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At least 1,243 records · Page 69

Generating a Long-Term Land Data Record from the AVHRR and MODIS Instruments

The goal of NASA's Land Long Term Iiata Record (LTDR) project is to produce a consistent long term data set from the AVHRR and MODIS instruments for land climate studies. The project will create daily surface reflectance and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) products at a resolution of 0.05 deg., which is identical to the Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) used for MODIS products from EOS Terra and Aqua. Higher order products such as burned area, land surface temperature, albedo, bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) correction, leaf area index (LAI), and fraction of photosyntheticalIy active radiation absorbed by vegetation (fPAR), will be created. The LTDR project will reprocess Global Area Coverage (GAC) data from AVHRR sensors onboard NOAA satellites by applying the preprocessing improvements identified in the AVHRR Pathfinder Il project and atmospheric and BRDF corrections used in MODIS processing. The preprocessing improvements include radiometric in-flight vicarious calibration for the visible and near infrared channels and inverse navigation to relate an Earth location to each sensor instantaneous field of view (IFOV). Atmospheric corrections for Rayleigh scattering, ozone, and water vapor are undertaken, with aerosol correction being implemented. The LTDR also produces a surface reflectance product for channel 3 (3.75 micrometers). Quality assessment (QA) is an integral part of the LTDR production system, which is monitoring temporal trands in the AVHRR products using time-series approaches developed for MODIS land product quality assessment. The land surface reflectance products have been evaluated at AERONET sites. The AVHRR data record from LTDR is also being compared to products from the PAL (Pathfinder AVHRR Land) and GIMMS (Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies) systems to assess the relative merits of this reprocessing vis-a-vis these existing data products. The LTDR products and associated information can be found at http://ltdr.nascom.nasa.gov/ltdr/ltdr.html.

Pedelty, Jeffrey↗

A Piloted Simulator Evaluation of Transport Aircraft Rudder Pedal Force/Feel Characteristics

A piloted simulation study has been conducted in a fixed-base research simulator to assess the directional handling qualities for various rudder pedal feel characteristics for commercial transport airplanes. That is, the effects of static pedal force at maximum pedal travel, breakout force, and maximum pedal travel on handling qualities were studied. An artificial maneuver with a severe lateral wind shear and requiring runway tracking at an altitude of 50 feet in a crosswind was used to fully exercise the rudder pedals. Twelve active airline pilots voluntarily participated in the study and flew approximately 500 maneuvers. The pilots rated the maneuver performance with various rudder pedal feel characteristics using the Cooper- Harper rating scale. The test matrix had 15 unique combinations of the 3 static pedal feel characteristics. A 10-term, second-order equation for the Cooper-Harper pilot rating as a function of the 3 independent pedal feel parameters was fit to the data. The test matrix utilized a Central Composite Design that is very efficient for fitting an equation of this form. The equation was used to produce contour plots of constant pilot ratings as a function of two of the parameters with the third parameter held constant. These contour plots showed regions of good handling qualities as well as regions of degraded handling qualities. In addition, a numerical equation solver was used to predict the optimum parameter values (those with the lowest pilot rating). Quantitative pilot performance data were also analyzed. This analysis found that the peak values of the cross power spectra of the pedal force and heading angle could be used to quantify the tendency toward directional pilot induced oscillations (PIO). Larger peak values of the cross power spectra were correlated with larger (degraded) Cooper-Harper pilot ratings. Thus, the subjective data (Cooper-Harper pilot ratings) were consistent with the objective data (peak values of the cross power spectra).

Stewart, Eric C.↗

Approach to Managing MeaSURES Data at the GSFC Earth Science Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC)

A major need stated by the NASA Earth science research strategy is to develop long-term, consistent, and calibrated data and products that are valid across multiple missions and satellite sensors. (NASA Solicitation for Making Earth System data records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs) 2006-2010) Selected projects create long term records of a given parameter, called Earth Science Data Records (ESDRs), based on mature algorithms that bring together continuous multi-sensor data. ESDRs, associated algorithms, vetted by the appropriate community, are archived at a NASA affiliated data center for archive, stewardship, and distribution. See http://measures-projects.gsfc.nasa.gov/ for more details. This presentation describes the NASA GSFC Earth Science Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) approach to managing the MEaSUREs ESDR datasets assigned to GES DISC. (Energy/water cycle related and atmospheric composition ESDRs) GES DISC will utilize its experience to integrate existing and proven reusable data management components to accommodate the new ESDRs. Components include a data archive system (S4PA), a data discovery and access system (Mirador), and various web services for data access. In addition, if determined to be useful to the user community, the Giovanni data exploration tool will be made available to ESDRs. The GES DISC data integration methodology to be used for the MEaSUREs datasets is presented. The goals of this presentation are to share an approach to ESDR integration, and initiate discussions amongst the data centers, data managers and data providers for the purpose of gaining efficiencies in data management for MEaSUREs projects.

