Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “observed gravity”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Utilization of satellite and surface observations in a gravity wave study

The possibility of detecting gravity waves in the upper troposphere by means of satellite imagery is examined. Attention is focused on the gravity wave event of March 27, 1975, for which the surface wave is analyzed by a pressure perturbation analysis based on barograph traces and a surface wind divergence analysis. IR observations were also made of the event with instrumentation on board the synchronous meteorological satellite (SMS-1). Strong wind gusts were reported at surface stations immediately following severe drops in the surface pressures, events which were found not to be connected with convective activity. The wave was concluded to extend throughout the troposphere with an axis tilted with height, indicating the wave was generated from an upper level energy source. It is suggested that the gravity wave was an adjustment to ageostrophic motions within the jet stream entering the Midwest. The finding is in concert with previous observations of jet streaks upstream from surface gravity waves.

Pecnick, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A mesoscale gravity-wave event observed during CCOPE. IV - Stability analysis and Doppler-derived wave vertical structure

A summary of the results of a detailed study of the vertical structure of mesoscale gravity waves conducted during the Cooperative Convective Precipitation Experiment (CCOPE) is presented. Pressure perturbation fields derived from the Doppler wind fields are compared with the vertical structure of eigenfunctions resulting from a solution to the Taylor-Goldstein linear wave equation for an atmosphere whose mean state is described by vertical profiles obtained from a representative CCOPE sounding. An analysis of the potential for shear instability is also performed on all of the soundings taken on this day to assess the representativeness of the one chosen for the linear theoretical analysis.

Koch, Steven E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A model for gravity-wave spectra observed by Doppler sounding systems

A model for Mesosphere - Stratosphere - Troposphere (MST) radar spectra is developed following the formalism presented by Pinkel (1981). Expressions for the one-dimensional spectra of radial velocity versus frequency and versus radial wave number are presented. Their dependence on the parameters of the gravity-wave spectrum and on the experimental parameters, radar zenith angle and averaging time are described and the conditions for critical tests of the gravity-wave hypothesis are discussed. The model spectra is compared with spectra observed in the Arctic summer mesosphere by the Poker Flat radar. This model applies to any monostatic Doppler sounding system, including MST radar, Doppler lidar and Doppler sonar in the atmosphere, and Doppler sonar in the ocean.

Vanzandt, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Drought Indicators Based on Model Assimilated GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Observations

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) twin satellites observe time variations in Earth's gravity field which yield valuable information about changes in terrestrial water storage (TWS). GRACE is characterized by low spatial (greater than 150,000 square kilometers) and temporal (greater than 10 day) resolution but has the unique ability to sense water stored at all levels (including groundwater) systematically and continuously. The GRACE Data Assimilation System (GRACE-DAS), based on the Catchment Land Surface Model (CLSM) enhances the value of the GRACE water storage data by enabling spatial and temporal downscaling and vertical decomposition into moisture 39 components (i.e. groundwater, soil moisture, snow), which individually are more useful for scientific applications. In this study, GRACE-DAS was applied to North America and GRACE-based drought indicators were developed as part of a larger effort that investigates the possibility of more comprehensive and objective identification of drought conditions by integrating spatially, temporally and vertically disaggregated GRACE data into the U.S. and North American Drought Monitors. Previously, the Drought Monitors lacked objective information on deep soil moisture and groundwater conditions, which are useful indicators of drought. Extensive datasets of groundwater storage from USGS monitoring wells and soil moisture from the Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) were used to assess improvements in the hydrological modeling skill resulting from the assimilation of GRACE TWS data. The results point toward modest, but statistically significant, improvements in the hydrological modeling skill across major parts of the United States, highlighting the potential value of GRACE assimilated water storage field for improving drought detection.

Houborg, Rasmus↗
DOE OSTI2014

Radiative observables for linearized gravity on asymptotically flat spacetimes and their boundary induced states

We discuss the quantization of linearized gravity on globally hyperbolic, asymptotically flat, vacuum spacetimes, and the construction of distinguished states which are both of Hadamard form and invariant under the action of all bulk isometries. The procedure, we follow, consists of looking for a realization of the observables of the theory as a sub-algebra of an auxiliary, non-dynamical algebra constructed on future null infinity ℱ⁺. The applicability of this scheme is tantamount to proving that a solution of the equations of motion for linearized gravity can be extended smoothly to ℱ⁺. This has been claimed to be possible provided that a suitable gauge fixing condition, first written by Geroch and Xanthopoulos [“Asymptotic simplicity is stable,” J. Math. Phys. 19, 714 (1978)], is imposed. We review its definition critically, showing that there exists a previously unnoticed obstruction in its implementation leading us to introducing the concept of radiative observables. These constitute an algebra for which a Hadamard state induced from null infinity and invariant under the action of all spacetime isometries exists and it is explicitly constructed.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1972

Observation of a large nighttime gravity wave at Arecibo.

