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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

Boundary-layer and wake measurements on a swept, circulation-control wing

Wind-tunnel measurements of boundary-layer and wake velocity profiles and surface static-pressure distributions are presented for a swept, circulation-control wing. The model is an aspect-ratio-four semispan wing mounted on the tunnel side wall at a sweep angle of 45 deg. A full-span, tangential, rearward-blowing, circulation-control slot is located ahead of the trailing edge on the upper surface. Flow surveys were obtained at mid-semispan at freestream Mach numbers of 0.425 and 0.70. Boundary-layer profiles measured on the forward portions of the wing are approximately streamwise and two-dimensional. The flow in the vicinity of the jet exit and in the near wake is highly three-dimensional. The jet flow near the slot on the Coanda surface is directed normal to the slot. Near-wake surveys show large outboard flows at the center of the wake. At Mach 0.425 and a 5-deg angle of attack, a range of jet blowing rates was found for which an abrupt transition from incipient separation to attached flow occurs in the boundary layer upstream of the slot. The variation in the lower-surface separation location with blowing rate was determined from boundary-layer measurements at Mach 0.425.

Spaid, Frank W.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Lasers and the Dynamic Mesosphere/Thermosphere of Venus

A review of ground based mid-infrared uniquely high spectral. resolution measurements of Venus dynamics, temperature, and chemistry will be presented. The described studies will focus on the use of CO2 absorption features and the discovery- and use of CO2 thermospheric non-thermal emission: lines as probes of Venus' atmosphere, from the cloud tops to approx.120 km in the thermosphere. The first investigations using infrared heterodyne spectroscopy with resolving power lambda/Delta(lambda) approx. 10(exp 6) to measure true emission line profiles and to determine their non-thermal nature and lasing component will be described. The use of the thermospheric non-thermal CO2 emission to directly measure sub-solar to anti-solar winds and zonal circulation near 110 km altitudes on Venus to approx.2 m/s accuracy will also be described. The measured emission lures are also used to obtain global maps of mesospheric/thermospheric kinetic and rotational temperatures as well as to obtain evidence of the natural lasing phenomena. Carbon dioxide absorption features globally probe lower altitudes in the atmosphere and can be used to determine nightside temperatures. Isotopic 13 CO2 absorption lines are used to probe deeper in the atmosphere to measure the sub-solar to anti-solar return flow at altitudes just above the cloud tops. These results provided a model for global circulation in the 65 - 120 km altitude region first proposed by Goldstein (1989, PhD.Thesis, U. Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA). Results of similar wind and temperature measurements made in recent years will be compared to earlier results to investigate changes in the circulation and temperatures since approx.1990. The high resolution infrared heterodyne technique was also used to investigate chemical processes above the cloud tops, specifically evidence and constraints on oxygen-based chemistry. Described measurements were made by infrared heterodyne spectroscopy using the Goddard Space Flight Center Infrared Heterodyne Spectrometer (IRHS) the GSFC Heterodyne Instrument for Planetary wind And Composition (HIPWAC) and the University of Cologne Tuneable Heterodyne Infrared Spectrometer (THIS).

Kostiuk, Theodor↗
NASA NTRS1997

Friction Velocity Estimation Using Dual-Frequency Altimeter Data

Global estimation of wind speeds near the sea-surface can be obtained using normalized radar cross sections sigma(o) from satellite-borne single-frequency altimeters. Indeed recent validation studies of Geosat altimeter-derived wind speeds show that several often cited semiempirical algorithms yield linear trends between wind-speeds from altimeter data and wind speeds from (a) ships of opportunity (Etcheto 1992), (b) buoys (Carter 1992), and (c) atmospheric models (Guillaume 1992). Although the linear trends are striking, there is considerable scatter since the range of standard deviations is from 1.5 to 3 m/s. In fact, the scatter of some particular measurements about the regressions is striking because they depart from the 'standard' by as much as +/- 5 m/s, which is large - even for full gale winds of 20 m/s. These anomalies can cause serious problems for gas exchange, heat, and aerosol estimates. They can also induce considerable errors in wind-driven oceanic circulation models and sea-surface wave models. This paper explores the possibility of improving the accuracy of wind speed estimation using dual-frequency altimeters.

