (2005 - 2014)

Nitrogen oxides (NOxNO+NO2) are produced during combustion processes and, thus may serve as a proxy for fossil fuel-based energy usage and committed greenhouse gases and other pollutants. We use high-resolution nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to analyze changes in urban NO2 levels around the world from 2005 to 2014, finding complex heterogeneity in the changes. We discuss several potential factors that seem to determine these NOx changes. First, environmental regulations resulted in large decreases. The only large increases in the United States may be associated with three areas of intensive energy activity. Second, elevated NO2 levels were observed over many Asian, tropical, and subtropical cities that experienced rapid economic growth. Two of the largest increases occurred over recently expanded petrochemical complexes in Jamnagar (India) and Daesan (Korea). Third, pollution transport from China possibly influenced the Republic of Korea and Japan, diminishing the impact of local pollution controls. However, in China, there were large decreases over Beijing, Shanghai, and the Pearl River Delta, which were likely associated with local emission control efforts. Fourth, civil unrest and its effect on energy usage may have resulted in lower NO2 levels in Libya, Iraq, and Syria. Fifth, spatial heterogeneity within several megacities may reflect mixed efforts to cope with air quality degradation. We also show the potential of high-resolution data for identifying NOx emission sources in regions with a complex mix of sources. Intensive monitoring of the world's tropical subtropical megacities will remain a priority, as their populations and emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases are expected to increase significantly.

spatial heterogeneity↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Field Campaign to Study Lightning that Ignites the Bush

The impact of recent wildland fires in the United States and Australia have received much attention in the past several years. As a result, NASA has developed a new Earth Science program to better understand, predict, and manage this phenomenon, as well as a future suborbital mission to studying pyro-cumulonimbus clouds and their effects on the Earth system. In Australia, government and philanthropic stakeholders are supporting a series of field campaigns over the next few years to inform science requirements and advance technology for a future satellite mission to monitor Bushfires. Lightning flashes are a major source of wildland fires, but uncertainties remain about the physical characteristics of lightning and their parent thunderstorms responsible for igniting wildfires. It was long believed that most lightning-ignited wildfires are largely caused by positive flashes to the ground (CGs) and multi-stroke CGs, but a recent study looking at 26-years of NLDN data indicate otherwise. Perhaps this finding is due to statistical chance—there are more negative CGs that occur globally—or perhaps there is some unknown electrical property of the thundercloud from which the igniting flashes emanate. Regardless, new observing strategies are needed. Additionally, long continuing current CGs, which are more likely to ignite a fire, can elude detection by operational ground-based lightning location systems, making it difficult to efficiently identify potential wildland fires and manage them before they have adverse impacts. To address these science and operational gaps, NASA’s Lightning Mapping Array along with electric and magnetic field change meters will be deployed for the Australian Bushfire campaign to document the electrical structure and properties of thunderstorms and lightning that occur in a wildland fire susceptible region. Another aspect of the campaign will be the use of NASA’s airborne lightning observatory, which includes a spectrometer and high-speed imager, to document the radiometric attributes of these flashes coincident with the ground-based RF observations. These observations will be used to better understand the properties of lightning that ignite wildland fires as well as inform design of a lightning detection system for the future Bushfire Monitoring satellite mission.

lightning↗
NASA NTRS2022

3-D Atmospheric Modeling of the Global Budget of N2O and its Isotopologues for 1980-2019: The Impact of Anthropogenic Emissions

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the third most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) and a major ozone-depleting substance (ODS). Its main sources include anthropogenic activities (mostly agriculture) and natural emissions from ocean and soils. However, emission estimates for individual sources are highly variable due to uncertainties in N2O lifetime estimates and partitioning among sources. We derive annual global N2O emissions for 1990-2019 using NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) surface N2O observations and the N2O lifetime calculated in the NASA GEOS-5 chemistry climate model (CCM). The inferred global mean N2O emissions has gradually increased from ~15.8 TgN/yr in the early 1990s to ~17.8 TgN/yr in the 2010s. This implies that anthropogenic N2O emissions have grown rapidly from ~6.7 TgN/yr in the 1990s to about ~8.7 TgN/yr in the 2010s, a ~30% increase. With specially designed N2O isotopic tracers in 3-D GEOSCCM, we estimate that, on global average, stratospheric enrichment contributes about +7.7‰/yr, +7.6‰/yr, +8.0‰/yr to tropospheric N(sup α)-δ(sup 15), N(sup β)-δ(sup 15), and O-δ(sup 18) budget, respectively. To balance the global mean isotopic signature for pre-industrial terrestrial sources of N(sup α)-δ(sup 15) ~ 6.7‰, N(sup β)-δ(sup 15) ~ -12.6‰, O-δ(sup 18) ~ 35.4‰, our 3-D isotopic budget simulation using the GEOSCCM suggests global mean anthropogenic isotopic signatures in the recent decades are N(sup α)-δ(sup 15) ~ -18‰, N(sup β)-δ(sup 15) ~ -20‰, O-δ(sup 18) ~ 19‰. These anthropogenic isotopic estimates are significantly lighter than results from one-box atmospheric model-based estimates with the largest difference seen for N(sup β)-δ(sup 15). More surface isotopic measurements are needed to better quantify the N2O isotopic signatures.

