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At least 1,189 records · Page 66

University of Kentucky measurements of wind, temperature, pressure and humidity in support of LAPSE-RATE using multisite fixed-wing and rotorcraft unmanned aerial systems

In July 2018, unmanned aerial systems (UASs) were deployed to measure the properties of the lower atmosphere within the San Luis Valley, an elevated valley in Colorado, USA, as part of the Lower Atmospheric Profiling Studies at Elevation – a Remotely-piloted Aircraft Team Experiment (LAPSE-RATE). Measurement objectives included detailing boundary layer transition, canyon cold-air drainage and convection initiation within the valley. Details of the contribution to LAPSE-RATE made by the University of Kentucky are provided here, which include measurements by seven different fixed-wing and rotorcraft UASs totaling over 178 flights with validated data. The data from these coordinated UAS flights consist of thermodynamic and kinematic variables (air temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction) and include vertical profiles up to 900 m above the ground level and horizontal transects up to 1500 m in length. These measurements have been quality controlled and are openly available in the Zenodo LAPSE-RATE community data repository (https://zenodo.org/communities/lapse-rate/, last access: 23 July 2020), with the University of Kentucky data available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3701845 (Bailey et al., 2020).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

TRACER Soil Moisture Data, Guy TX

The purpose of this study was to collect and distribute ground-truth soil water content and meteorological data in the Houston, TX, area, supporting the Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility, and the 2022 field campaign for the Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER). The files herein contain soil water content and meteorological data for the Guy, Texas station that the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT Austin installed in the area of study during period of performance. This station produces two data files. First, the file ending with “_Soil_flagged.dat” contains mean hourly volumetric soil water content and temperature measured at 5, 10, 20 and 50 cm depths. The file ending with “_Meteoro_flagged.dat” contains mean hourly measured precipitation, air temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction, and solar radiation. All data have undergone QA/QC procedures that are described by Caldwell et al. (2019) and Dorigo et al. (2013) for the soil-specific data, and EPA (2008) for the meteorological data.

precipitation↗

Rough surface improves stability of air- sounding balloons

Aerodynamic stability of balloons used for measuring the intensity and direction of atmospheric winds at various elevations is improved by incorporating a rough surface on the balloons. The rough-surfaced balloon is useful for collecting wind profiles and other meteorological data.

Scoggins, J. R.↗

Transport processes in the thermosphere.

Description of two different approaches which have been undertaken to consider horizontal transport in the upper atmosphere by large-scale circulation. First and most direct, the horizontal wind field in the middle and upper thermosphere was calculated based on the pressure distributions derived from satellite orbital decay observations. The continuity conditions were used to calculate the vertical motions. The second approach was to evaluate the energy deficits or surpluses as a function of altitude and latitude and to assume the presence of vertical motions sufficient to balance these deficits or surpluses by compressional heating or cooling. Then continuity conditions were used to derive horizontal winds. The results of the two approaches are compatible, and are largely complementary. Downward velocities are near 1 m/sec at 300 km over the diurnal minimum and the winter polar region, and 1 cm/sec at 100 km over the winter polar region.

Johnson, F. S.↗

Study of the atmospheric conditions affecting infrared astronomical measurements at White Mountain, California

Measurements are described of atmospheric conditions affecting astronomical observations at White Mountain, California. Measurements were made at more than 1400 times spaced over more than 170 days at the Summit Laboratory and a small number of days at the Barcroft Laboratory. The recorded quantities were ten micron sky noise and precipitable water vapor, plus wet and dry bulb temperatures, wind speed and direction, brightness of the sky near the sun, fisheye lens photographs of the sky, description of cloud cover and other observable parameters, color photographs of air pollution astronomical seeing, and occasional determinations of the visible light brightness of the night sky. Measurements of some of these parameters have been made for over twenty years at the Barcroft and Crooked Creek Laboratories, and statistical analyses were made of them. These results and interpretations are given. The bulk of the collected data are statistically analyzed, and disposition of the detailed data is described. Most of the data are available in machine readable form. A detailed discussion of the techniques proposed for operation at White Mountain is given, showing how to cope with the mountain and climatic problems.

Field, G. B.↗

The earth as a radio source: The non-thermal continuum

A weak nonthermal continuum, radiated by the earth from energetic electrons in the outer radiation zone, is studied. It is shown that the frequency spectrum of the continuum radiation consists of two components, a trapped component, which is permanently trapped within the magnetosphere at frequencies below the solar wind plasma frequency, and an escaping component which propagates freely away from the earth at frequencies above the solar wind plasma frequency. Direction finding measurements and measurements of the spatial distribution of intensity for both components indicated that the continuum radiation is generated (1) in a broad region which extends through the morning and early afternoon immediately beyond the plasmapause boundary, and (2) over a broad range of latitudes, including the magnetic equator. Possible mechanisms by which this radiation is generated, including gyro-synchrotron radiation from energetic electrons in the outer radiation zone, are discussed.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

Detection techniques for tenuous planetary atmospheres

Electrostatic charging of dust and its effect on planetary atmospheres is discussed, along with its applications to Martian atmosphere. Laboratory and field experiments in dust storms indicate that the major atmospheric parameters on Mars include: (1) pressure, temperature, and relative humidity; (2) wind velocity and direction; (3) particulate size and composition; and (4) electrostatic charge and field gradient. Various instrumentation techniques adapted for a Mars Lander are briefly reviewed. The effect of exoelectron emission on surface catalysis is studied.