Bliven, Larry F.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Martian B Storm Evolution: Modeling Dust Activity over the Receding South Polar CO 2 Ice Cap at Southern Hemisphere Summer Solstice

Observations of annually recurring, elevated (25 km) atmospheric warming and associated dust concentrations over the south polar cap near Southern Hemisphere (SH) summer solstice are the defining features of the regional dust storm known as the B storm [1]. Our observational analysis of MCS and TES temperature and dust retrievals include all Mars Years (MY) lacking a global dust storm (GDS) between MY 26 and MY 33 (Figure 1). The data indicate the B storm is initiated around perihelion (L s =252°) in the southern midlatitudes and reaches maximum height and intensity over the south pole near SH summer solstice at L s ~267°. At peak intensity, mid-level atmospheric temperatures are elevated by as much as 30 K and mid-level atmospheric dust mixing ratios are more than triple pre-B storm levels (1.5-2 ppm to 7-8 ppm). Cap edge lifting may contribute significantly to initial dust mobilization in the B storm since surface wind stress along the receding cap edge is likely strengthened by the combined effects of the sea breeze circulation and katabatic winds at this time of year [2, 3, 4]. We are investigating dust lifting and lofting near the south pole of Mars during SH summer using the NASA Ames Mars Global Climate Model (MGCM). The NASA Ames MGCM is a finite-volume numerical model with a cubed sphere grid ideal for modeling processes at high latitudes. Initial simulations at low resolution (4x4 degrees) capture some elevated dust and associated warming at the south pole around L s =265°, but the model fails to capture the intensity of the B storm. We will examine and present the model-predicted surface stress and vertical velocities near the receding seasonal CO 2 cap edge and at the south pole during solstice. Finally, we will present higher resolution simulations to better capture small-scale dynamics and features at the pole.

Courtney M. L. Batterson↗
NASA NTRS2000

Hurricane Bonnie Landfalling Observed from ER-2 Doppler Radar on 26 August 1998 During CAMEX-3

The NASA ER-2 and DC-8 aircraft collected remote sensing and in situ data sets from Hurricane Bonnie (23, 24, and 26 August 1998) during the Convection And Moisture Experimental-3 (CAMEX-3). Bonnie was an exceptional case where NASA and NOAA had five aircraft sampling both upper levels and lower altitudes. The ER-2 was instrumented with the ER-2 Doppler XBand radar (EDOP) and several radiometers ranging from visible to lower frequency microwaves. EDOP is a fixed dual-beam radar (nadir and forward-looking beams) which allows computation of both vertical and alongtrack horizontal winds. The hurricane secondary circulation is typically difficult to measure at upper levels due to aircraft altitude limitations and sensitivity of the lower altitude airborne radars. EDOP is in principle, well suited to measure these components of the wind. When ER-2 flies across the approximate center of the hurricane circulation, the along-track winds derived from EDOP, are approximately equal to the hurricane radial flow comprising the secondary circulation. Assuming that the hydrometeor fallspeeds can be approximated, the radial and vertical wind components of the secondary circulation can be measured. Since the hydrometeor motions can be estimated with more confidence in the higher altitude ice regions (i.e., graupel and mixed phase are complicated at lower altitudes), the derived radial and vertical winds have higher accuracy at upper levels. On the other hand, the reflectivities are extremely low at higher altitudes, resulting in fewer Doppler velocity estimates.

