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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,333 records · Page 74
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2004

Near Real-time Derived Products from MODIS

As part of the Short-term Prediction Research Transition (SPoRT) program at NASA/MSFC, near real-time total precipitable water and land/sea surface temperature products from MODIS, on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, are being derived from a subset of MODIS channels with spectral characteristics similar to those planned for the GOES-R ABI. Under the SPoRT program these products are made available to several NWS Forecast Offices to assist in the preparation of short-term forecasts. This transition activity, from research to operations, serves to prepare forecasters for the next generation of satellite observing capabilities through real-time, hands-on applications to their forecast problems. The derived products are produced from a physical retrieval algorithm which can be applied to polar or geostationary measurements. The algorithm is a perturbation solution of the radiation transfer equation for a nonscattering atmosphere requiring first-guess temperature and moisture profiles. For this application first-guess information is obtained from the latest model forecasts. The utility of this retrieval approach is that it provides a near real-time high resolution update of a model's forecasted parameter allowing forecasters to validate and monitor the performance of the model's forecast. The poster will provide a description of the retrieval methodology and examples of the derived products. Case studies will also be presented comparing these products with those obtained from the Earth Observing System (EOS) MODIS science team algorithms.

Suggs, Ron↗
NASA NTRS2002

An Assessment of the Ability of Potential Satellite Instruments to Resolve Spatial and Temporal Variability of Atmospheric CO2

Sufficiently precise satellite observations with adequate spatial and temporal resolution would substantially increase our knowledge of the atmospheric CO2 distribution and would undoubtedly lead to reduced uncertainty in estimates of the global carbon budget. An overview of possible strategies for measuring CO2 from space will be presented, including IR and nearby measurements, active sensors and broad band and narrow band passive sensors. The ability of potential satellite instruments with a variety of orbits, horizontal resolution and vertical weighting functions to capture the variation in atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios will be illustrated using a combination of surface data, aircraft data and model results.

Andrews, A.↗
NASA NTRS2010

CASTOR: Cathode/Anode Satellite Thruster for Orbital Repositioning

The purpose of CASTOR (Cathode/Anode Satellite Thruster for Orbital Repositioning) satellite is to demonstrate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) a nanosatellite that uses a Divergent Cusped Field Thruster (DCFT) to perform orbital maneuvers representative of an orbital transfer vehicle. Powered by semi-deployable solar arrays generating 165W of power, CASTOR will achieve nearly 1 km/s of velocity increment over one year. As a technology demonstration mission, success of CASTOR in LEO will pave the way for a low cost, high delta-V orbital transfer capability for small military and civilian payloads in support of Air Force and NASA missions. The educational objective is to engage graduate and undergraduate students in critical roles in the design, development, test, carrier integration and on-orbit operations of CASTOR as a supplement to their curricular activities. This program is laying the foundation for a long-term satellite construction program at MIT. The satellite is being designed as a part of AFRL's University Nanosatellite Program, which provides the funding and a framework in which student satellite teams compete for a launch to orbit. To this end, the satellite must fit within an envelope of 50cmx50cmx60cm, have a mass of less than 50kg, and meet stringent structural and other requirements. In this framework, the CASTOR team successfully completed PDR in August 2009 and CDR in April 2010 and will compete at FCR (Flight Competition Review) in January 2011. The complexity of the project requires implementation of many systems engineering techniques which allow for development of CASTOR from conception through FCR and encompass the full design, fabrication, and testing process.

Mruphy, Gloria A.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Ocean Optics Protocols for Satellite Ocean Color Sensor Validation: Inherent Optical Properties: Instruments, Characterizations, Field Measurements and Data Analysis Protocols - Volume 4

This document stipulates protocols for measuring bio-optical and radiometric data for the Sensor Intercomparison and Merger for Biological and Interdisciplinary Oceanic Studies (SIMBIOS) Project activities and algorithm development. The document is organized into 6 separate volumes as Ocean Optics Protocols for Satellite Ocean Color Sensor Validation, Revision 4. Volume I: Introduction, Background and Conventions; Volume II: Instrument Specifications, Characterization and Calibration; Volume III: Radiometric Measurements and Data Analysis Methods; Volume IV: Inherent Optical Properties: Instruments, Characterization, Field Measurements and Data Analysis Protocols; Volume V: Biogeochemical and Bio-Optical Measurements and Data Analysis Methods; Volume VI: Special Topics in Ocean Optics Protocols and Appendices. The earlier version of Ocean Optics Protocols for Satellite Ocean Color Sensor Validation, Revision 3 (Mueller and Fargion 2002, Volumes 1 and 2) is entirely superseded by the six volumes of Revision 4 listed above.