Nitrous oxide↗
NASA NTRS1991

HYMOSS signal processing for pushbroom spectral imaging

The objective of the Pushbroom Spectral Imaging Program was to develop on-focal plane electronics which compensate for detector array non-uniformities. The approach taken was to implement a simple two point calibration algorithm on focal plane which allows for offset and linear gain correction. The key on focal plane features which made this technique feasible was the use of a high quality transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and an analog-to-digital converter for each detector channel. Gain compensation is accomplished by varying the feedback capacitance of the integrate and dump TIA. Offset correction is performed by storing offsets in a special on focal plane offset register and digitally subtracting the offsets from the readout data during the multiplexing operation. A custom integrated circuit was designed, fabricated, and tested on this program which proved that nonuniformity compensated, analog-to-digital converting circuits may be used to read out infrared detectors. Irvine Sensors Corporation (ISC) successfully demonstrated the following innovative on-focal-plane functions that allow for correction of detector non-uniformities. Most of the circuit functions demonstrated on this program are finding their way onto future IC's because of their impact on reduced downstream processing, increased focal plane performance, simplified focal plane control, reduced number of dewar connections, as well as the noise immunity of a digital interface dewar. The potential commercial applications for this integrated circuit are primarily in imaging systems. These imaging systems may be used for: security monitoring systems, manufacturing process monitoring, robotics, and for spectral imaging when used in analytical instrumentation.

Ludwig, David E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

LET spectra of fragmented 600-MeV/A iron beam on aluminum and polyethylene: A preliminary analysis

An iron beam experiment recently conducted at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Bevalac by Benton et al. provides an opportunity for verifying the new Green's function computer code (GRNTRN) and assessing the related nuclear database. The iron beam with 600 MeV/A at extraction traversed a series of beam transport elements, lead foil, and several triggering devices before impacting the target. Of these, only the 2.24 g/sq cm lead foil and target are considered in the transport analysis with an assumed (inferred from calibration) beam energy of 557 MeV/A. A thin layer of CR-39 plastic nuclear track detector (PNTD) was placed in front of the target to monitor the incident flux and a stack of four PNTD's placed behind to measure the linear energy transfer (LET) distribution of the transported beam. Test data are analyzed for three separate targets: 2 g/sq cm aluminum, 5-cm polyethylene, and 8-cm polyethylene. The two-layer GRNTRN results were mapped into the detector response function for comparison with the measured LET spectra. Reasonable agreement is obtained. Future research and analysis can be improved by using a more accurate isotope set or including other important media which significantly alter the beam. The assumption that the fragmentation cross sections are too small for aluminum is inconclusive because the production of fragments by 2 g/sq cm aluminum can be more significantly affected by the fragment contribution originating from the media in front of the target than that currently considered in the analysis.

Shinn, Judy L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The integrated sounding system: Description and preliminary observations from TOGA COARE

An Integrated Sounding System (ISS) that combines state-of-the-art remote and in situ sensors into a single transportable facility has been developed jointly by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the Aeronomy Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA/AL). The instrumentation for each ISS includes a 915-MHz wind profiler, a Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS), an Omega-based NAVAID sounding system, and an enhanced surface meteorological station. The general philosophy behind the ISS is that the integration of various measurement systems overcomes each system's respective limitations while taking advantage of its positive attributes. The individual observing systems within the ISS provide high-level data products to a central workstation that manages and integrates these measurements. The ISS software package performs a wide range of functions: real-time data acquisition, database support, and graphical displays; data archival and communications; and operational and posttime analysis. The first deployment of the ISS consists of six sites in the western tropical Pacific--four land-based deployments and two ship-based deployments. The sites serve the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) of the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere (TOGA) program and TOGA's enhanced atmospheric monitoring effort. Examples of ISS data taken during this deployment are shown in order to demonstrate the capabilities of this new sounding system and to demonstrate the performance of these in situ and remote sensing instruments in a moist tropical environment. In particular, a strong convective outflow with a pronounced impact of the atmospheric boundary layer and heat fluxes from the ocean surface was examined with a shipboard ISS. If these strong outflows commonly occur, they may prove to be an important component of the surface energy budget of the western tropical Pacific.

