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NASA NTRS1997

Inversion Schemes to Retrieve Atmospheric and Oceanic Parameters from SeaWiFS Data

Firstly, we have analyzed atmospheric transmittance and sky radiance data connected at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography pier, La Jolla during the winters of 1993 and 1994. Aerosol optical thickness at 870 nm was generally low in La Jolla, with most values below 0.1 after correction for stratospheric aerosols. For such low optical thickness, variability in aerosol scattering properties cannot be determined, and a mean background model, specified regionally under stable stratospheric component, may be sufficient for ocean color remote sensing, from space. For optical thicknesses above 0. 1, two modes of variability characterized by Angstrom exponents of 1.2 and 0.5 and corresponding, to Tropospheric and Maritime models, respectively, were identified in the measurements. The aerosol models selected for ocean color remote sensing, allowed one to fit, within measurement inaccuracies, the derived values of Angstrom exponent and 'pseudo' phase function (the product of single scattering albedo and phase function), key atmospheric correction parameters. Importantly, the 'pseudo' phase function can be derived from measurements of the Angstrom exponent. Shipborne sun photometer measurements at the time of satellite overpass are usually sufficient to verify atmospheric correction for ocean color.

Frouin, Robert↗

NASA NTRS1992

Transmittal of Geotail Prelaunch Mission Operation Report

Geotail is an element in the International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Program. The overall goal of the ISTP Program is to employ simultaneous and closely coordinated remote observations of the sun and in situ observations both in the undisturbed heliosphere near Earth and in Earth s magnetosphere to measure, model, and quantitatively assess the processes in the sun/Earth interaction chain. In the early phase of the Program, simultaneous measurements in the key regions of geospace from Geotail and the two U.S. satellites of the Global Geospace Science (GGS) Program, Wind and Polar, along with equatorial measurements, will be used to characterize global energy transfer.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2017

Manuel Johnson's Tide Record at St. Helena

The astronomer Manuel Johnson, a future President of the Royal Astronomical Society, recorded the ocean tides with his own instrument at St. Helena in 1826-1827, while waiting for an observatory to be built. It is an important record in the history of tidal science, as the only previous measurements at St. Helena had been those made by Nevil Maskelyne in 1761, and there were to be no other systematic measurements until the late 20th century. Johnsons tide gauge, of a curious but unique design, recorded efficiently the height of every tidal high and low water for at least 13 months, in spite of requiring frequent re-setting. These heights compare very reasonably with a modern tidal synthesis based on present-day tide gauge measurements from the same site.Johnsons method of timing is unknown, but his calculations of lunar phases suggest that his tidal measurements were recorded in Local Apparent Time. Unfortunately, the recorded times are found to be seriously and variably lagged by many minutes. Johnsons data have never been fully published, but his manuscripts have been safely archived and are available for inspection at Cambridge University. His data have been converted to computerfiles as part of this study for the benefit of future researchers.

Cartwright, David E.↗

NASA NTRS1992

External calibration of polarimetric radar images using distributed targets

A new technique is presented for calibrating polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images using only the responses from natural distributed targets. The model for polarimetric radars is assumed to be X = cRST where X is the measured scattering matrix corresponding to the target scattering matrix S distorted by the system matrices T and R (in general T does not equal R(sup t)). To allow for the polarimetric calibration using only distributed targets and corner reflectors, van Zyl assumed a reciprocal polarimetric radar model with T = R(sup t); when applied for JPL SAR data, a heuristic symmetrization procedure is used by POLCAL to compensate the phase difference between the measured HV and VH responses and then take the average of both. This heuristic approach causes some non-removable cross-polarization responses for corner reflectors, which can be avoided by a rigorous symmetrization method based on reciprocity. After the radar is made reciprocal, a new algorithm based on the responses from distributed targets with reflection symmetry is developed to estimate the cross-talk parameters. The new algorithm never experiences problems in convergence and is also found to converge faster than the existing routines implemented for POLCAL. When the new technique is implemented for the JPL polarimetric data, symmetrization and cross-talk removal are performed on a line-by-line (azimuth) basis. After the cross-talks are removed from the entire image, phase and amplitude calibrations are carried out by selecting distributed targets either with azimuthal symmetry along the looking direction or with some well-known volume and surface scattering mechanisms to estimate the relative phases and amplitude responses of the horizontal and vertical channels.

