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Technique involves coating suspected area with water-soluble black paint that gives even, infrared emission. Painted area is warmed with heat gun; an infrared scanner is used to detect cooled spot on jacket exterior. Introduction of atmospheric pressure into jacket intensifies leak jet and improves test sensitivity.
Multilayered mercury-cadmium telluride photoconductive detectors were developed which are capable of providing individual coverage of three separate spectral wavelength bands without the use of beam splitters. The multilayered "three-color" detector on a single dewar takes the place of three separate detector/filter/dewar units and enables simpler and more reliable mechanical and optical designs for multispectral scanners and radiometers. Wavelength channel design goals (in micrometers) were: 10.1 to 11.0, 11.0 to 12.0, and 13.0. Detectivity for all channels was 1 x 10 to the 10th power cm-Hz 1/2/Watt. A problem occurred in finding an epoxy layer which had good infrared transmission properties and which also was chemically and mechanically compatible with HgCdTe processing techniques. Data on 6 candidate bonding materials are surveyed and discussed.
Present reconnaissance studies of asteroids shift ground based programs to more specialized, intensive studies of selected individual bodies and special classes. Two powerful techniques--radar and mid-IR spectroscopy--have yet to be widely applied to asteroids; high priority should be given to: (1) search programs with a large Schmidt telescope (especially for Mars- and Earth-approaching bodies); (2) a moderate resolution visible and near-IR spectrophotometric survey of at least half the asteroids; (3) high resolution spectrophotometry and radiometry of unusual objects; (4) radar studies of representative main belt asteroids; and (5) application of the full complement of astrophysical techniques to objects of high scientific interest and to potential space mission targets. The infrared astronomical satellite also has high potential for contributing to asteroid science.
A system for spectrally monitoring the stages of crop development for corn and soybeans based upon red and photographic infrared spectral radiances is proposed. The red and photographic infrared spectral radiance, highly correlated with the green leaf area index or green leaf biomass, enable nondestructive monitoring of the crop canopy throughout the growing season. Five distinct periods are apparent which are related to crop development for corn and soybeans.
Advances in IR detector technology, the increased availability of large aperture telescopes, and the techniques of Fourier transform spectroscopy now permit IR (with wavelengths greater than 1 micron) spectroscopic observations of asteroid surfaces. Asteroids already observed include Ceres, Vesta, and Eros. These initial results demonstrate that such studies can contribute new data concerning asteroid compositions. Some of the most diagnostic features of mineral spectra are in the IR spectral region, and for featureless spectra characterized only by slopes the extension of the spectral reflectivity curve into the IR provides tighter constraints on possible mineralogies. A systematic study of additional asteroids should exploit even further this new observational link to problems of meteorite origin and solar system evolution.
Dust storms in the Great Plains of North America and in the Sahara Desert are analyzed on the basis of imagery from the geostationary Synchronous Meteorological Satellite. The onset time, location and areal extent of the dust storms are studied. Over land surfaces, contrast enhancement techniques are needed to obtain an adequate picture of dust storm development. In addition, infrared imagery may provide a means of monitoring the strong horizontal temperature gradients characteristic of dust cloud boundaries. Analogies between terrestrial dust storms and the airborne rivers of dust created by major Martian dust storms are also drawn.
The ability of two widely dissimilar spaceborne imaging sensors to detect surface oil accumulations in the marine environment has been evaluated using broadly different techniques. Digital Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) data consisting of two visible and two near infrared channels has been processed to enhance contrast between areas of known oil coverage and background clean surface water. These enhanced images have then been compared to surface verification data gathered by aerial reconnaissance during the October 15, 1975, Landsat overpass. A similar evaluation of oil slick imaging potential has been made for digitally enhanced Seasat-A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from July 18, 1979. Due to the premature failure of this satellite, however, no concurrent surface verification data were collected. As a substitute, oil slick configuration information has been generated for the comparison using meteorological and oceanographic data. The test site utilized in both studies was the extensive area of natural seepage located off Coal Oil Point, adjacent to the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Theoretical and experimental studies of the feasibility of using DIfferential SCatter (DISC) lidar to measure the composition of atmospheric aerosols are described. This technique involves multiwavelength measurements of the backscatter cross section of aerosols in the middle infrared, where a number of materials display strong restrahlen features that significantly modulate the backscatter spectrum. The theoretical work indicates that a number of materials of interest, including sulfuric acid, ammonium sulfate, and silicates, can be discriminated among with a CO2 lidar. An initial evaluation of this procedure was performed in which cirrus clouds and lower altitude tropospheric aerosols were developed. The observed ratio spectrum of the two types of aerosol displays structure that is in crude accord with theoretical expectations.
