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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Locating very high energy gamma ray sources with arc minute accuracy

The angular accuracy of gamma-ray detectors is intrinsically limited by the physical processes involved in photon detection. Although a number of point-like sources were detected by the COS-B satellite, only two were unambiguously identified by time signature with counterparts at longer wavelengths. By taking advantage of the extended longitudinal structure of Very High Energy gamma-ray showers, measurements in the TeV energy range can pinpoint source coordinates to arc minute accuracy. This was demonstrated using Cerenkov air shower imaging techniques. With two telescopes in coincidence, the individual event circular probable error will be 0.13 deg. The half-cone angle of the field of view is effectively 1 deg.

Akerlof, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Width Criterion For Weld-Seam-Tracking Data

Image-processing algorithm in "through-torch-vision" (T3V) system developed to guide gas/tungsten arc welding robot along weld seam modified, according to proposal, reducing incidence of inaccurate tracking of weld seam. Developmental system intended to provide closed-loop control of motion of welding robot along weld seam on basis of lines in T3V image identified by use of image-processing algorithm and assumed to coincide with edges of weld seam. Use of width criterion prevents tracking of many false pairs of lines, with consequent decrease in incidence of inaccurate tracking and increase in confidence in weld-tracking capability of robotic welding system.

Lincir, Mark R.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Satellite Estimates of the Direct Radiative Forcing of Biomass Burning Aerosols Over South America and Africa

Atmospheric aerosol particles, both natural and anthropogenic are important to the earth's radiative balance. Therefore it is important to provide adequate validation information on the spatial, temporal and radiative properties of aerosols. This will enable us to predict realistic global estimates of aerosol radiative effects more confidently. The current study utilizes 66 AVHRR LAC (Local Area Coverage) and coincident Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) images to characterize the fires, smoke and radiative forcings of biomass burning aerosols over four major ecosystems of South America.

Christopher, Sundar A.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Revised Correlation between Odin/OSIRIS PMC Properties and Coincident TIMED/SABER Mesospheric Temperatures

The Optical Spectrograph and Infrared Imaging System (OSIRIS) instrument on board the Odin satellite detects Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs) through the enhancement in the limb scattered solar radiance. The Sounding of the Atmosphere using the Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument on board the TIMED satellite is a limb scanning infrared radiometer that measures temperature and vertical profiles and energetic parameters for minor constituents in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The combination of OSIRIS and SABER data has been previously used to statistically derive thermal conditions for PMC existence [Petelina et al., 2005]. In this work, we employ the simultaneous common volume measurements of PMCs by OSIRIS and temperature profiles measured by SABER for the Northern Hemisphere summers of 2002-2005 and corrected in the polar region by accounting for the vibrational-vibrational energy exchange among the CO2 isotopes [Kutepov et al., 2006]. For each of 20 coincidences identified within plus or minus 1 degree latitude, plus or minus 2 degrees longitude and less than 1 hour time the frost point temperatures were calculated using the corresponding SABER temperature profile and water vapor densities of 1,3, and 10 ppmv. We found that the PMC presence and brightness correlated only with the temperature threshold that corresponds to the frost point. The absolute value of the temperature below the frost point, however, didn't play a significant role in the intensity of PMC signal for the majority of selected coincidences. The presence of several bright clouds at temperatures above the frost point is obviously related to the limitation of the limb geometry when some near- or far-field PMCs located at higher (and warmer) altitudes appear to be at lower altitudes.