Yueh, Simon H.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Midlatitude electron precipitation: A possible source of contamination of galactic X and gamma-ray measurements

The effect of trapped and precipitated particles in the magnetosphere on the measurement of galactic X-rays and gamma rays is discussed. To minimize contamination caused by electron precipitation, most galactic X-ray and gamma ray measurements are conducted at equatorial or relatively low to middle latitudes where the influence of auroral effects is expected to be small. Substorm-related VLF phase perturbations also affect the measurements. If such perturbation are indicative of electron precipitation at middle to low latitudes, then their relatively high frequency of occurrence, as many as 100 per year, is evidence that electron precipitation at these latitudes may pose a problem to some galactic X-ray and gamma ray measurements. Charts and maps are presented to show: (1) phase recordings from sixteen sub-ionospheric VLF propagation paths, (2) map of great circle propagation paths, (3) ionization rates in the nighttime ionosphere due to several sources, and (4) computer phase variation for the NLK-APL path versus electron flux for different e-folding energies.

Rosenberg, T. J.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Participation of HNO3 CIMS Instrument in the Sage III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE)

This project was part of a larger SOLVE project led by Paul Wennberg at California Institute of Technology. The work completed on this project included participating in the installation and preflight testing of a new chemical ionization mass spectrometer for measuring gas and particle phase nitric acid on the ER-2. The investigators subsequently participated in SOLVE where additional instrument improvements were made and a substantial data set was generated. The two Georgia Tech investigators that participated in this work (Fred Eisele and Dave Tanner) had previously been responsible for much of the design and construction of the ion source and mass spectrometer which would be used to measure HNO3 in SOLVE, with Caltech focusing on inlets, calibration, gas supplies/pumping computer control, and overall integration. Thus, a similar focus remained during the SOLVE measurements though all investigators worked on most if not all aspects of the instrument at some point in the mission. Some of the more interesting results from the study included measurements of nitric acid on what are thought to be 5-20 microns diameter individual particles which could supply a local mechanism for HNO3 removal, Nitric acid measurements on SOLVE were completed as a collaborative effort with a great deal of overlap between this project and the larger parent project led by Paul Wennberg. As such, the instrumentation used, its operation, and the resulting measurements are far more fully discussed in the attached report (appendix A) which describes the joint SOLVE nitric acid measurement effort.

Eisele, F. L.↗

NASA NTRS1995

ODERACS 2 White Spheres Optical Calibration Report

This report documents the status of the Orbital Debris Radar Calibration Spheres (ODERACS) 2 white spheres optical calibration study. The purpose of this study is to determine the spectral reflectivity and scattering characteristics in the visible wavelength region for the white spheres that were added to the project in the fall, 1994. Laboratory measurements were performed upon these objects and an analysis of the resulting data was conducted. These measurements are performed by illuminating the objects with a collimated beam of light and measuring the reflected light versus the phase angle. The phase angle is defined as the angle between the light source and the sensor, as viewed from the object. By measuring the reflected signal at the various phase angles, one is able to estimate the reflectance properties of the object. The methodology used in taking the measurements and reducing the data are presented. The results of this study will be used to support the calibration of ground-based optical instruments used in support of space debris research. Visible measurements will be made by the GEODDS, NASA and ILADOT telescopes.

Culp, Robert D.↗

NASA NTRS1991

On representation of mechanical behavior and stereological measures of microstructure

Macroscopic homogeneity of a heterogeneous body is defined from various points of view. The applicability of the principle of Delesse to a single macroscopically homogeneous body is discussed. It is then seen that a function derived from a consideration of the area fraction of a phase can serve as a measure of clustering of particles of that phase.