Parsons, David↗
NASA NTRS2003

Shared Knowledge for Decision-making on Environment and Health Issues in the Arctic

This paper will describe a remote sensing and GIs-based system to bring indigenous traditional knowledge together with contemporary scientific knowledge to address impacts resulting from changes in climate, environment, weather and pollution in the Arctic. As scientists and policy-makers from both indigenous and non-indigenous communities continue to build closer partnerships to address common sustainability issues such as the health impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities, it becomes increasingly important to create shared information management systems which integrate all relevant factors for optimal information sharing and decision-making. This system is being designed to bring together remotely sensed, indigenous and other data and observations for analysis, measuring, and monitoring parameters of interest (e.g., snow cover, rainfall, temperature, ice conditions, vegetation, infrastructure, fires). A description of the system and its components as well as a preliminary application of the system in the Arctic will be presented.

Maynard, Nancy G.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Hyperion Studies Of Crop Stress In Mexico

Satellite-based measurements of crop stress could provide much needed information for cropland management, especially in developing countries where other precision agriculture technologies are too expensive (Pierce and Nowak 1999; Robert 2002). For example, detection of areas that are nitrogen deficient or water stressed could guide fertilizer and water management decisions for all farmers within the swath of the satellite. Several approaches have been proposed to quantify canopy nutrient or water content based on spectral reflectance, most of which involve combinations of reflectance in the form of vegetation indices. While these indices are designed to maximize sensitivity to leaf chemistry, variations in other aspects of plant canopies may significantly impact remotely sensed reflectance. These confounding factors include variations in canopy structural properties (e.g., leaf area index, leaf angle distribution) as well as the extent of canopy cover, which determines the amount of exposed bare soil within a single pixel. In order to assess the utility of spectral indices for monitoring crop stress, it is therefore not only necessary to establish relationships at the leaf level, but also to test the relative importance of variations in other canopy attributes at the spatial scale of the remote sensing measurement. In this context, the relative importance of a given attribute will depend on (1) the sensitivity of the reflectance index to variation in the attribute and (2) the degree to which the attribute varies spatially and temporally.

Lobell, David B.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Understanding Land-Atmosphere Interactions in Agricultural Areas through Improved Modeling and Monitoring of Irrigation

Irrigation increases soil moisture and evapotranspiration, often leading to cooler and more humid conditions over and downwind of irrigated areas. These changes can affect the evolution of the planetary boundary layer and ultimately influence the development of clouds and precipitation. It is for this reason that there has been a push to include irrigation processes in weather and climate models. This presentation will discuss recent efforts to model irrigation impacts in NASA’s land surface and coupled models, via both improved parameterizations and the incorporation of satellite data from platforms such as SMAP, MODIS, and ECOSTRESS. This work underscores the need to consider human water management impacts when analyzing or predicting components of the water and energy cycles, and the critical roles that NASA observations and models play in this assessment.

Patricia Lawston Parker↗
NASA NTRS2021

On the Impact of an Intermediate Duration X-ray Burst on the Accretion Environment in IGR J17062-6143

We report on a spectroscopic analysis of the X-ray emission from IGR J17062−6143 in the after-math of its June 2020 intermediate duration Type I X-ray burst. Using the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer, we started observing the source three hours after the burst was detected with MAXI/GSC, and monitored the source for the subsequent twelve days. We observed the tail end of the X-ray burst cooling phase, and find that the X-ray flux is severely depressed relative to its historic value for a three day period directly following the burst. We interpret this intensity dip as the inner accretion disk gradually restoring itself after being perturbed by the burst irradiation. Superimposed on this trend we observed a 1.5 d interval during which the X-ray flux is sharply lower than the wider trend. This drop in flux could be isolated to the non-thermal components in the energy spectrum, suggesting that it may be caused by an evolving corona. Additionally, we detected a 3.4 keV absorption line at 6.3σsignificance in a single 472 s observation while the burst emission was still bright. We tentatively identify the line as a gravitationally redshifted absorption line from burning ashes on the stellar surface, possibly associated with 40Ca or 44Ti.