Feofilov, A. G.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Revised Correlation between Odin/OSIRIS PMC Properties and Coincident TIMED/SABER Mesospheric Temperatures

The Optical Spectrograph and Infrared Imaging System (OSIRIS) instrument on board the Odin satellite detects Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs) through the enhancement in the limb-scattered solar radiance. The Sounding of the Atmosphere using the Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument on board the TIMED satellite is a limb scanning infrared radiometer that measures temperature and vertical profiles and energetic parameters for minor constituents in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The combination of OSIRIS and SABER data has been previously used to statistically derive thermal conditions for PMC existence [Petelina et al., 2005]. a, A.A. Kutepov, W.D. Pesnell, In this work, we employ the simultaneous common volume measurements of PMCs by OSIRIS and temperature profiles measured by SABER for the Northern Hemisphere summers of 2002-2005 and corrected in the polar region by accounting for the vibrational-vibrational energy exchange among the CO2 isotopes [Kutepov et al., 2006]. For each of 20 coincidences identified within plus or minus 1 degree latitude, plus or minus 2 degrees longitude and less than 1 hour time the frost point temperatures were calculated using the corresponding SABER temperature profile and water vapor densities of 1,3, and 10 ppmv. We found that the PMC presence and brightness correlated only with the temperature threshold that corresponds to the frost point. The absolute value of the temperature below the frost point, however, didn't play a significant role in the intensity of PMC signal for the majority of selected coincidences. The presence of several bright clouds at temperatures above the frost point is obviously related to the limitation of the limb geometry when some near- or far-field PMCs located at higher (and warmer) altitudes appear to be at lower altitudes.

Feofilov, A. G.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Design and performance of the first IceAct demonstrator at the South Pole

Here in this paper we describe the first results of IceAct, a compact imaging air-Cherenkov telescope operating in coincidence with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory (IceCube) at the geographic South Pole. An array of IceAct telescopes (referred to as the IceAct project) is under consideration as part of the IceCube-Gen2 extension to IceCube. Surface detectors in general will be a powerful tool in IceCube-Gen2 for distinguishing astrophysical neutrinos from the dominant backgrounds of cosmic-ray induced atmospheric muons and neutrinos: the IceTop array is already in place as part of IceCube, but has a high energy threshold. Although the duty cycle will be lower for the IceAct telescopes than the present IceTop tanks, the IceAct telescopes may prove to be more effective at lowering the detection threshold for air showers. Additionally, small imaging air-Cherenkov telescopes in combination with IceTop, the deep IceCube detector or other future detector systems might improve measurements of the composition of the cosmic ray energy spectrum. In this paper we present measurements of a first 7-pixel imaging air Cherenkov telescope demonstrator, proving the capability of this technology to measure air showers at the South Pole in coincidence with IceTop and the deep IceCube detector.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Evaluation of Spectral Band Adjustment Factors for Cross-Calibration of Visible Imagers

The NASA CERES EBAF dataset provides TOA SW and LW fluxes for long-term monitoring of the Earth’s energy balance and to validate climate models. The EBAF products, based on the Terra, Aqua, and NOAA20 CERES instrument observed radiances, rely on coincident measurements from the onboard MODIS or VIIRS imagers to determine cloud properties used for angular distribution model scene selection, which is required to convert the CERES observed radiances into flux values. Furthermore, CERES utilizes geostationary imager (GEO) hourly fluxes and clouds to infer the regional averaged daily flux in the SYN1deg product. A seamless transition of fluxes and clouds can only occur if the analogous MODIS, VIIRS, and GEO channels are properly inter-calibrated. The analogous band SRFs differ noticeably and require scene dependent spectral band adjustment factors (SBAF) for proper radiometric scaling between them. Given their disparate but overlapping SRFs, the coincident VIIRS I1 and M5 band TOA reflectance measurements provide the optimal opportunity to validate SBAFs over many surface and cloud conditions. The CERES project maintains SCIAMACHY, GOME-2, and Hyperion scene-stratified hyper-spectral reflectance measurements that can be convolved with sensor pair SRFs to compute the corresponding SBAF. This study highlights the SCIAMACHY, GOME-2, and Hyperion based SBAFs for different MODIS, VIIRS, and GEO inter-calibration targets, including all-sky tropical ocean (ATO), Libya-4, Dome-C, and deep convective clouds. To mitigate the observed sensor radiance fluctuations due to atmospheric absorption and aerosol variations, the Earth target observed radiances are correlated with multiple atmospheric parameters, such as precipitable water and ozone. The remaining M5 and I1 mean spectral band radiance difference should be resolved by the SBAF correction. The formulation of hyper-spectral sensor based SBAFs and validation methods can be verified in future utilizing high-accuracy, SI-traceable hyper-spectral measurements from CLARREO Pathfinder.