Vollmer, Bruce↗

Cosmic ray antiprotons in the closed galaxy model

A calculation is made of the flux of secondary antiprotons expected for the leaky box model and for the closed galaxy model of Peters and Westergaard (1977). The antiproton/proton ratio observed at several GeV is a factor of 4 higher than the prediction for the leaky box model but is consistent with that predicted for the closed galaxy model. It is found that new low-energy data are not consistent with either model. Attention is given to the possibility of a primary antiproton component.

Protheroe, R. J.↗

Geochemical and isotopic constraints on the tectonic setting of Serra dos Carajas belt, eastern Para, Brazil

The lower part of the Serra dos Carajas belt is the metavolcanic and metasedimentary Grao para Group (GPG). The GPG is thought to unconformably overlie the older (but undated) Xingu Complex, composed of medium and high-grade gneisses and amphibolite and greenstone belts. The geochemical data indicate that the GPG has many features in common with ancient and modern volcanic suites erupted through continental crust. The mafic rocks clearly differ from those of most Archean greenstone belts, and modern MORB, IAB, and hot-spot basalts. The geological, geochemical, and isotopic data are all consistent with deposition on continental crust, presumably in a marine basin formed by crustal extension. The isotopic data also suggest the existence of depleted mantle as a source for the parent magmas of the GPG. The overall results suggest a tectonic environment, igneous sources, and petrogenesis similar to many modern continental extensional basins, in contrast to most Archean greenstone belts. The Hammersley basin in Australia and the circum-Superior belts in Canada may be suitable Archean and Proterozoic analogues, respectively.

Olszewski, W. J., Jr.↗

Isotopic signatures of black tektites from the K-T boundary on Haiti - Implications for the age and type of source material

An isotopic study was carried out to characterize the type of black tektites from the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary on Haiti (the first reasonably well-preserved impact-derived material recovered from the K-T boundary), in order to help characterize the tektite source material (i.e., the type of rocks that were melted and ejected during the impact event(s) at around 64.5 Ma). Results show that the isotopic data and all of the element concentration data obtained are consistent with an andesitic-dacitic composition for the tektites and their source material. The Nd isotopic data suggest that the source rocks were not older than Silurian (T(chur) = 400 Ma) in age, and were composed largely of young (less than 1080 Ma) crustal material. Of the suspected K-T boundary impact sites, both the Manson (Iowa) and Chicxulub (Yucatan) structures occur in suitable lithologies to yield the Haitian black tektites.

Premo, W. R.↗

Sensor-knowledge-command fusion paradigm for man/machine systems

Sensing-knowledge-command (SKC) fusion is presented as a fundamental paradigm of implementing cooperative control for an advanced man-machine system. SKC fusion operates on the 'SKC fusion network,' which represents the connection between sensor data to commands through knowledge. Sensing, knowledge, and command of a human and a machine are tapped into the network to provide inputs, or stimuli, to the network. Such stimuli automatically invoke an SKC fusion process and generate a fused output for cooperative control. Once invoked by stimuli, the SKC fusion process forces the network to converge to a new equilibrium state through the network dynamics composed of data fusion, feature transformation, and constraint propagation. The SKC fusion process thus integrates redundant information, maintains network consistency, identifies faulty data and concepts, and specifies those concepts to be strengthened through sensor planning.

Lee, Sukhan↗

Stable Targets for Spaceborne Microwave Radiometer Calibration

Beginning in the 1970s, continuous observations of the Earth have been made by spaceborne microwave radiometers. Since these instruments have different observational characteristics, care must be taken in combining their data to form consistent long term records of brightness temperatures and derived geophysical quantities. To be useful for climate studies, data from different instruments must be calibrated relative to each other and to reference targets on the ground whose characteristics are stable and can be monitored continuously. Identifying such targets over land is not straightforward due to the heterogeneity and complexity of the land surface and cover. In this work, we provide an analysis of multi-sensor brightness temperature statistics over ocean, tropical forest, and ice sheet locations, spanning the period from 1978 to the present, and indicate the potential of these sites as continuous calibration monitoring targets.