Heymsfield, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Determination of wind from NIMBUS 6 satellite sounding data

Objective methods of computing upper level and surface wind fields from NIMBUS 6 satellite sounding data are developed. These methods are evaluated by comparing satellite derived and rawinsonde wind fields on gridded constant pressure charts in four geographical regions. Satellite-derived and hourly observed surface wind fields are compared. Results indicate that the best satellite-derived wind on constant pressure charts is a geostrophic wind derived from highly smoothed fields of geopotential height. Satellite-derived winds computed in this manner and rawinsonde winds show similar circulation patterns except in areas of small height gradients. Magnitudes of the standard deviation of the differences between satellite derived and rawinsonde wind speeds range from approximately 3 to 12 m/sec on constant pressure charts and peak at the jet stream level. Fields of satellite-derived surface wind computed with the logarithmic wind law agree well with fields of observed surface wind in most regions. Magnitudes of the standard deviation of the differences in surface wind speed range from approximately 2 to 4 m/sec, and satellite derived surface winds are able to depict flow across a cold front and around a low pressure center.

Carle, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The aerodynamics of circulation control

Two dimensional subsonic wind tunnel tests were conducted on a 20% thickness: chord ratio circulation controlled elliptic aerofoil section equipped with forward and reverse blowing slots. Overall performance measurements were made over a range of trailing edge blowing momentum coefficients from 0 to 0.04; some included the effect of leading edge blowing. A detailed investigation of the trailing edge wall jet, using split film probes, hot wire probes and total head tubes, provided measurements of mean velocity components, Reynolds normal and shear stresses, and radial static pressure. The closure of the two dimensional angular momentum and continuity equations was examined using the measured data, with and without correction, and the difficulty of obtaining a satisfactory solution illustrated. Suggestions regarding the nature of the flow field which should aid the understanding of Coanda effect and the theoretical solution of highly curved wall jet flows are presented.

Wood, N. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Jovian winds from Voyager 2. I - Zonal mean circulation

Independent measurements of Jovian cloud motions confirm previously published results on the general structure of Jupiter's zonal mean circulation. The new results are based on Voyager 2 images and measurement techniques which are different from those used in previous studies. The latitudes of the zonal jets agree with previous results, but there are some differences in the measured speed of the jets which exceed uncertainty estimates. These differences may be due to differences in sampling strategies. The structure of the zonal mean meridional velocity profile has still not been clearly resolved: mean meridional velocities generally differ from zero by no more than their estimated uncertainty. An analysis of successive measurements of the same cloud targets shows that most of the variance of individual velocity measurements is due to true variability of the winds.

Limaye, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Lower thermosphere wind regime according to radiometeor measurements in Kazan

Research in dynamic processes in the lower thermosphere has been carried out in Kazan using the meteor radar facilities of the Kazan State University under the MAP-GLOBMET international program. Presented is experimental data on seasonal dependences of the wind for anomalous winter circulation periods, spring and autumn reconstructions and stable summer circulation from observations conducted in 1978 to 1984. Prevailing wind parameters are shown: zonal and meridional component amplitudes and A sub 0 and azimuth of the prevailing wind vector. The values are also presented for semidiurnal zonal and meridional tidal components, their correlation coefficient and zonal component amplitude maximum time.

Sidorov, V. V.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Predicting Tropical Cyclogenesis with a Global Mesoscale Model: Hierarchical Multiscale Interactions During the Formation of Tropical Cyclone Nargis(2008)

Very severe cyclonic storm Nargis devastated Burma (Myanmar) in May 2008, caused tremendous damage and numerous fatalities, and became one of the 10 deadliest tropical cyclones (TCs) of all time. To increase the warning time in order to save lives and reduce economic damage, it is important to extend the lead time in the prediction of TCs like Nargis. As recent advances in high-resolution global models and supercomputing technology have shown the potential for improving TC track and intensity forecasts, the ability of a global mesoscale model to predict TC genesis in the Indian Ocean is examined in this study with the aim of improving simulations of TC climate. High-resolution global simulations with real data show that the initial formation and intensity variations of TC Nargis can be realistically predicted up to 5 days in advance. Preliminary analysis suggests that improved representations of the following environmental conditions and their hierarchical multiscale interactions were the key to achieving this lead time: (1) a westerly wind burst and equatorial trough, (2) an enhanced monsoon circulation with a zero wind shear line, (3) good upper-level outflow with anti-cyclonic wind shear between 200 and 850 hPa, and (4) low-level moisture convergence.