Information is presented on the extent to which the brightness temperature is overestimated. A revised version of the technique proposed by Adler and Markus (1982) for overcoming this problem is discussed, together with aspects of its application. GOES IR thunderstorm top observations are compared with high-resolution data. The technique described here to estimate the small-scale cloud top temperature from the GOES data corrects for most of the field-of-view effect but requires additional analysis and testing. When applied to a time sequence of a growing thunderstorm, the calculated cloud top temperature time profile is found to agree very well with a similar profile derived from stereo measurements.
The laser optogalvanic (LOG) technique for studying molecular spectra has been extended for the first time to the infrared wavelength region. Portions of the NH3 nu-2 band at 9.5 microns and the NO2 nu-3 band at 6.2 microns have been recorded at Doppler-limited resolution using CW tunable diode lasers to probe dc electrical discharges in pure NH3 and an NO2/He gas mixture. Using adjustable electrode positions and an orthogonal geometry between the probe laser and the discharge axis, two contributions to the optogalvanic signal are identified: one which corresponds to an increase in discharge impedance and is seen only for irradiation of the negative glow region; and a second which corresponds to a decrease in discharge impedance and is seen for irradiation of all other discharge regions.
SIRTF is a high-sensitivity, cooled astronomical telescope operating from 2 to 1000 microns. The techniques used in analyzing the sensitivity of the SIRTF system performance to several technical issues are presented. Lowering the telescope temperature to near 4K is found to produce margin in several areas. A refined observing requirements model relieves the hardware performance requirements, and identifies extended source size/observing strategy as an important system specification. Other major conclusions are presented.
The oxygen content of thin silicon ribbons grown by the dendritic web technique was measured using a modification of the ASTM method based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Web silicon was found to have a high oxygen content, ranging from 13 to 19 ppma, calculated from the absorption peak associated with interstitial oxygen and using the new ASTM conversion coefficient. The oxygen concentration changed by about 10 percent along the growth direction of the ribbon. In some samples, a shoulder was detected on the absorption peak. A similar shoulder in Czochralski grown material has been variously interpreted in the literature as due to a complex of silicon, oxygen, and vacancies, or to a phase of SiO2 developed along dislocations in the material. In the case of web silicon, it is not clear which is the correct interpretation.
The launch of Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) and the definition of Earth Observing System (EOS) are two of the major events at NASA-Goddard. The three experiments contained in COBE (Differential Microwave Radiometer (DMR), Far Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS), and Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE)) are very important in measuring the big bang. DMR measures the isotropy of the cosmic background (direction of the radiation). FIRAS looks at the spectrum over the whole sky, searching for deviations, and DIRBE operates in the infrared part of the spectrum gathering evidence of the earliest galaxy formation. By special techniques, the radiation coming from the solar system will be distinguished from that of extragalactic origin. Unique graphics will be used to represent the temperature of the emitting material. A cosmic event will be modeled of such importance that it will affect cosmological theory for generations to come. EOS will monitor changes in the Earth's geophysics during a whole solar color cycle.
New tunable solid-state lasers, such as alexandrite and Ti-sapphire lasers, provide a powerful technique to detect various molecules in the atmosphere whose absorption bands are in the infrared region. The differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system to measure the tropospheric water vapor has been investigated by many authors, in an early stage, by dye and ruby lasers. Using the alpha band of water vapor, the longest detection range can be obtained with high accuracy, and the alexandrite laser is the most suitable laser for this purpose. In this paper, we describe the detection of water vapor in the atmosphere by an alexandrite lidar, and the development of powerful tunable sources based on Raman lasers in the infrared region.