microwave radiometers↗

Laser transit anemometer software development program

Algorithms were developed for the extraction of two components of mean velocity, standard deviation, and the associated correlation coefficient from laser transit anemometry (LTA) data ensembles. The solution method is based on an assumed two-dimensional Gaussian probability density function (PDF) model of the flow field under investigation. The procedure consists of transforming the data ensembles from the data acquisition domain (consisting of time and angle information) to the velocity space domain (consisting of velocity component information). The mean velocity results are obtained from the data ensemble centroid. Through a least squares fitting of the transformed data to an ellipse representing the intersection of a plane with the PDF, the standard deviations and correlation coefficient are obtained. A data set simulation method is presented to test the data reduction process. Results of using the simulation system with a limited test matrix of input values is also given.

Abbiss, John B.↗

Predicting the Seawater Chemistry of an Ocean World Using Machine Learning on Isotopic Measurements of Volatile CO2

Introduction: Given the long time intervals required for data transmission to and from ocean worlds targets, low bandwidth for data transmission, time required for data processing and analysis, and potentially extreme radiation environments (e.g., Europa), it is clear that ocean worlds missions will need more autonomous flight instruments and software in order to achieve established science goals. Protracted time intervals for data analysis (e.g., Europa Lander) strongly motivates the development of rapid, consistent and streamlined methods for interpreting data from flight mass spectrometers to e.g., determine how mass spectra from a plume or surface liquid/ice relates to the surface/subsurface. Since mass spectrometry also has the potential to correctly identify biosignatures[1], it is imperative that such methods for interpreting data are consistent and accurate. We used 848 isotope ratio mass spectra from laboratory analyses of CO2 that interacted with ocean worlds-relevant seawaters as a ‘training’ dataset for ‘unsupervised’ machine learning. In unsupervised learning, characteristics of the data are not labeled or linked, and any similarities found only result from the neural network. CO2 isotopologues analyzed for this dataset mimic the remote measurements of CO2 by a flight mass spectrometer, and are detailed in Theiling [2]. From this dataset, we used measured features of the spectra, such as retention time, intensity, and (isotopologue) mass ratios as inputs for our autoencoder neural network. Our neural network was trained to find similarities in these and other spectral features for seawaters of a particular composition and amount of initial CO2. Successful training then created an output of these similarities for various seawaters, which included MgSO4, Na2SO4, NaCl, MgCl2, KCl, and NaHCO3, and combinations of these salts. We then applied dimensionality reduction techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), T-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (TSNE), and Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) to demonstrate latent data features as a two-dimensional projection in a unitless, high-dimensional space. In this projection, a data point represents the combined effect of spectral features such as intensity, retention time, and isotope ratio. Our initial UMAP demonstrates data clustering (organization of the data by the neural network) based on the amount of CO2 that had initially interacted with each seawater. Further training using more ‘supervised’ learning techniques demonstrate strong clustering of preliminary data based on initial CO2 concentration, seawater chemical composition, and ionic strength (salinity). Our preliminary work therefore suggests that machine learning has the potential to identify compositional variants of an ocean world seawater based on mass spectra from volatile CO2 measurements. Acknowledgments: This work was funded through a Strategic Task Group at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The training dataset was collected through funding from the Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium. References: [1] Pappalardo, R. et al. (2013) Astrobiology, 13, 740–773. [2] Theiling (2020) Icarus, 114216.

Europa↗

The development of insulated electrocardiogram electrodes

An integrated system was developed, consisting of an insulated electrode and an impedance transformer, which can be used for the acquisition of electrocardiographic data. The electrode consists of a thin layer of dielectric material deposited onto a silicon substrate. The impedance transformer is an operational amplifier used in the unity gain configuration. Both electrode and impedance transformer are contained in a plastic housing identical to that used with the NASA Apollo-type electrode. The lower cut off frequency of the electrode system is between 0.01 and 1.0 Hz, depending on the dielectric used and its thickness. Clinical quality electrocardiograms were obtained with these electrodes.

