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At least 1,135 records · Page 63

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NASA NTRS1976

Microwave spectrum compatibility in planetary research

The paper presents an overview of solar system exploration, basic functions of the Deep Space Network (DSN), deep space microwave links, space research compatibility problems, and DSN's interference susceptibility. To maintain the operational integrity of competing radio systems using the microwave spectrum, the technology must extend to make possible the shared use of the spectral ranges without the ill effects of interferences. Suggestions are given which are only examples of many possible techniques that can eliminate or reduce interferences.

Siegmeth, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Seasonal oceanic precipitation frequencies from Nimbus 5 microwave data

Microwave brightness temperature data from the Nimbus 5 satellite have been analyzed by using threshold brightness temperatures to yield tropical oceanic precipitation frequencies for several classes of rainfall rates during the season December 1972 through February 1973. Data taken near local noon and near local midnight were analyzed. The overall results are consistent with both climatological precipitation frequency and with concurrent satellite-derived frequency of highly reflective clouds. The difference between the local noon and the local midnight frequency is small, but the heavier rainfall rates tend to occur more frequently near local noon. The ratios of the frequencies of light, moderate, and heavy rain were observed to be relatively constant over the tropical oceans. Passive microwave measurements from space seem to be an important step toward accurate measurement of oceanic precipitation.

Kidder, S. Q.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Microwave absorption characteristics of the clouds of Venus from Mariner 10 radio occultation

Measurements of received signal strength at S-band (13 cm) and X-band (4.8 cm) wavelengths during the radio occultation of Mariner 10 by Venus on February 5, 1974, are examined in order to study the structure and composition of the absorbing medium. The frequency excursions of the signals are determined and used to obtain the structure of the refractive index in the lower atmosphere. Profiles of excess signal attenuation due to atmospheric scattering and absorption are presented which indicate that the X-band signal experienced much more absorption and was extinguished at about 50 km, while the S-band signal penetrated to about 42 km. The optical-depth data are inverted by means of a discrete inversion method to obtain the absorption coefficient for each band as a function of height, and the resulting absorption-coefficient profiles are compared with the attenuation at vertical incidence modeled from planetary radar and passive microwave observations of Venus. The absorption coefficients at the two wavelengths are employed to estimate the liquid content and composition of the microwave-absorbing cloud particles.

Kliore, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Possible effect of subsurface inhomogeneities on the lunar microwave spectrum

Inhomogeneities beneath the lunar surface could alter the average microwave emission spectrum of the moon in a fashion generally consistent with observations, even in the absence of an average heat flux or density gradients with depth. The lunar subsurface was modeled as an inhomogeneous lossy dielectric with three-dimensional refractive-index fluctuations characterized by independent horizontal and vertical correlation lengths. The model suggests that attempts to infer the physical properties of the moon from the lunar microwave spectrum could be significantly inaccurate if subsurface scattering were neglected.

Fisher, A. D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Microwave spectroscopic imagery of the earth

The microwave spectrometer on the Nimbus 6 satellite has produced the first microwave spectral images of the earth. It has yielded global maps of (1) atmospheric temperature profiles, (2) the distributions of water vapor and liquid water over ocean, and (3) the coverage and type of ice and snow. The method has potential for operational synoptic monitoring.

Staelin, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Strategic considerations in SETI, and a microwave approach

Plausible options in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), and the need to reserve a suitable portion of the EM (microwave) spectrum for SETI research, are discussed. Reasons for selection of a portion of the spectrum, specifically the 'water hole' near 1.5 GHz in the terrestrial microwave window (1-25 GHz), are presented, and competition with various emitters for that band (existing satellite downlink transmissions) is discussed. SETI search policies and options are summarized in a table. Speculative considerations guiding initial phases of the SETI pursuit are discussed.

Seeger, C. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Microwave-beam safety subsystem

Airspace between high-power microwave transmitters and receivers is dangerous to people, equipment, or birds flying in area. Hazard is reduced or eliminated by subsystem that monitors area and interrupts or alters microwave transmission during accidental intrusions.

Dickinson, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Atmospheric sounding with passive microwaves: Review and prognosis

Global maps of temperature profiles from 0 to 20 km altitude and of total water vapor and liquid water over the ocean were obtained from satellite-borne microwave spectrometers. Future satellites will extend the altitude range above 100 km and permit monitoring of H2O, O3, CO, N2O, and other trace constituents. Operational microwave temperature sounding spectrometers are scheduled for launch on both military and civilian U.S. satellites, and future improvements can be expected.

Staelin, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Microwave remote sensing and its application to soil moisture detection

The author has identified the following significant results. Experimental measurements were utilized to demonstrate a procedure for estimating soil moisture, using a passive microwave sensor. The investigation showed that 1.4 GHz and 10.6 GHz can be used to estimate the average soil moisture within two depths; however, it appeared that a frequency less than 10.6 GHz would be preferable for the surface measurement. Average soil moisture within two depths would provide information on the slope of the soil moisture gradient near the surface. Measurements showed that a uniform surface roughness similar to flat tilled fields reduced the sensitivity of the microwave emission to soil moisture changes. Assuming that the surface roughness was known, the approximate soil moisture estimation accuracy at 1.4 GHz calculated for a 25% average soil moisture and an 80% degree of confidence, was +3% and -6% for a smooth bare surface, +4% and -5% for a medium rough surface, and +5.5% and -6% for a rough surface.

