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At least 991 records · Page 55

Forecasting sea breeze thunderstorms at the Kennedy Space Center using the Prognostic Three-Dimensional Mesoscale Model (P 3DM)

A Prognostic Three-Dimensional Model (P3DM) to produce 1- to 12-hr predictions of sea breeze convective (SBC) storms at KSC is described. The P3DM was developed to account for a scale of about 10 km, interactions between surface heat and moisture fluxes, boundary layer convergence, the movement of moisture into cloud formation zones, and alterations in the convective potential in the lower levels of the atmosphere during the diurnal cycle. Initialized with wind, temperature, specific humidity and local water temperature data, the model allows for the distortion of the boundary layer moisture and thermal fields by sea breeze conditions. The results of three simulations of events leading to the onset of SBC storms are presented to demonstrate the model's capabilities, and techniques which may enhance the accuracy of the predictions are discussed.

Lyons, Walter A.↗

A model propulsion simulator for evaluating counter rotating blade characteristics

Three Model Propulsion Simulators (MPS) were designed and built to evaluate candidate counterrotation Ultra bypass fan model blade designs of nominally 2-ft (0.61 m) tip diameter for an advanced 'pusher-type' aircraft engine. These propulsion simulators (nominally 1/5 engine size) are capable of operation over a wide range of subsonic conditions and can deliver up to 750 shaft horsepower per rotor at rotor speeds of 10,000 rpm. The rotor thrust and torque, dynamic blade stresses, and system temperature data are transmitted through an integral telemetry system to facilitate data acquisition. Salient features of the design, instrumentation, and operation of these simulators are described in this paper.

Delaney, B. R.↗

Heating Distributions For Aeroassisted Vehicles

Report discusses anticipated distributions of temperature on symmetric and asymmetric large-angle blunt nose-cone space vehicles re-entering atmosphere. Report considers three cone angles; 100 degree, 120 degree, and 140 degree. Experimental surface-temperature data obtained on specimens made of thermal-protection materials proposed for vehicles. Discusses relationship between stagnation-point heat-transfer rate and bow-shock standoff distance for cones.

Stewart, David A.↗

Low cost Get-Away-Special (GAS) furnace

A simple and inexpensive Space Shuttle experimental apparatus to conduct microgravity melting and solidification is presented. A GAS space furnace was initially developed as a student design project at the USAF Academy and further refined at NASA Lewis. The experiment package consists of a melting chamber, battery power system, temperature data recording systems, and electronic controller. The melting chamber is a thin-walled tube wrapped by heating resistance wire. Thermocouples are used to record the specimen thermal history. Power is supplied by 2-V batteries wired to produce 360 W. The mV output of the thermocouples is amplified, cold-junction compensated, and converted to a frequency which is then recorded on an off-the-shelf cassette tape recorder. A backup data recording system which digitizes the amplified signal and records the data on EEPROMs has also been included. This experimental device demonstrates that basic science research can be kept simple and inexpensive.

Turner, Glon D.↗

Effect of computed horizontal diffusion coefficients on two-dimensional N2O model distributions

The effects of horizontal diffusion coefficients K(yy) and K(yz), computed directly from the residual circulation, on the N2O distribution in a photochemical model were investigated, using a modified version of the two-dimensional model of Guthrie et al. (1984). The residual circulation was computed using the NMC's temperature data and the heating rates reported by Rosenfield et al. (1987). As compared with the effect of the residual circulation alone, the use of horizontal diffusion coefficients produced substantial changes in the N2O distribution and increased the N2O's lifetime values by a few percent. It is suggested that trace gases, such as CH4, CFCl3, CF2Cl2, CH3Cl, and CCl4, which impact the NO(x), HO(x), and Cl(x) radical distributions and therefore ozone, will be influenced in a similar manner by the addition of more realistic diffusion fields.

Jackman, Charles H.↗

Estimation of the Kelvin wave contribution to the semiannual oscillation

Daily temperature data acquired during the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere experiment are used to study the behavior of Kelvin waves in the equatorial middle atmosphere. It is suggested that Kelvin wave packets of different zonal wave numbers propagate separately and may be forced separately. Two Kelvin wave regimes were identified during the October 1978 to May 1979 data period. Most of the properties of the observed waves are shown to be consistent with slowly-varying theory. Results suggest that gravity waves may contribute significantly to the equatorial stratopause semiannual oscillation.