Mueller, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS2012

A New Global Empirical Model of the Electron Temperature with the Inclusion of the Solar Activity Variations for IRI

A data-base of electron temperature (T(sub e)) comprising of most of the available LEO satellite measurements in the altitude range from 350 to 2000 km has been used for the development of a new global empirical model of T(sub e) for the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). For the first time this will include variations with solar activity. Variations at five fixed altitude ranges centered at 350, 550, 850, 1400, and 2000 km and three seasons (summer, winter, and equinox) were represented by a system of associated Legendre polynomials (up to the 8th order) in terms of magnetic local time and the earlier introduced in vdip latitude. The solar activity variations of T(sub e) are represented by a correction term of the T(sub e) global pattern and it has been derived from the empirical latitudinal profiles of T(sub e) for day and night (Truhlik et al., 2009a). Comparisons of the new T(sub e) model with data and with the IRI 2007 Te model show that the new model agrees well with the data generally within standard deviation limits and that the model performs better than the current IRI T(sub e) model.

Truhlik, V.↗
DOE OSTI2012

DECORRELATION TIMES OF PHOTOSPHERIC FIELDS AND FLOWS

We use autocorrelation to investigate evolution in flow fields inferred by applying Fourier local correlation tracking (FLCT) to a sequence of high-resolution (0.''3), high-cadence ({approx_equal} 2 minute) line-of-sight magnetograms of NOAA active region (AR) 10930 recorded by the narrowband filter imager of the Solar Optical Telescope aboard the Hinode satellite over 2006 December 12 and 13. To baseline the timescales of flow evolution, we also autocorrelated the magnetograms, at several spatial binnings, to characterize the lifetimes of active region magnetic structures versus spatial scale. Autocorrelation of flow maps can be used to optimize tracking parameters, to understand tracking algorithms' susceptibility to noise, and to estimate flow lifetimes. Tracking parameters varied include: time interval {Delta}t between magnetogram pairs tracked, spatial binning applied to the magnetograms, and windowing parameter {sigma} used in FLCT. Flow structures vary over a range of spatial and temporal scales (including unresolved scales), so tracked flows represent a local average of the flow over a particular range of space and time. We define flow lifetime to be the flow decorrelation time, {tau}. For {Delta}t > {tau}, tracking results represent the average velocity over one or more flow lifetimes. We analyze lifetimes of flow components, divergences, and curls as functions of magnetic field strength and spatial scale. We find a significant trend of increasing lifetimes of flow components, divergences, and curls with field strength, consistent with Lorentz forces partially governing flows in the active photosphere, as well as strong trends of increasing flow lifetime and decreasing magnitudes with increases in both spatial scale and {Delta}t.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1971

Information transfer satellite concept study. Volume 2: Technical

The ITS concept study is preceded by two requirements studies whose primary objectives are to identify viable demands and to develop the functional requirements associated with these demands. In addition to continuing this basic activity the ITS concept study objectives are to: (1) develop tools and techniques for planning advanced information transfer satellite communications systems, and to (2) select viable systems for further analysis both in their near-term and in the far-term aspects.

Bergin, P.↗
NASA NTRS2013

End-of-Mission Planning Challenges for a Satellite in a Constellation

At the end of a mission, satellites embedded in a constellation must first perform propulsive maneuvers to safely exit the constellation before they can begin with the usual end-of-mission activities: deorbit, passivation, and decommissioning. The target orbit for these exit maneuvers must be sufficiently below the remaining constellation satellites such that, once achieved, there is no longer risk of close conjunctions. Yet, the exit maneuvers must be done based on the spacecraft's state of health and operational capability when the decision to end the mission is made. This paper focuses on the recently developed exit strategy for the CloudSat mission to highlight problems and issues, which forced the discarding of CloudSat's original EoM Plan and its replacement with a new plan consistent with changes to the spacecraft's original operational mode. The analyses behind and decisions made in formulating this new exit strategy will be of interest to other missions in a constellation currently preparing to update their End-of-Mission Plan.