Onat, E. T.↗

NASA NTRS2019

The Combustion Product Monitor instrument for the spacecraft fire safety demonstration project

The Combustion Product Monitor (CPM) instrument is a six-channel tunable laser absorption spectrometer capable of measuring ambient gas-phase concentrations of CO, HCl, HCN, HF, CO2, and O2 in spacecraft environments. Monitoring of these compounds can provide early warning detection of combustion events and can also facilitate safe post-fire cleanup. Here, we will describe the development of a CPM instrument optimized for operation as part of the Spacecraft Fire Safety Demonstration (Saffire) Project. As part of Saffire, the CPM instrument will measure concentrations of the target gases during low-gravity, reduced pressure oxidative pyrolysis of relevant test materials aboard a transfer vehicle returning from low Earth orbit. We will describe the CPM instrument design, absorption line selection,theoretical and experimental detection limits, and environmental testing.

Briggs, Ryan M.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Beat-to-Beat Blood Pressure Monitor

This device provides non-invasive beat-to-beat blood pressure measurements and can be worn over the upper arm for prolonged durations. Phase and waveform analyses are performed on filtered proximal and distal photoplethysmographic (PPG) waveforms obtained from the brachial artery. The phase analysis is used primarily for the computation of the mean arterial pressure, while the waveform analysis is used primarily to obtain the pulse pressure. Real-time compliance estimate is used to refine both the mean arterial and pulse pressures to provide the beat-to-beat blood pressure measurement. This wearable physiological monitor can be used to continuously observe the beat-to-beat blood pressure (B3P). It can be used to monitor the effect of prolonged exposures to reduced gravitational environments and the effectiveness of various countermeasures. A number of researchers have used pulse wave velocity (PWV) of blood in the arteries to infer the beat-to-beat blood pressure. There has been documentation of relative success, but a device that is able to provide the required accuracy and repeatability has not yet been developed. It has been demonstrated that an accurate and repeatable blood pressure measurement can be obtained by measuring the phase change (e.g., phase velocity), amplitude change, and distortion of the PPG waveforms along the brachial artery. The approach is based on comparing the full PPG waveform between two points along the artery rather than measuring the time-of-flight. Minimizing the measurement separation and confining the measurement area to a single, well-defined artery allows the waveform to retain the general shape between the two measurement points. This allows signal processing of waveforms to determine the phase and amplitude changes. Photoplethysmography, which measures changes in arterial blood volume, is commonly used to obtain heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. The digitized PPG signals are used as inputs into the beat-to-beat blood pressure measurement algorithm.

Lee, Yong Jin↗

NASA NTRS2022

The Earth Model Column Collaboratory (EMC2) v1.1: An Open-Source Ground-Based Lidar and Radar Instrument Simulator and Subcolumn Generator for Large-Scale Models

Climate models are essential for our comprehensive understanding of Earth's atmosphere and can provide critical insights on future changes decades ahead. Because of these critical roles, today's climate models are continuously being developed and evaluated using constraining observations and measurements obtained by satellites, airborne, and ground-based instruments. Instrument simulators can provide a bridge between the measured or retrieved quantities and their sampling in models and field observations while considering instrument sensitivity limitations. Here we present the Earth Model Column Collaboratory (EMC2), an open-source ground-based lidar and radar instrument simulator and subcolumn generator, specifically designed for large-scale models, in particular climate models, but also applicable to high-resolution model output. EMC2 provides a flexible framework enabling direct comparison of model output with ground-based observations, including generation of subcolumns that may statistically represent finer model spatial resolutions. In addition, EMC2 emulates ground-based (and air- or space-borne) measurements while remaining faithful to large-scale models' physical assumptions implemented in their cloud or radiation schemes. The simulator uses either single particle or bulk particle size distribution lookup tables, depending on the selected scheme approach, to perform the forward calculations. To facilitate model evaluation, EMC2 also includes three hydrometeor classification methods, namely, radar- and sounding-based cloud and precipitation detection and classification, lidar-based phase classification, and a Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project Observational Simulator Package (COSP) lidar simulator emulator. The software is written in Python, is easy to use, and can be straightforwardly customized for different models, radars, and lidars. Following the description of the logic, functionality, features, and software structure of EMC2, we present a case study of highly supercooled mixed-phase cloud based on measurements from the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) West Antarctic Radiation Experiment (AWARE). We compare observations with the application of EMC2 to outputs from four configurations of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) climate model (ModelE3) in single-column model (SCM) mode and from a large-eddy simulation (LES) model. We show that two of the four ModelE3 configurations can form and maintain highly supercooled precipitating cloud for several hours, consistent with observations and LES. While our focus is on one of these ModelE3 configurations, which performed slightly better in this case study, both of these configurations and the LES results post-processed with EMC2 generally provide reasonable agreement with observed lidar and radar variables. As briefly demonstrated here, EMC2 can provide a lightweight and flexible framework for comparing the results of both large-scale and high-resolution models directly with observations, with relatively little overhead and multiple options for achieving consistency with model microphysical or radiation scheme physics.