Newton, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Summary of the active microwave users workshop

A coordinated microwave applications development program was initiated to improve the capability to: (1) identify, monitor, and assess the earth's resources; and (2) monitor the earth's environment and predict significant changes. The program consists of the scientific, technical, and programmatic activities required to develop microwave remote sensing into an operational tool for systematic earth observations.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1978

Active microwave users working group program planning

A detailed programmatic and technical development plan for active microwave technology was examined in each of four user activities: (1) vegetation; (2) water resources and geologic applications, and (4) oceanographic applications. Major application areas were identified, and the impact of each application area in terms of social and economic gains were evaluated. The present state of knowledge of the applicability of active microwave remote sensing to each application area was summarized and its role relative to other remote sensing devices was examined. The analysis and data acquisition techniques needed to resolve the effects of interference factors were reviewed to establish an operational capability in each application area. Flow charts of accomplished and required activities in each application area that lead to operational capability were structured.

Ulaby, F. T.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Microwave radiation measurements near the electron plasma frequency of the NASA Lewis bumpy torus plasma

Microwave emission near the electron plasma frequency was observed, and its relation to the average electron density and the dc toroidal magnetic field was examined. The emission was detected using a spectrum analyzer and a 50 omega miniature coaxial probe. The radiation appeared as a broad amplitude peak that shifted in frequency as the plasma parameters were varied. The observed radiation scanned an average plasma density ranging from 10 million/cu cm to 8 hundred million/cu cm. A linear relation was observed betweeen the density calculated from the emission frequency and the average plasma density measured with a microwave interferometer. With the aid of a relative density profile measurement of the plasma, it was determined that the emissions occurred from the outer periphery of the plasma.

Mallavarpu, R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The effect of wind on the microwave emission from the ocean's surface at 37 GHz

The microwave brightness temperature measurements from the Electrically Scanned Microwave Radiometer (frequency = 37 GHz) are compared with oceanic wind measurements from data buoys. It is shown that the brightness temperature can be manipulated to yield a measure of the surface roughening which can be very well accounted for by a simple geometric optics model. The data of 1.4, 8.36 and 19.34 GHz were similarly manipulated and shown to require a surface with less slope variance than predicted by optical measurements. It is also shown that the surface may be treated as isotropic to an accuracy equivalent to the roughening produced by a 2 m/s wind speed increment.

Wilheit, T. T.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The present situation and forecasts of semiconductor elements performance within the microwave range, 1970-1985

The present situation and possible developments over the period 1970-1985 for active semiconductor elements in the microwave range are outlined. After a short historical survey of FT techniques, the following are discussed: Generation, power amplification, amplification of small signals, frequency conversion, detection, electronic signal control and integrated microwave circuits.

Peterson, B.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The Seasat-A Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer

A Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer has been designed for the Nimbus-G Spacecraft and incorporated also into the Seasat-A payload for the primary purpose of determining sea surface temperatures and wind stress on a nearly all-weather basis. Observations of microwave polarization components will be made at wavelengths of 0.8, 1.4, 1.7, 2.8, and 4.6 cm over a swath 577 km wide below the Seasat-A spacecraft. The smallest spatial resolution cell is 15 x 23 km at a wavelength of 0.8 cm, and proportionately larger at the other wavelengths. Using experimentally determined algorithms for converting the observed brightness temperatures, the indicated accuracies of the results (excluding conditions of significant rainfall) are within 1 K for sea surface temperature and 2 m/sec for surface wind speeds, over a range from 0-50 m/sec.

Gloersen, P.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Atmospheric sounding with passive microwaves - Review and prognosis

Global maps of temperature profiles 0-20 km and of total water vapor and liquid water over ocean have been obtained from satellite-borne microwave spectrometers. Future satellites should extend the altitude range above 100 km and permit monitoring of H2O, O3, CO, N2O, and other trace constituents. Operational microwave temperature-sounding spectrometers are scheduled for launch on both military and civilian U.S. satellites, and future improvements can be expected.

Staelin, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Microwave radiometry for soil moisture sensing

Investigations have been conducted with truck-mounted radiometers to study the variation of microwave emissivity from a soil. It was found that the longer wavelength radiometers, (21 cm), are preferable for the remote sensing of soil moisture. Aircraft observations indicated a nonlinear dependence of microwave brightness temperature on soil moisture. The dielectric constants of soils are considered along with the radiative transfer in soils, and soil water characteristics. A description is presented of test flights conducted with a NASA aircraft, taking into account soil moisture measurements and instrumentation. The obtained results show that the surface emissivity of a soil is determined by the dielectric properties of the surface soil layer a few tenths of a wavelength thick while the thermal sampling depths are much greater. The capability of the 21-cm radiometer to sense soil-moisture variations through a moderate vegetation canopy, and the promising Skylab results encourage consideration of a radiometer operating at this wavelength for routine soil moisture observations.

Schmugge, T.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A review of applications of microwave radiometry to oceanography

Following a review of the essential physics of microwave radiative transfer, oceanographic applications of this background physics are discussed using data from electrically scanning microwave radiometers on the Nimbus 5 and 6 satellites operating at 1.55-cm and 8-mm wavelengths, respectively. These data are interpreted in terms of rain rate, ice coverage, and first-year versus multiyear ice determination. It is shown that multifrequency radiometer measurements make it possible to separate the surface and atmospheric effects and to obtain useful measurements of sea surface temperature, surface wind speed, and atmospheric parameters along with improved measurements of rain and ice.

Wilheit, T. T., Jr.↗