CloudSat↗
NASA NTRS2004

Observational Evidence Against Mountain-Wave Generation of Ice Nuclei as a Prerequisite for the Formation of Three Solid Nitric Acid Polar Stratospheric Clouds Observed in the Arctic in Early December 1999

A number of recently published papers suggest that mountain-wave activity in the stratosphere, producing ice particles when temperatures drop below the ice frost point, may be the primary source of large NAT particles. In this paper we use measurements from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instruments on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) polar-orbiting satellites to map out regions of ice clouds produced by stratospheric mountain-wave activity inside the Arctic vortex. Lidar observations from three DC-8 flights in early December 1999 show the presence of solid nitric acid (Type Ia or NAT) polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). By using back trajectories and superimposing the position maps on the AVHRR cloud imagery products, we show that these observed NAT clouds could not have originated at locations of high-amplitude mountain-wave activity. We also show that mountain-wave PSC climatology data and Mountain Wave Forecast Model 2.0 (MWFM-2) raw hemispheric ray and grid box averaged hemispheric wave temperature amplitude hindcast data from the same time period are in agreement with the AVHRR data. Our results show that ice cloud formation in mountain waves cannot explain how at least three large scale NAT clouds were formed in the stratosphere in early December 1999.

MOUNTAIN WAVES↗
NASA NTRS1992

Xenon critical velocity releases from the ACTIVNY satellite - Discussion of attempted optical observations

The ACTIVNY satellite launched on Sept. 30, 1989 was a platform for a suite of active plasma experiments, including releases of Xe gas to test Alfven's critical velocity effect. Three releases were done over Alaska and three over Utah, all fully illuminated by sunlight. We attempted optical observations from ground stations in the dark, using various low light level imagers and spectrographs, with narrow bandpass filters on XeI and XeII lines and also in white light. Viewing conditions were very good on several releases, the satellite could tracked easily, but we saw no optical evidence of the releases from any wavelength. We discuss the reasons why optical diagnostics in the visible and near infrared failed to detect emissions from the releases.

Wescott, E. M.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Greening of the land surface in the world’s cold regions consistent with recent warming

Global ecosystem function is highly dependent on climate and atmospheric composition, yet ecosystem responses to environmental changes remain uncertain. Cold, high-latitude ecosystems in particular have experienced rapid warming, with poorly understood consequences. Here in this study, we use a satellite-observed proxy for vegetation cover—the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation—to identify a decline in the temperature limitation of vegetation in global ecosystems between 1982 and 2012. We quantify the spatial functional response of maximum annual vegetation cover to temperature and show that the observed temporal decline in temperature limitation is consistent with expectations based on observed recent warming. An ensemble of Earth system models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) mischaracterized the functional response to temperature, leading to a large overestimation of vegetation cover in cold regions. We identify a 16.4% decline in the area of vegetated land that is limited by temperature over the past three decades, and suggest an expected large decline in temperature limitation under future warming scenarios. Finally, this rapid observed and expected decline in temperature limitation highlights the need for an improved understanding of other limitations to vegetation growth in cold regions, such as soil characteristics, species migration, recruitment, establishment, competition and community dynamics.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Massive star-forming galaxies have converted most of their halo gas into stars

In the local Universe, the efficiency for converting baryonic gas into stars is very low. In dark matter halos where galaxies form and evolve, the average efficiency varies with galaxy stellar mass and has a maximum of about 20% for Milky-Way-like galaxies. The low efficiency at higher mass is believed to be the result of some quenching processes, such as the feedback from active galactic nuclei. We perform an analysis of weak lensing and satellite kinematics for SDSS central galaxies. Our results reveal that the efficiency is much higher, more than 60%, for a large population of massive star-forming galaxies around 10 11 M ⊙ . This suggests that these galaxies acquired most of the gas in their halos and converted it into stars without being significantly affected by quenching processes. This population of galaxies is not reproduced in current galaxy formation models, indicating that our understanding of galaxy formation is incomplete. The implications of our results on circumgalactic media, star-formation quenching, and disk galaxy rotation curves are discussed. We also examine systematic uncertainties in halo-mass and stellar-mass measurements that might influence our results.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

SOLAR SOURCE AND HELIOSPHERIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE 2010 APRIL 3 CORONAL MASS EJECTION: A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW

We study the solar source and heliospheric consequences of the 2010 April 3 coronal mass ejection (CME) in the frame of the Sun-Earth connection using observations from a fleet of spacecraft. The CME is accompanied by a B7.4 long-duration flare, dramatic coronal dimming, and EUV waves. It causes significant heliospheric consequences and space weather effects such as radio bursts, a prominent shock wave, the largest/fastest interplanetary CME at 1 AU since the 2006 December 13 CME, the first gradual solar energetic particle (SEP) events in solar cycle 24, and a prolonged geomagnetic storm resulting in a breakdown of the Galaxy 15 satellite. This event, together with several following periods of intense solar activities, indicates awakening of the Sun from a long minimum. The CME EUV loop begins to rise at least 10 minutes before the flare impulsive phase. The associated coronal wave forms an envelope around the CME, a large-scale three-dimensional structure that can only be explained by a pressure wave. The CME and its preceding shock are imaged by both STEREO A and B almost throughout the whole Sun-Earth space. CME kinematics in the ecliptic plane are obtained as a function of distance out to 0.75 AU by a geometric triangulation technique. The CME has a propagation direction near the Sun-Earth line and a speed that first increases to 1000-1100 km s{sup -1} and then decreases to about 800 km s{sup -1}. Both the predicted arrival time and speed at the Earth are well confirmed by the in situ measurements. The gradual SEP events observed by three widely separated spacecraft show time profiles much more complicated than suggested by the standard conceptual picture of SEP event heliolongitude distribution. Evolving shock properties, the realistic time-dependent connection between the observer and shock source, and a possible role of particle perpendicular diffusion may be needed to interpret this SEP event spatial distribution.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Formation and decay of rudimentary penumbra around a pore

We analyze the evolution of a pore in the active region NOAA 10940 using the data obtained by the Hinode satellite on 2007 February 3. The pore we analyzed showed the formation of a rudimentary penumbra structure, succeeded by an abrupt disappearance after about 5 hr. The pore had an approximate radius of 3.5 Mm and a total magnetic flux of 3.0 × 10{sup 19} Mx, which is a little smaller than the necessary magnetic flux for penumbral formation supposed by Rucklidge et al. (1-1.5 × 10{sup 20} Mx). Our observation describes a rare phenomenon which was in the unstable phase between a pore and a sunspot. The area of the dark umbra gradually decreased when the rudimentary penumbral filaments formed the penumbral structure, meaning that the penumbra develops at the expense of the umbral magnetic flux. This statement was confirmed by a rough estimation of the magnetic flux variation observed by the Hinode Fe I magnetogram. Five hours after the formation phase, the decay phase began. In this decaying phase, multiple opposite polarity patches are found to appear in the exterior of the pore (a different location from the penumbra formation site). We interpret these opposite polarities as signatures of the horizontal magnetic field, which preferably appears in the course of the unstable reconfiguration of the magnetic field structure. During the course of the disappearance of the penumbra, the horizontal penumbral field seems to become vertical because of the dark umbral area that recovered by about 10%.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Real-Time, Simultaneous Soil Water Content and Meteorological Data Measurement to Support TRACER over Harris County, Texas (Field Campaign Report: Part I)

The main purpose of this project was to provide ground-truth and satellite-based soil water content data in the Houston, Texas, area to support the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s 2022 field campaign, the Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER). This involved installing four soil monitoring stations at different locations in the Houston area, two of which were part of the ARM facility and two were ancillary. The two stations associated directly with ARM were installed alongside other facilities managed and maintained by the TRACER research team during the intensive operational period (IOP), one located at the La Porte, Texas airport and the other near Guy, Texas. Data from these stations were assimilated with similar data collected by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to improve the spatial coverage of the real-time monitoring network. The ground-truth data were compared to the satellite-based (National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]’s Soil Moisture Active Passive [SMAP] mission) data in the TRACER area of interest, and analyzed further to nowcast gridded data over the Houston area. The nowcasted, gridded data product was made available to TRACER researchers for use in climate and land-atmosphere interaction modeling that can help understand formation and persistence of convective storms in dense urban areas, and predict possible environmental events such as floods.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Real-Time, Simultaneous Soil Water Content and Meteorological Data Measurement to Support TRACER over Harris County, Texas Field Campaign Report: Part II

The main purpose of this project was to provide ground-truth and satellite-based soil water content data in the Houston, Texas, area to support the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s 2022 field campaign, the Tracking Aerosol Convection Interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER). This involved installing four soil monitoring stations at different locations in the Houston area, two of which were part of the ARM facility and two were ancillary. The two stations associated directly with ARM were installed alongside other facilities managed and maintained by the TRACER research team during the intensive operational period (IOP), one located at the La Porte, Texas airport and the other located near Guy, Texas. Data from these stations were assimilated with similar data collected by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to improve the spatial coverage of the real-time monitoring network. The ground-truth data were compared to the satellite-based (National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]’s Soil Moisture Active Passive [SMAP] mission) data in the TRACER area of interest, and analyzed further to nowcast gridded data over the Houston area. The nowcasted, gridded data product was made available to TRACER researchers for use in climate and land-atmosphere interaction modeling that can help understand formation and persistence of convective storms in dense urban areas, and predict possible environmental events such as floods.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