Earth Model Column Collaboratory↗

NASA NTRS2015

Phase-Based Adaptive Estimation of Magnitude-Squared Coherence Between Turbofan Internal Sensors and Far-Field Microphone Signals

A cross-power spectrum phase based adaptive technique is discussed which iteratively determines the time delay between two digitized signals that are coherent. The adaptive delay algorithm belongs to a class of algorithms that identifies a minimum of a pattern matching function. The algorithm uses a gradient technique to find the value of the adaptive delay that minimizes a cost function based in part on the slope of a linear function that fits the measured cross power spectrum phase and in part on the standard error of the curve fit. This procedure is applied to data from a Honeywell TECH977 static-engine test. Data was obtained using a combustor probe, two turbine exit probes, and far-field microphones. Signals from this instrumentation are used estimate the post-combustion residence time in the combustor. Comparison with previous studies of the post-combustion residence time validates this approach. In addition, the procedure removes the bias due to misalignment of signals in the calculation of coherence which is a first step in applying array processing methods to the magnitude squared coherence data. The procedure also provides an estimate of the cross-spectrum phase-offset.

Combustion↗

NASA NTRS1994

Ionospheric corrections to precise time transfer using GPS

The free electrons in the earth's ionosphere can retard the time of reception of GPS signals received at a ground station, compared to their time in free space, by many tens of nanoseconds, thus limiting the accuracy of time transfer by GPS. The amount of the ionospheric time delay is proportional to the total number of electrons encountered by the wave on its path from each GPS satellite to a receiver. This integrated number of electrons is called Total Electron Content, or TEC. Dual frequency GPS receivers designed by Allen Osborne Associates, Inc. (AOA) directly measure both the ionospheric differential group delay and the differential carrier phase advance for the two GPS frequencies and derive from this the TEC between the receiver and each GPS satellite in track. The group delay information is mainly used to provide an absolute calibration to the relative differential carrier phase, which is an extremely precise measure of relative TEC. The AOA Mini-Rogue ICS-4Z and the AOA TurboRogue ICS-4000Z receivers normally operate using the GPS P code, when available, and switch to cross-correlation signal processing when the GPS satellites are in the Anti-Spoofing (A-S) mode and the P code is encrypted. An AOA ICS-Z receiver has been operated continuously for over a year at Hanscom AFB, MA to determine the statistics of the variability of the TEC parameter using signals from up to four different directions simultaneously. The 4-channel ICS-4Z and the 8-channel ICS-4000Z, have proven capabilities to make precise, well calibrated, measurements of the ionosphere in several directions simultaneously. In addition to providing ionospheric corrections for precise time transfer via satellite, this dual frequency design allows full code and automatic codeless operation of both the differential group delay and differential carrier phase for numerous ionospheric experiments being conducted. Statistical results of the data collected from the ICS-4Z during the initial year of ionospheric time delay in the northeastern U.S., and initial results with the ICS-4000Z, will be presented.