Hoenig, S. A.↗

Solar collector performance evaluated outdoors at NASA-Lewis Research Center

The study of solar reflector performance reported is related to a project in which solar collectors are to be provided for the solar heating and cooling system of an office building at NASA's Langley Research Center. The solar collector makes use of a liquid consisting of 50% ethylene glycol and 50% water. A conventional air-liquid heat exchanger is employed. Collector performance and solar insolation data are recorded along with air temperature, wind speed and direction, and relative humidity.

Vernon, R. W.↗

The scientific justification of a radar scatterometer and a passive microwave system on Seasat-A

The purpose of these two systems is to determine the winds over the ocean. The passive system may also provide data on precipitation over the ocean and sea surface temperature through clouds. They complement each other. The radar scatterometer will sense those sea surface properties that define the winds over the ocean through clouds so thick and so wet that the passive microwave system will have detected only the cloud properties. Both wind speed and direction can be found from the combined data to be obtained.

Pierson, W. J.↗

Use of the LANDSAT-2 Data Collection System in the Colorado River Basin Weather Modification Program

The author has identified the following significant results. The LANDSAT data collection system has proven itself to be a valuable tool for control of cloud seeding operations and for verification of weather forecasts. These platforms have proven to be reliable weather resistant units suitable for the collection of hydrometeorological data from remote severe weather environments. The detailed design of the wind speed and direction system and the wire-wrapping of the logic boards were completed.

Kahan, A. M.↗

Radio frequency boresight analysis of the low cost 64-meter antenna

Configurations (two) of the reflector-only assemblies, using different width backup cones, are analyzed for RF boresight direction changes and wind distortions. The wider backup cone is best for minimum weight; however, there is an optimum weight which minimizes the RF boresight errors for a wind load that produces the maximum pitching moment of both configurations.

Katow, M. S.↗

Wind tunnel measurements of the tower shadow on models of the ERDA/NASA 100 KW wind turbine tower

Detailed wind speed profile measurements were made in the wake of 1/25 scale and 1/48 scale tower models to determine the magnitude of the speed reduction (the tower shadow). The 1/25 scale tower modeled closely the actual wind turbine including the service stairway and the equipment elevator rails on one face. The 1/48 scale model was made of all tubular members. Measurements were made on the 1/25 scale model with and without the stairway and elevator rails, and on the 1/48 all tube model without stairs and rails. The test results show that the stairs and rails were a major source of wind flow blockage. The all tubular 1/48 scale tower was found to offer less resistance to the wind than the 1/25 scale model that contained a large number of square sections. Shadow photos are included to show the extent of the blockage offered to the wind from various directions.

Savino, J. M.↗

Improved transformer-winding method

Proposed technique using special bobbin and fixture to wind copper wire directly on core eliminates need core cut prior to assembly. Application of technique could result in production of quieter core with increased permeability and no localized heating.

Mclyman, W. T.↗

Hall devices improve electric motor efficiency

Efficiency of electric motors and generators is reduced by radial magnetic forces created by symmetric fields within device. Forces are sensed and counteracted by Hall devices on excitation or control windings. Hall generators directly measure and provide compensating control of anu asymmetry, eliminating additional measurements needed for calibration feedback control loop.

Haeussermann, W.↗

Central swath mapping by a future satellite-borne fan-beam microwave scatterometer for inferring global ocean wind fields

The Seasat-A satellite scatterometer is a microwave sensor designed to provide a capability for mapping the global ocean surface wind speed and direction. Four fan beams whose major axes are oriented at + or - 45 deg and + or - 135 deg to the flight vector cover a swath width of 1900 km, but a central region remains that is inadequately mapped. In this paper, two additional fan beams for a future scatterometer are suggested which provide more complete coverage of the central region.

Tomiyasu, K.↗

Detection and interpretation of ocean roughness variations across the Gulf Stream inferred from radar cross section observations

Radar cross section data shows that the Gulf Stream has a higher cross section per unit area (interpreted here as a greater roughness) than the water on the continental shelf. A steep gradient in cross section was often seen at the expected location of the western boundary. There were also longer-scale (10-20 km) gradual fluctuations within the stream of significant magnitude. These roughness variations are correlated with the surface shear stress that the local wind imposes on the sea. Using the available surface-truth information concerning the wind speed and direction, an assumed Gulf Stream velocity profile, and high-resolution ocean-surface temperature data obtained by the VHRR onboard a NOAA-NESS polar-orbiting satellite, the present study demonstrates that the computed surface stress variation bears a striking resemblance to the measured radar cross-section variations.

Weissman, D. E.↗