David R Doelling↗
NASA NTRS1994

Correcting infrared satellite estimates of sea surface temperature for atmospheric water vapor attenuation

A new satellite sea surface temperature (SST) algorithm is developed that uses nearly coincident measurements from the microwave special sensor microwave imager (SSM/I) to correct for atmospheric moisture attenuation of the infrared signal from the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR). This new SST algorithm is applied to AVHRR imagery from the South Pacific and Norwegian seas, which are then compared with simultaneous in situ (ship based) measurements of both skin and bulk SST. In addition, an SST algorithm using a quadratic product of the difference between the two AVHRR thermal infrared channels is compared with the in situ measurements. While the quadratic formulation provides a considerable improvement over the older cross product (CPSST) and multichannel (MCSST) algorithms, the SSM/I corrected SST (called the water vapor or WVSST) shows overall smaller errors when compared to both the skin and bulk in situ SST observations. Applied to individual AVHRR images, the WVSST reveals an SST difference pattern (CPSST-WVSST) similar in shape to the water vapor structure while the CPSST-quadratic SST difference appears unrelated in pattern to the nearly coincident water vapor pattern. An application of the WVSST to week-long composites of global area coverage (GAC) AVHRR data demonstrates again the manner in which the WVSST corrects the AVHRR for atmospheric moisture attenuation. By comparison the quadratic SST method underestimates the SST corrections in the lower latitudes and overestimates the SST in th e higher latitudes. Correlations between the AVHRR thermal channel differences and the SSM/I water vapor demonstrate the inability of the channel difference to represent water vapor in the midlatitude and high latitudes during summer. Compared against drifting buoy data the WVSST and the quadratic SST both exhibit the same general behavior with the relatively small differences with the buoy temperatures.

Emery, William J.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Hard X-Ray Flare Source Sizes Measured with the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager

Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) observations of 18 double hard X-ray sources seen at energies above 25 keV are analyzed to determine the spatial extent of the most compact structures evident in each case. The following four image reconstruction algorithms were used: Clean, Pixon, and two routines using visibilities maximum entropy and forward fit (VFF). All have been adapted for this study to optimize their ability to provide reliable estimates of the sizes of the more compact sources. The source fluxes, sizes, and morphologies obtained with each method are cross-correlated and the similarities and disagreements are discussed. The full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the major axes of the sources with assumed elliptical Gaussian shapes are generally well correlated between the four image reconstruction routines and vary between the RHESSI resolution limit of approximately 2" up to approximately 20" with most below 10". The FWHM of the minor axes are generally at or just above the RHESSI limit and hence should be considered as unresolved in most cases. The orientation angles of the elliptical sources are also well correlated. These results suggest that the elongated sources are generally aligned along a flare ribbon with the minor axis perpendicular to the ribbon. This is verified for the one flare in our list with coincident Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) images. There is evidence for significant extra flux in many of the flares in addition to the two identified compact sources, thus rendering the VFF assumption of just two Gaussians inadequate. A more realistic approximation in many cases would be of two line sources with unresolved widths. Recommendations are given for optimizing the RHESSI imaging reconstruction process to ensure that the finest possible details of the source morphology become evident and that reliable estimates can be made of the source dimensions.

Dennis, Brian R.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Validating the use of Satellite SAR for Measuring Small-Scale Surface Wind Variations

We present aircraft measurements of near-surface atmospheric boundary layer roll signatures and radar-derived sea surface roughness. The open-ocean data were collected at an altitude of 20 m using NOAA's Long-EZ aircraft. In addition, the flight was coincident with a RADARSAT SAR overpass where presumed boundary layer roll impacts are prevalent in the SAR backscatter image. The Long-EZ air and sea data are completely coincident in space and time and this unique feature allows us to validate the supposed link between SAR backscatter signatures and organized large eddy surface impacts. We find remarkable correlation between measured modulations in the along-wind component of wind speed and radar backscatter for the atmospheric eddy scale of 1 to 1.5 km. Close agreement between normalized modulation amplitudes suggests the radar-inferred surface slope variance is changing linearly with wind speed. Implications for SAR usage in coastal regions and for boundary layer study will be discussed.