Snow, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS2015

A Burning Rate Emulator (BRE) for Study in Microgravity

A gas-fueled burner, the Burning Rate Emulator (BRE), is used to emulate condensed-phase fuel flames. The design has been validated to easily measure the burning behavior of condensed-phase fuels by igniting a controlled stream of gas fuel and diluent. Four properties, including the heat of combustion, the heat of gasification, the surface temperature, and the laminar smoke point, are assumed to be sufficient to define the steady burning rate of a condensed-phase fuel. The heat of gasification of the fuel is determined by measuring the heat flux and the fuel flow rate. Microgravity BRE tests in the NASA 5.2 s drop facility have examined the burning of pure methane and ethylene (pure and 50 in N2 balance). Fuel flow rates, chamber oxygen concentration and initial pressure have been varied. Two burner sizes, 25 and 50 mm respectively, are chosen to examine the nature of initial microgravity burning. The tests reveal bubble-like flames that increase within the 5.2s drop but the heat flux received from the flame appears to asymptotically approach steady state. Portions of the methane flames appear to locally detach and extinguish at center, while its shape remains fixed, but growing. The effective heat of gasification is computed from the final measured net heat flux and the fuel flow rate under the assumption of an achieved steady burning. Heat flux (or mass flux) and flame position are compared with stagnant layer burning theory. The analysis offers the prospect of more complete findings from future longer duration ISS experiments.

diffusion flames↗

NASA NTRS1979

Advanced methods for preparation and characterization of infrared detector materials

Crystal growth of Hg sub 1-x Cd sub x Te and density measurements of ingot slices are discussed. Radial compositional variations are evaluated from the results of infrared transmission edge mapping. The pseudo-binary HgTe-CdTe phase diagram is examined with reference to differential thermal analysis measurements. The phase equilibria calculations, based on the 'regular association solution' theory (R.A.S.) are explained and, using the obtained R.A.S. parameters, the activities of Hg, Cd, and Te vapors and their partial pressures over the pseudo-binary melt are calculated.

Lehoczy, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Planar Laser Imaging of Sprays for Liquid Rocket Studies

A planar laser imaging technique which incorporates an optical polarization ratio technique for droplet size measurement was studied. A series of pressure atomized water sprays were studied with this technique and compared with measurements obtained using a Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer. In particular, the effects of assuming a logarithmic normal distribution function for the droplet size distribution within a spray was evaluated. Reasonable agreement between the instrument was obtained for the geometric mean diameter of the droplet distribution. However, comparisons based on the Sauter mean diameter show larger discrepancies, essentially because of uncertainties in the appropriate standard deviation to be applied for the polarization ratio technique. Comparisons were also made between single laser pulse (temporally resolved) measurements with multiple laser pulse visualizations of the spray.

Lee, W.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Real time analysis of voiced sounds

A power spectrum analysis of the harmonic content of a voiced sound signal is conducted in real time by phase-lock-loop tracking of the fundamental frequency, (f sub 0) of the signal and successive harmonics (h sub 1 through h sub n) of the fundamental frequency. The analysis also includes measuring the quadrature power and phase of each frequency tracked, differentiating the power measurements of the harmonics in adjacent pairs, and analyzing successive differentials to determine peak power points in the power spectrum for display or use in analysis of voiced sound, such as for voice recognition.

Hong, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Optical distance measuring instrument

An optical instrument, such as a stability monitor or a target range finder, uses an unstabilized laser to project a composite optical signal of coherent light having two naturally occurring longitudinal mode components. A beamsplitter divides the signal into a reference beam which is directed toward one photodetector and a transmitted beam which illuminates and is reflected from a distant target onto a second photodetector optically isolated from the first photodetector. Both photodetectors are operated on the square law principle to provide electrical signals modulated at a frequency equal to the separation between the frequencies of the two longitudinal mode components of the optical signal projected by the laser. Slight movement of the target may be detected and measured by electrically monitoring the phase difference between the two signals provided by the photodetectors and the range of the target measured with the aid of a microprocessor by changing the separation between the longitudinal modes by shifting the length of the resonator cavity in an iterative series of increments.

Abshire, J. B.↗