Hitchman, Matthew H.↗

Use of remote sensing for land use policy formulation

The overall objectives and strategies of the Center for Remote Sensing remain to provide a center for excellence for multidisciplinary scientific expertise to address land-related global habitability and earth observing systems scientific issues. Specific research projects that were underway during the final contract period include: digital classification of coniferous forest types in Michigan's northern lower peninsula; a physiographic ecosystem approach to remote classification and mapping; land surface change detection and inventory; analysis of radiant temperature data; and development of methodologies to assess possible impacts of man's changes of land surface on meteorological parameters. Significant progress in each of the five project areas has occurred. Summaries on each of the projects are provided.

Source record↗

Diagnostic studies of the 1987 Antarctic spring vortex

Dynamical fields form the UK Meteorological office global forecast model were used throughout the 1987 Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment (AAOE) for flight planning and diagnostic studies. Here, several studies based on the Meteorological Office global analysis (resolution 1.5 degrees lattitude x 1.875 degrees longitude, Lyne et al.) are described. The wind and temperature data derived from the model analysis are compared with observations made from both the DCB and ER-2, and an assessment of the model performance given. Derived quantities such as potential vorticity and model data and discrepancies due to the model data are discussed.

Austin, J.↗

Flight experiment of thermal energy storage

Thermal energy storage (TES) enables a solar dynamic system to deliver constant electric power through periods of sun and shade. Brayton and Stirling power systems under current considerations for missions in the near future require working fluid temperatures in the 1100 to 1300+ K range. TES materials that meet these requirements fall into the fluoride family of salts. These salts store energy as a heat of fusion, thereby transferring heat to the fluid at constant temperature during shade. The principal feature of fluorides that must be taken into account is the change in volume that occurs with melting and freezing. Salts shrink as they solidify, a change reaching 30 percent for some salts. The location of voids that form as result of the shrinkage is critical when the solar dynamic system reemerges into the sun. Hot spots can develop in the TES container or the container can become distorted if the melting salt cannot expand elsewhere. Analysis of the transient, two-phase phenomenon is being incorporated into a three-dimensional computer code. The code is capable of analysis under microgravity as well as 1 g. The objective of the flight program is to verify the predictions of the code, particularly of the void location and its effect on containment temperature. The four experimental packages comprising the program will be the first tests of melting and freezing conducted under microgravity. Each test package will be installed in a Getaway Special container to be carried by the shuttle. The package will be self-contained and independent of shuttle operations other than the initial opening of the container lid and the final closing of the lid. Upon the return of the test package from flight, the TES container will be radiographed and finally partitioned to examine the exact location and shape of the void. Visual inspection of the void and the temperature data during flight will constitute the bases for code verification.

Namkoong, David↗

Microwave remote sensing of sea ice

The long term objectives are: (1) to understand the physics of the multispectral microwave radiative characteristics of sea ice as it goes through different phases; (2) to improve characterization of sea ice cover using satellite microwave sensors; and (3) to study ice/ocean physical and biological processes associated with polynya formations and variability of the marginal sea ice region. Two field experiments were conducted to pursue these objectives. One involved measurements of radiative and physical characteristics of sea ice from a ship during a 3-month long cruise through the Weddell Sea ice pack during the Austral winter of 1986. The other involved similar measurements from two aircrafts and a submarine over the Central Arctic and Greenland Sea region. Preliminary results have already led to an enhanced understanding of the microwave signatures of pancake ice, nilas, first year ice, multiyear ice and effects of snow cover. Coastal and deep ocean polynyas and their role in bottom water formation and ocean circulation were studied using a time series of ice images from SMMR. An unsupervised cluster analysis of Arctic sea ice using SMMR and THIR emissivity and brightness temperature data was implemented. The analysis indicates the existence of several unique and persistent clusters in the Central Arctic region during winter and that the sum of the area of these clusters excluding those of first year ice is about 20 percent less than minimum ice cover area inferred from a previous summer data. This result is consistent with saline surface for some multiyear ice floes as observed during MIZEZ and suggests that a significant fraction of multiyear ice floes in the Arctic have first year ice signatures.

Comiso, J. C.↗

Rocket temperature soundings

In situ rocket-borne measurements of temperature and wind contribute to a better determination and understanding of stratospheric behavior and, hence, to a better understanding of processes that control the dynamical and chemical behavior of this region. Concern over ozone depletion and the difficulty generally involved in determining actual ozone trends has generated significant interest in temperature behavior, especially trends. Recent analysis of rocketsonde acquired temperature data between 1969 and 1986 contains evidence that the stratosphere may indeed be cooling. It is the intention of the RTOP to continue to provide rocketsonde measurements to: maintain the long term data stratospheric-mesospheric data base already established for Wallops; provide ground truth for remote measurements; and continue studies of atmospheric structure and morphology of disturbances and anomalous events as resources permit.