Vandemark, Douglas↗
NASA NTRS2004

Modeling the nucleus and jets of comet 81P/Wild 2 based on the Stardust encounter data

We interpret the nucleus properties and jet activity from the Stardust spacecraft imaging and the onboard dust monitoring system data. Triangulation of 20 jets shows that 2 emanate from the nucleus dark side and 16 emanate from sources that are on slopes where the Sun's elevation is greater than predicted from the fitted triaxial ellipsoid. Seven sources, including five in the Mayo depression, coincide with relatively bright surface spots. Fitting the imaged jets, the spikelike temporal distribution of dust impacts indicates that the spacecraft crossed thin, densely populated sheets of particulate ejecta extending from small sources on the rotating nucleus, consistent with an emission cone model.

Meteoroids↗
DOE OSTI2022

FORTE Measurements of Global Lightning Altitudes

While multiple lightning detection systems provide geographical locations of lightning events across the globe, robust lightning altitude measurements on a global scale have proven elusive. Space-based platforms have an advantageous viewing geometry for making these measurements, but prior studies with the Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events (FORTE) satellite were limited to a few thousand events. In this study, we apply the same technique for calculating source altitude from the previous efforts to a large catalog of hundreds of thousands of global FORTE in-cloud lightning events that were coincident with flashes geolocated by its lightning imager between 1997 and 2003. We use this new data set to document global variations in lightning altitude. As in previous studies, we find that FORTE primarily resolves sources from the upper (positive) charge layer at ~11 km altitude in normal thunderstorms. However, sources are also recorded from other charge layers in the storm and from leaders developing between layers. In particular, we note a pronounced increase in source altitude in the first 20 ms of FORTE flashes from the negative leader developing upward into the upper positive charge layer. Regions known for wintertime and/or stratiform lightning have increased contributions from low-altitude sources, while tropical regions particularly around Panama and the Maritime Continent have the greatest concentrations of high-altitude sources.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1978

Bistatic synthetic aperture radar using two satellites

The paper demonstrates the feasibility of a bistatic synthetic aperture radar (BISAR) utilizing two satellites. The proposed BISAR assumes that the direction of the two narrow antenna beams are programmed to coincide over the desired area to be imaged. Functionally, the transmitter and receiver portions can be interchanged between the two satellites. The two satellites may be in one orbit plane or two different orbits such as geosynchronous and low-earth orbits. The pulse repetition frequency and imaging geometry are constrained by contours of isodops and isodels. With two images of the same area viewed from different angles, it is possible in principle to derive three-dimensional stereo images. Applications of BISAR include topography, water resource management, and soil moisture determination.. Advantages of BISAR over a monostatic SAR are mentioned, including lower transmitter power and greater ranges in incidence angle and coverage.

Tomiyasu, K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

X-ray studies of clusters of galaxies with the Einstein Observatory

The paper reports on cluster observations made by the Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory with the Einstein Observatory. A plot of the 0.2-3.0 keV X-ray luminosity of two dozen randomly selected sources against the Bautz-Morgan class reveals no apparent correlation between X-ray brightness and cluster morphological type. Observing a field containing the Butcher and Oemler cluster CL0024+1654 (z = 0.39), the satellite detected a weak source coincident with the cluster center. An IPC (imaging proportional counter) image of the Coma cluster, the nearest and best studied of Abell's rich clusters, shows a smooth X-ray emission rising to a flat central plateau in the vicinity of the giant ellipticals, NGC4874 and NGC4889. Although individual galaxies emerge above the diffuse flux near the edge of the field at the level of 0.1% of the cluster emission, the central 40 minutes contain no fluctuations on the scale of approximately one minute to the 1%-level.