The Multispectral Atmospheric Mapping Sensor (MAMS) has been used for a number of investigations over the last 8 years. It has served as the basis for retrieval technique development, for atmospheric process studies, and to retrieve geophysical parameters at the surface (land and ocean). It was used most recently to collect high resolution visible and infrared imagery for the CaPE and STORMFEST experiments during FY91 and FY92. The Wildfire spectrometer (similar to MAMS but with different infrared channels) was also used during STORMFEST. The goals of MAMS during CaPE were: (1) to collect MAMS data to support the overall CaPE science objectives; (2) refine techniques for the retrieval of atmospheric moisture and surface geophysical parameters; (3) map the moisture distributions associated with the sea breeze front over Florida with MAMS ancillary satellite data on a case study basis; (4) identify surface features which may serve as local sources of heat and moisture and influence preferential convective regions over Florida, and (5) process MAMS data and derived relevant geophysical parameters to support other CaPE investigators. For STORMFEST both the MAMS and Wildfire spectrometers were used to collect unique multispectral data to study atmospheric processes. The Wildfire objectives were: (1) to collect high quality Wildfire data in conjunction with other in situ and remote measurements available during the STORMFEST field phase (1 February - 15 March 1992); (2) to develop algorithms to retrieve total ozone content and compare with those from TOMS and HIRS (IR); and (3) along with water vapor imagery, use the ozone data to better understand the 3-dimensional structure and dynamics of jet streaks and frontal systems in a case study investigation. The MAMS objectives were: (1) collect MAMS data to support a GSFC investigation of gravity waves; and (2) process the MAMS data to locate gravity wave features, and produce various moisture products in support of the gravity wave investigation. The research activities over the last year are presented and they focused on analyzing the CaPE data sets and collecting and starting preliminary analysis of the STORMFEST MAMS and Wildfire data.
Dynamic alignment has been demonstrated as a practical approach to alignment maintenance for systems in the infrared region of the spectrum. On the basis of work done by OPTRA, this technique was introduced in commercial Fourier transform spectrometer systems in 1982 and in various forms is now available from a number of manufacturers. This paper reports on work by OPTRA to extend the basic technique to systems operating in the ultraviolet. In addition, this paper reports the preliminary results of the development of an alignment system using a laser diode in place of a gas laser normally found in dynamic alignment systems. A unique optical system and spatial heterodyne technique allows for achievement of a metrology system with characteristics that fully satisfy the requirements of an ultraviolet spectrometer system.
The Sentinel, the soft-landed lunar telescope of the LTT project, is described. The Sentinel is a two-meter telescope with virtually no moving parts which accomplishes an imaging survey of the sky over almost five octaves of the electromagnetic spectrum from the ultraviolet into the infrared, with an angular resolution better than 0.1 arsec/pixel. The Sentinel will incorporate innovative techniques of interest for future lunar-based telescopes and will return significant engineering data which can be incorporated into future lunar missions. The discussion covers thermal mapping of the Sentinel, measurement of the cosmic ray flux, lunar dust, micrometeoroid flux, the lunar atmosphere, and lunar regolith stability and seismic activity.
The impact of sensor spatial resolution and accurate cloud pixel identification on cloud property retrievals was investigated. Twelve fair weather cumulus (FWC) scenes of high spectral and spatial resolution Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data are analyzed. A variation of the 3-band ratio technique of Gao and Goetz is used to discriminate clouds from the background, and then a discrete ordinate radiative transfer model is used to obtain optical thickness of cloudy regions for each scene. To study the effect of spatial resolution upon retrieved optical thickness, the 20 m AVIRIS data was spatially degraded to spatial resolutions ranging from 40 to 960 m. Cloud area, scene average optical thickness, and distribution of retrieved optical thickness are determined at each spatial resolution. Finally, a comparison between the 3-band ratio technique and monospectral reflectance thresholding, using 20 m spatial resolution data, is presented.