Schmidlin, F. J.↗

The systems improved numerical fluids analysis code (SINFAC)

A computer program has been developed to model the steady-state performance of single and two-phase heat transport systems. The development effort had the intent of making the program general, relatively easy to implement and easy to integrate into currently available software. The primary use of the program is for, but not limited to, heat transport system for spacecraft. In order to show the program has achieved its intended goals, the program was first applied to a small loop and a quick parametric study done. Next a verification study was done in which the temperature data from a thermal loop flown on the space shuttle was compared to modeler predictions.

Schweickart, Russell B.↗

Slip effects associated with Knudsen transport phenomena in porous media

Porous media used in phase separators and thermomechanical pumps have been the subject of characterization efforts based on the Darcy permeability of laminar continuum flow. The latter is not always observed at low speed, in particular at permeabilities below 10 to the -9th/squared cm. The present experimental and theoretical studies address questions of slip effects associated with long mean free paths of gas flow at room temperature. Data obtained are in good agreement, within data uncertainty, with a simplified asymptotic Knudsen equation proposed for porous plugs on the basis of Knudsen's classical flow equation for long mean free paths.

Frederking, T. H. K.↗

Middle and high latitude Southern Hemispheric oscillations on the 35-60 day time scale

The low-frequency geopotential height fluctuations in the Southern Hemisphere were examined on the basis of one-point correlation maps. Results indicate that the 35-60 day fluctuations in the Southern-Hemisphere geopotential heights exhibit wavetrainlike characteristics. Correlations between a midlatitude reference point and tropical microwave temperature data were found to be weak, suggesting that the midlatitude wavetrain is not strongly coupled to the Madden and Julian (1971) 40-50 day oscillation.

Graves, Charles E.↗

Numerical investigation of the transient SSME fuel preburner combustor flowfield

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with finite-rate reactions, FDNS2DR, has been developed to study the start transient of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Fuel Preburner (FPB) operation. This design tool can predict accurately the severe thermal gradients which are impressed upon the fuel preburner and turbine during the start transient. An axisymmetric configuration with a grid size of 68 x 45 is used to represent the FPB flowfield. The transient upstream boundary conditions are obtained from a one-dimensional Digital Transient Model simulation to better represent the actual operation. The results of the CFD calculation show temperature spikes near the FPB exit whose timing and magnitude agree well with those of the measured turbine inlet temperature data.

Wang, Ten-See↗

Small-scale waves encountered during AASE

Variability on scales of 200 km or less in the lower stratosphere is examined using potential temperature data collected during the AASE campaign. Enhanced variability is found over regions containing topography presumably due to gravity waves. The effect of gravity wave critical levels on topographically induced variability is examined. A significant reduction in variability is found when a critical level is present.

Bacmeister, Julio T.↗

Further study of terrain effects on the mesoscale spectrum of atmospheric motions

Wind and temperature data collected on commercial airliners are used to investigate the effects of underlying terrain on mesoscale variability. These results expand upon those of Nastrom et al., by including all available data from the Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) and by more closely focusing on the coupling of variance with the roughness of the underlying terrain over mountainous regions. The earlier results, showing that variances are larger over mountains than over oceans or plains, with greatest increases at wavelengths below about 80 km, are confirmed. Statistical tests are used to confirm that these differences are highly significant. Over mountainous regions the roughness of the underlying terrain was parameterized from topographic data and it was found that variances are highly correlated with roughness and, in the troposphere, with background windspeed. Average variances over the roughest terrain areas range up to about ten times larger than those over the oceans. These results are found to follow the scaling with stability predicted in the framework of linenar gravity wave theory. The implications of these results for vertical transports of momentum and energy, assuming they are due to gravity waves and considering the effects of intermittency and anisotroy, are also discussed.

Jasperson, W. H.↗

Absorption coefficients for the 6190-A CH4 band between 290 and 100 K with application to Uranus' atmosphere

A novel laser intracavity photoacoustic spectroscopy method allowing high sample control accuracy due to the small sample volume required has been used to obtain absorption coefficients for the CH4 6190 A band as a function of temperature, from 290 to 100 K. The peak absorption coefficient is found to increase from 0.6 to 1.0/cm, and to be accompanied by significant band shape changes. When used to further constrain the Baines and Bergstrahl (1986) standard model of the Uranus atmosphere, the low-temperature data yield an excellent fit to the bandshape near the 6190 A band's minimum.

Smith, Wm. Hayden↗