Shen, B.-W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

An analysis of the high-latitude thermospheric wind pattern calculated by a thermospheric general circulation model. II - Neutral parcel transport

A diagnostic package developed to analyze runs made by the National Center for Atmospheric Research thermosphere general circulation model is used to calculate neutral parcel trajectories in the high-latitude E and F regions. Parcel trajectories are presented for a number of different cases to illustrate the main characteristics of F region parcel transport in the winter high-latitude region. Several examples of E region parcel trajectories are similarly analyzed, concentrating on both the southern (summer) and northern (winter) regions. F region parcel trajectories are calculated backward in time from passage over a given geographical location to illustrate the 'genesis' of those parcels whose velocities can be monitored from a ground-based Fabry-Perot observatory.

Killeen, T. L.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Interseasonal Connections between the Timing of the Stratospheric Final Warming and Arctic Sea Ice

Connections across seasons in atmospheric circulation and sea ice have long been sought to advance seasonal prediction. This study presents a link between the springtime stratosphere and Arctic sea ice in summer through autumn. The polar stratospheric vortex dominates the winter stratosphere before breaking down each spring, which is called the stratospheric final warming, as solar radiation returns to the pole. Interannual variability of this breakdown is dynamically driven, leading to different springtime tropospheric and surface circulation patterns. To examine the different impacts of delayed and early final warmings, a multimodel composite was generated from selected CMIP5 models. Additionally, regressions were performed on JRA-55 against an index of springtime polar vortex strength. In both the multimodel composites and reanalysis regressions, significant anomalies in sea ice thickness persist several months following an anomalous timing of the final warming. A later final warming or stronger springtime polar stratospheric vortex leads to negative sea ice thickness anomalies in the East Siberian Sea and positive anomalies in the Beaufort Sea in comparison with an earlier final warming or weaker polar vortex. The spring polar stratospheric vortex is related to spring polar surface circulation patterns. The winds associated with this pattern induce anomalous sea ice motion, moving ice from the East Siberian Sea toward the Beaufort Sea. Reduced sea ice in the East Siberian Sea is linked to anomalous warmth over this region in autumn. Our results suggest that the timing of the stratospheric final warming exerts an influence on the tropospheric circulation and sea ice through autumn, which has implications for seasonal climate prediction.

Kelleher, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparative Evaluation of the Ability of the MYNN‐EDMF PBL Scheme in WRF Model to Reproduce Near Surface Wind Speed Over Different Topographical Types

Abstract This study systematically evaluates the performance of the Mellor‐Yamada‐Nakanishi‐Niino‐Eddy‐Diffusion‐Mass‐Flux planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme within the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in simulating near‐surface wind speeds across various topographies in New York State (NYS). Simulated wind speeds are compared with in‐situ measurements from 22 surface sites, grouped into six topographic categories: continental plain (CT), lakeside (LS), river valley (RV), Long Island (LI), Block Island (BI), and offshore ocean (OO). A quantitative evaluation based on Relative Euclidean Distance shows that wind speeds at the OO site are the most accurately reproduced, followed by those at LI sites, while the model performs less accurately for the remaining topographic groups. Wind speeds over CT sites tend to be overestimated by approximately 1 m/s, although their diurnal variability (DV) is well captured. In contrast, the model underestimates wind DV at LS, RV, LI, and BI sites, with the largest biases occurring at LI and BI, resulting in underestimated daytime wind speed and/or overestimated nighttime wind speed. The OO winds exhibit minimal diurnal variation, accurately captured by our WRF model. The surface wind diurnal variation is closely linked to PBL development. Among the indicators of PBL development, surface potential temperature biases most strongly correlate with wind speed biases. Our WRF model faces challenges in capturing the distinctions between winds influenced by local circulations and those over continental plains, and the significantly stronger winds at OO compared to BI. Potential causes for these biases are discussed, offering pathways for improving surface wind simulations in future.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1987