Portnoy, W. M.↗

New-Generation NASA Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) Volcanic SO2 Dataset: Algorithm Description, Initial Results, and Continuation with the Suomi-NPP Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS)

Since the fall of 2004, the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) has been providing global monitoring of volcanic SO2 emissions, helping to understand their climate impacts and to mitigate aviation hazards. Here we introduce a new-generation OMI volcanic SO2 dataset based on a principal component analysis (PCA) retrieval technique. To reduce retrieval noise and artifacts as seen in the current operational linear fit (LF) algorithm, the new algorithm, OMSO2VOLCANO, uses characteristic features extracted directly from OMI radiances in the spectral fitting, thereby helping to minimize interferences from various geophysical processes (e.g., O3 absorption) and measurement details (e.g., wavelength shift). To solve the problem of low bias for large SO2 total columns in the LF product, the OMSO2VOLCANO algorithm employs a table lookup approach to estimate SO2 Jacobians (i.e., the instrument sensitivity to a perturbation in the SO2 column amount) and iteratively adjusts the spectral fitting window to exclude shorter wavelengths where the SO2 absorption signals are saturated. To first order, the effects of clouds and aerosols are accounted for using a simple Lambertian equivalent reflectivity approach. As with the LF algorithm, OMSO2VOLCANO provides total column retrievals based on a set of predefined SO2 profiles from the lower troposphere to the lower stratosphere, including a new profile peaked at 13 km for plumes in the upper troposphere. Examples given in this study indicate that the new dataset shows significant improvement over the LF product, with at least 50% reduction in retrieval noise over the remote Pacific. For large eruptions such as Kasatochi in 2008 (approximately 1700 kt total SO2/ and Sierra Negra in 2005 (greater than 1100DU maximum SO2), OMSO2VOLCANO generally agrees well with other algorithms that also utilize the full spectral content of satellite measurements, while the LF algorithm tends to underestimate SO2. We also demonstrate that, despite the coarser spatial and spectral resolution of the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi-NPP) Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) instrument, application of the new PCA algorithm to OMPS data produces highly consistent retrievals between OMI and OMPS. The new PCA algorithm is therefore capable of continuing the volcanic SO2 data record well into the future using current and future hyperspectral UV satellite instruments.

OMI↗

Extended testing of a general contextual classifier using the massively parallel processor - Preliminary results and test plans

Earlier encouraging test results of a contextual classifier that combines spatial and spectral information employing a general statistical approach are expanded. The earlier results were of limited meaning because they were produced from small (50-by-50 pixel) data sets. An implementation of the contextual classifier on NASA Goddard's Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) is presented; for the first time the MPP makes feasible the testing of the classifier on large data sets (a 12-hour test on a VAX-11/780 minicomputer now takes 5 minutes on the MPP). The MPP is a Single-Instruction, Multiple Data Stream computer, consisting of 16,384 bit serial microprocessors connected in a 128-by-128 mesh array with each element having data transfer connections with its four nearest neighbors so that the MPP is capable of billions of operations per second. Preliminary results are given (with more expected for the conference) and plans are mentioned for extended testing of the contextual classifier on Thematic Mapper data sets.

Tilton, J. C.↗

Development of an Experimental Rig for Investigation of Higher Order Modes in Ducts

Continued progress to reduce fan noise emission from high bypass ratio engine ducts in aircraft increasingly relies on accurate description of the sound propagation in the duct. A project has been undertaken at NASA Langley Research Center to investigate the propagation of higher order modes in ducts with flow. This is a two-pronged approach, including development of analytic models (the subject of a separate paper) and installation of a laboratory-quality test rig. The purposes of the rig are to validate the analytical models and to evaluate novel duct acoustic liner concepts, both passive and active. The dimensions of the experimental rig test section scale to between 25% and 50% of the aft bypass ducts of most modern engines. The duct is of rectangular cross section so as to provide flexibility to design and fabricate test duct liner samples. The test section can accommodate flow paths that are straight through or offset from inlet to discharge, the latter design allowing investigation of the effect of curvature on sound propagation and duct liner performance. The maximum air flow rate through the duct is Mach 0.3. Sound in the duct is generated by an array of 16 high-intensity acoustic drivers. The signals to the loudspeaker array are generated by a multi-input/multi-output feedforward control system that has been developed for this project. The sound is sampled by arrays of flush-mounted microphones and a modal decomposition is performed at the frequency of sound generation. The data acquisition system consists of two arrays of flush-mounted microphones, one upstream of the test section and one downstream. The data are used to determine parameters such as the overall insertion loss of the test section treatment as well as the effect of the treatment on a modal basis such as mode scattering. The methodology used for modal decomposition is described, as is a description of the mode generation control system. Data are presented which demonstrate the performance of the controller to generate the desired mode while suppressing all other cut on modes in the duct.