Helfand, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Analysis of remote sensing data collected for detection and mapping of oil spills: Reduction and analysis of multi-sensor airborne data of the NASA Wallops oil spill exercise of November 1978

Airborne, remotely sensed data of the NASA Wallops controlled oil spill were corrected, reduced and analysed. Sensor performance comparisons were made by registering data sets from different sensors, which were near-coincident in time and location. Multispectral scanner images were, in turn, overlayed with profiles of correlation between airborne and laboratory-acquired fluorosensor spectra of oil; oil-thickness contours derived (by NASA) from a scanning fluorosensor and also from a two-channel scanning microwave radiometer; and synthetic aperture radar X-HH images. Microwave scatterometer data were correlated with dual-channel (UV and TIR) line scanner images of the oil slick.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1990

M51: Molecular spiral arms, GMAs and superclouds

Researchers present an aperture synthesis image of M51 in the CO 1 to 0 line at 9 seconds x 7 seconds resolution made with the Owens Valley Millimeter Interferometer. The image is a mosaic of 30 one-arcminute fields. The image shows narrow spiral arms which are coincident with the optical dust lanes and non-thermal radio emission, but are offset from the ridges of H alpha emission. Many dense concentrations of CO emission, termed Giant Molecular Associations (GMAs), are seen both along and between the arms. The typical GMA mass is about 3 times 10(exp 7) solar mass. Most of the on-arm GMAs appear to be gravitationally bound. These GMAs consist of several spectral components (Molecular Superclouds) with typical mass 10(exp 7) solar mass, which also appear to be bound. The observed streaming motions in the GMAs are consistent with density wave theory. The interarm GMAs are not gravitationally bound, and are likely to be due to a secondary compression of the density wave.

Rand, Richard J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Star formation in NGC 4449: MAMA-detector UV imagery and Fabry-Perot Balmer-line imagery

Using far-ultraviolet (FUV) and Balmer-line imagery, we investigate the star formation history of 22 large OB complexes in the Magellanic irregular galaxy NGC 4449. The FUV luminosity of NGC 4449 is comparable to those of late-type spirals and is greater than that of the LMC by approximately 2.4 mag, indicating substantial star formation in the last 10(exp 8) yr. FUV data were taken using a sounding-rocket telescope with a Multianode Microchannel Array (MAMA) detector, and Balmer-line data were taken using the Goddard Fabry-Perot Imager. The resulting imagery shows bright, roughly coincident FUV and H alpha sources throughout the extent of the visible galaxy. We model these sources using cluster-evolution codes. Although all sources are a few Myr old, clear age differences are found. In particular, several of the most recently active star formation regions are located together in the galaxy's northern periphery, which is apparently coincident with a large H I reservoir. The brightest and most massive OB complexes are found along the northeast-southwest surface brightness ridgeline (the 'bar'). Over the entire galaxy, star formation rates are consistent on timescales of 10(exp 6), 10(exp 8), and 10(exp 9) yr. A history of recent star formation is suggested with two main episodes, one predominantly in the bar ending approximately 5 Myr ago, and an ongoing one associated with an observed H I cloud.

Hill, Robert S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The origin of the far-infrared luminosity within the spiral galaxy M101

High resolution 60 and 100 micron images obtained with the Infared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) are compared with H alpha images in order to investigate the origin of the far-infrared luminosity within the late-type spiral galaxy M101. There is a good correspondence between the far-infrared and H-alpha morphology. The far-infrared and H-alpha luminosities have been measured at 129 independent locations on the star forming disk of M101. After correcting the H-alpha luminosity for extinction and extrapolating the IRAS (40-120 microns) luminosity to 1000 microns we find that the far-infrared luminosity is commensurate with that expected from the O and B stars which are required to ionize the hydrogen gas, at all locations within M101. Additionally, the IRAS HiRes 60 and 100 micron images reveal that the dust temperature peaks coincide identically with the location of H II regions. The far-infrared luminosity of M101 is radiated primarily by dust with temperatures well in excess of that expected for cirrus, but similar to that observed for Galactic and extragalactic H II regions.

Devereux, Nicholas A.↗