A method of calculating the total flow from a given sea surface topography

Using a simple dynamical model of a wind-driven ocean circulation of the Stommel type, and an analytical basis developed to objectively analyze the sea surface height residuals from an altimeter and, in the process, to determine the total flow instead of just the near surface geostrophic component associated with the given sea surface topography. The method is based on first deriving the solution to the forced problem for a given wind stress required to develop a hypothetical true or perfect data field and to establishing the basis for the objective analysis. The stream function and the surface height field for the forced problem are developed in terms of certain characteristic functions with the same expansion coefficients for both fields. These characteristic functions are simply the solutions for a homogeneous elliptic equation for the stream function and the solutions of an inhomogeneous balance equation for the height field. For the objective analysis, using a sample of randomly selected height values from the true data field, the height field characteristic functions are used to fit the given topography in a least squares sense. The resulting expansion coefficients then permit the synthesis of the total flow field via the stream function characteristic modes and the solution is perfectly well behaved even along the equator. The method of solution is easily adaptable to realistic ocean basis by straight forward numerical methods. The analytical basis of the theory and the results for an ideal rectangular basin on a beta plane are described.

Rao, Desiraju B.↗
NASA NTRS2002

On the Regulation of the Pacific Warm Pool Temperature

In the tropical western Pacific, regions of the highest sea surface temperature (SST) and the largest cloud cover are found to have the largest surface heating, primarily due to the weak evaporative cooling associated with weak winds. This situation is in variance with the suggestions that the temperature in the Pacific warm pool is regulated either by the reduced solar heating due to an enhanced cloudiness or by the enhanced evaporative cooling due to an elevated SST. It is clear that an enhanced surface heating in an enhanced convection region is not sustainable and must be interrupted by variations in large-scale atmospheric circulation. As the deep convective regions shift away from regions of high SST due primarily to seasonal variation and secondarily to interannual variation of the large-scale atmospheric and oceanic circulation, both trade wind and evaporative cooling in the high SST region increase, leading to a reduction in SST. We conclude that the evaporative cooling associated with the seasonal and interannual variations of trade winds in the primary factor that prevent the warm pool SST from increasing to a value much higher than what is observed.

Chou, Ming-Dah↗
NASA NTRS2001

The Low-Frequency Variability of the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

Upper ocean temperature variability in the tropical Atlantic is examined from the Comprehensive Ocean Atmosphere Data Set (COADS) as well as from an ocean model simulation forced by COADS anomalies appended to a monthly climatology. Our findings are as follows: Only the sea surface temperatures (SST) in the northern tropics are driven by heat fluxes, while the southern tropical variability arises from wind driven ocean circulation changes. The subsurface temperatures in the northern and southern tropics are found to have a strong linkage to buoyancy forcing changes in the northern North Atlantic. Evidence for Kelvin-like boundary wave propagation from the high latitudes is presented from the model simulation. This extratropical influence is associated with wintertime North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) forcing and manifests itself in the northern and southern tropical temperature anomalies of the same sign at depth of 100-200 meters as result of a Rossby wave propagation away from the eastern boundary in the wake of the boundary wave passage. The most apparent association of the southern tropical sea surface temperature anomalies (STA) arises with the anomalous cross-equatorial winds which can be related to both NAO and the remote influence from the Pacific equatorial region. These teleconnections are seasonal so that the NAO impact on the tropical SST is the largest it mid-winter but in spring and early summer the Pacific remote influence competes with NAO. However, NAO appears to have a more substantial role than the Pacific influence at low frequencies during the last 50 years. The dynamic origin of STA is indirectly confirmed from the SST-heat flux relationship using ocean model experiments which remove either anomalous wind stress forcing or atmospheric forcing anomalies contributing to heat exchange.

Haekkinen, Sirpa↗