Gerhold, Carl H.↗

The Evolution of the Cluster X-ray Scaling Relations in the Wide Angle ROSAT Pointed Survey Sample at 0.6 < z < 1.0

The X-ray properties of a sample of 11 high-redshift (0.6 < z < 1 .O) clusters observed with Chardm and/or XMM-Newton are used to investigate the evolution of the cluster scaling relations. The observed evolution in the normalization of the L-T, M-T, M(sub 2)-T and M-L relations is consistent with simple self-similar predictions, in which the properties of clusters reflect the properties of the Universe at their redshift of observation. Under the assumption that the model of self-similar evolution is correct and that the local systems formed via a single spherical collapse, the high-redshift L-T relation is consistent with the high-z clusters having virialized at a significantly higher redshift than the local systems. The data are also consistent with the more realistic scenario of clusters forming via the continuous accretion of material. The slope of the L-T relation at high redshift (B = 3.32 +/- 0.37) is consistent with the local relation, and significantly steeper than the self-similar prediction of B = 2. This suggests that the same non-gravitational processes are responsible for steepening the local and high-z relations, possibly occurring universally at z is approximately greater than 1 or in the early stages of the cluster formation, prior to their observation. The properties of the intracluster medium at high redshift are found to be similar to those in the local Universe. The mean surface-brightness profile slope for the sample is Beta = 0.66 +/- 0.05, the mean gas mass fractions within R(sub 2500(z)) and R(200(z)) are 0.069 +/- 0.012 and 0.11 +/- 0.02, respectively, and the mean metallicity of the sample is 0.28 +/- 0.11 Z(sub solar).

Maughan, B. J.↗

Estimating Emissions of Methane Consistent with Atmospheric Measurements of Methane and δC-13 of Methane

We have constructed an atmospheric inversion framework based on TM5-4DVAR to jointly assimilate measurements of methane and δC-13 of methane in order to estimate source-specific methane emissions. Here we present global emission estimates from this framework for the period 1999–2016. We assimilate a newly constructed, multi-agency database of CH4 and δC-13 measurements. We find that traditional CH4-only atmospheric inversions are unlikely to estimate emissions consistent with atmospheric δC-13 data and assimilating δC-13 data is necessary to derive emissions consistent with both measurements. Our framework attributes ca. 85% of the post-2007 growth in atmospheric methane to microbial sources, with about half of that coming from the tropics between 23.5° N and 23.5° S. This contradicts the attribution of the recent growth in the methane budget of the Global Carbon Project (GCP). We find that the GCP attribution is only consistent with our top-down estimate in the absence of δC-13 data. We find that at global and continental scales, δC-13 data can separate microbial from fossil methane emissions much better than CH4 data alone, and at smaller scales this ability is limited by the current δC-13 measurement coverage. Finally, we find that the largest uncertainty in using δC-13 data to separate different methane source types comes from our knowledge of atmospheric chemistry, specifically the distribution of tropospheric chlorine and the isotopic discrimination of the methane sink.

Methane↗

Observations of the He II 304-A radiation in the night sky.

The intensity and spatial variations of the He II 304-A radiation in the night sky were measured to an altitude of 264 km from a sounding rocket launched from Thumba, India, on Mar. 10, 1970. The data obtained are presented in the form of an all-sky map and are compared with theoretical predictions. The data are not consistent either with diffusive equilibrium models of exospheric helium or with plausible models of helium in the interplanetary medium. The data can be fit with a constant-density plasmasphere model bounded at the magnetic shell L = 4 in combination with a tenuous gas of helium ions in the plasma sheet. Numerical results obtained with this model are compared with in situ satellite observations.

Paresce, F.↗

An application of the Multi-Purpose System Simulation /MPSS/ model to the Monitor and Control Display System /MACDS/ at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration /NASA/ Goddard Space Flight Center /GSFC/

The Multi-Purpose System Simulator (MPSS) model was used to investigate the current and projected performance of the Monitor and Control Display System (MACDS) at the Goddard Space Flight Center in processing and displaying launch data adequately. MACDS consists of two interconnected mini-computers with associated terminal input and display output equipment and a disk-stored data base. Three configurations of MACDS were evaluated via MPSS and their performances ascertained. First, the current version of MACDS was found inadequate to handle projected launch data loads because of unacceptable data backlogging. Second, the current MACDS hardware with enhanced software was capable of handling two times the anticipated data loads. Third, an up-graded hardware ensemble combined with the enhanced software was capable of handling four times the anticipated data loads.

Mill, F. W.↗