Peter Bult↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Sensorimotor Countermeasures

Exploration class missions will include multiple transitions between gravitational environments, sometimes after long periods in microgravity, which will impact the neurovestibular system and sensorimotor capabilities. New countermeasures and assessment tools are needed to enhance preflight disorientation training, maintain inflight physical performance, and accelerate recovery following transitions between gravity environments so that crew are enabled to perform critical exploration mission tasks. The Sensorimotor Countermeasures capability area encompasses three projects. 1) The Upright Proprioception Retention via Inflight Training and Evaluation (UPRITE) system is being developed as an in-flight countermeasure that will mitigate the degradation of balance control mechanisms, which will improve post-flight postural stability. The development of such a countermeasure is not simply a matter of adapting a ground-based training program for spaceflight. The way that we control balance in a gravitational environment cannot be duplicated in 0g. Therefore, the UPRITE system challenges proprioception and tactile function using a 0g configuration. The steps to develop the countermeasure have been broken into seven phases: training type, controllable board factors, protocol development, 0g hardware test, training efficacy, ISS hardware demonstration, and countermeasure verification. 2) Unobtrusive Monitoring Tools and Operational Assessments (aka Head/Body Assessments) are being developed to quantify crew member sensorimotor adaptation following gravitational transitions. Three areas are needed in this development 1) explore, develop, and validate unobtrusive monitoring tools, 2) define sensorimotor performance metrics, and 3) explore capabilities to enhance sensorimotor assessment tasks for operational use and validate assessment tasks via high-fidelity analogs. 3) The Spatial Disorientation Trainer is being developed as a portable training capability to simulate the performance of landing and recovery type tasks while experiencing vertigo due to post-flight vestibular alterations. These simulations can be used 1) across research studies investigating the impacts of vestibular disruption on operational performance/assessments, 2) to train astronauts for upcoming spaceflight missions, and 3) to educate space medicine and operational personnel prior to providing post-flight support.

Scott Jonathan Wood↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Assessing the Uncertainty Impact of CERES Fast Longwave and SHortwave Radiative Flux (FLASHFlux) Level 3 Product With and Without Terra Observations

The Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) project provides satellite-based observations of how Earth’s energy flows are varying in time and space and how clouds and aerosols are affecting the Earth’s radiation budget. Nominally, CERES data products require months of validation and calibration before releasing a climate quality data. The Fast Longwave And SHortwave radiative Flux (FLASHFlux) data product was developed to provide data for applied science research involving the renewable energy and agricultural sectors within a week of observation. FLASHFlux achieves this by using simplified calibration, an operational meteorological product from Global Monitoring and Assimilation Office (GMAO), and a surface parameterizations model. The CERES FLASHFlux provides two data products: 1) an hourly Level 2 Single Scanner Footprint (SSF) data separately for Terra and NOAA-20 observations. 2) a daily Level 3 Time Interpolated and Spatially Averaged (TISA) gridded data that combines NOAA-20 and Terra observations on a one-degree equal angle grid. FLASHFlux TISA data product interpolate on a diurnal model that assumes a satellite equilateral crossing time of 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM from Terra and Aqua, respectively. Aqua was replaced by NOAA-20 starting on September 2022. Terra is planned to be replace by the Satellite ClOud and Radiation Property retrieval System (SatCORPS) soon. We are currently using the Terra observations as it continues to drift. We assess the impact of FLASHFlux TISA data when Terra is removed. An uncertainty estimate of the Top-Of-Atmosphere (TOA) fluxes are given of FLASHFlux Version4A (before Terra drift) and Version4B (current), and Version4B (no Terra) in comparison to the CERES EBAF and SYN1deg. In addition, we compare FLASHFlux Version4B and Version4B (no Terra) surface radiative fluxes to ground base measurements to determine the impact of running without Terra data.

PC Sawaengphokhai↗
NASA NTRS2000

Assimilation of Combined Microwave and Lightning Measurement in a Mesoscale Weather Prediction Model

Intermittent measurements of precipitation and integrated water vapor (IWV) distributions were retrieved from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) radiometers. Lightning generates very low frequency (VLF) radio noise pulses called sferics. Those pulses propagate over large distances so that they can be continuously monitored with a sparse network of ground based radio receivers. Sferics data, tuned with intermittent spaceborne microwave radiometer data, were used to generate estimated rainfall that was assimilated into a mesoscale weather prediction model. Both continuous latent heating adjustment and a variational technique are applied as assimilation procedures to evaluate the impact of lightning observations on the forecast of an intense winter squall line over the Gulf of Mexico. Sensitivities to the assimilation of additional measurements such as IWV and sea surface temperature (SST), and measurement errors will also be discussed.

Chang, Dong-Eon↗