The observation of a large nighttime gravity wave at Arecibo is reported, and velocity and temperature perturbations to the neutral atmosphere are inferred. An increase in the velocity perturbation with height is observed. An anomalous temperature increase occurred when the gravity wave encountered the meridional wind reversal that normally occurs after midnight at low latitudes.

Harper, R. M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Estimates of Southern Hemispheric Gravity Wave Momentum Fluxes across Observations, Reanalyses, and Kilometer-Scale Numerical Weather Prediction Model

Abstract Gravity waves (GWs) are among the key drivers of the meridional overturning circulation in the mesosphere and upper stratosphere. Their representation in climate models suffers from insufficient resolution and limited observational constraints on their parameterizations. This obscures assessments of middle atmospheric circulation changes in a changing climate. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of stratospheric GW activity above and downstream of the Andes from 1 to 15 August 2019, with special focus on GW representation ranging from an unprecedented kilometer-scale global forecast model (1.4 km ECMWF IFS), ground-based Rayleigh lidar (CORAL) observations, modern reanalysis (ERA5), to a coarse-resolution climate model (EMAC). Resolved vertical flux of zonal GW momentum (GWMF) is found to be stronger by a factor of at least 2–2.5 in IFS compared to ERA5. Compared to resolved GWMF in IFS, parameterizations in ERA5 and EMAC continue to inaccurately generate excessive GWMF poleward of 60°S, yielding prominent differences between resolved and parameterized GWMFs. A like-to-like validation of GW profiles in IFS and ERA5 reveals similar wave structures. Still, even at ∼1 km resolution, the resolved waves in IFS are weaker than those observed by lidar. Further, GWMF estimates across datasets reveal that temperature-based proxies, based on midfrequency approximations for linear GWs, overestimate GWMF due to simplifications and uncertainties in GW wavelength estimation from data. Overall, the analysis provides GWMF benchmarks for parameterization validation and calls for three-dimensional GW parameterizations, better upper-boundary treatment, and vertical resolution increases commensurate with increases in horizontal resolution in models, for a more realistic GW analysis. Significance Statement Gravity wave–induced momentum forcing forms a key component of the middle atmospheric circulation. However, complete knowledge of gravity waves, their atmospheric effects, and their long-term trends are obscured due to limited global observations, and the inability of current climate models to fully resolve them. This study combines a kilometer-scale forecast model, modern reanalysis, and a coarse-resolution climate model to first compare the resolved and parameterized momentum fluxes by gravity waves generated over the Andes, and then evaluate the fluxes using a state-of-the-art ground-based Rayleigh lidar. Our analysis reveals shortcomings in current model parameterizations of gravity waves in the middle atmosphere and highlights the sensitivity of the estimated flux to the formulation used.

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences↗
DOE OSTI2023

Using sub-limb observations to measure gravity waves excited by convection

Convective gravity waves are a major driver of atmospheric circulation, including the stratospheric and mesospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and the Brewer–Dobson circulation. Previous work shows clear evidence that these waves can be excited by both single convective cells and by mesoscale convective complexes acting as a single unit. However, the partitioning of the generated waves and, crucially for atmospheric model development, the flux of momentum they transport between these two types of excitation process remains highly uncertain due to a fundamental lack of suitable observations at the global scale. Here, we use both theoretical calculations and sampled output from a high-resolution weather model to demonstrate that a satellite instrument using a sub-limb geometry would be well suited to characterising the short-vertical short-horizontal gravity waves these systems produce, and hence to provide the scientific knowledge needed to identify the relative wave-driving contribution of these two types of convective wave excitation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1983

GRM - Observing the terrestrial gravity and magnetic fields in the 1990's

NASA is proposing to launch a new geopotential fields exploration system called the Geopotential Research Mission (GRM). Two spacecraft will be placed in a circular polar orbit at 160 km altitude. Distances between these satellites will vary from 100 to 600 km. Both scalar and vector magnetic fields will be measured by magnetometers mounted on a boom positioned in the forward direction on the lead satellite. Gravity data will be computed from the measured change in distance between the two spacecraft. This quantity, called the range-rate, will be determined from the varying frequency (Doppler shift) between transmitter and receiver on each satellite. Expected accuracies (at the one-sigma level) are: gravity field, 1.0 milliGal, 5 cm geoid height; magnetics, scalar field 2 nT, vector to 20 arcsec, both resolved to less than 100 km. With these more accurate and higher resolution data, it will be possible to investigate the earth's structure from the crust (with the shorter wavelength gravity and magnetic anomalies) through the mantle (from the intermediate wavelength gravity field) and into the core (using the longer wavelength gravity and magnetic fields).

Taylor, P. T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Comparison of observed and predicted gravity profiles over Aphrodite Terra, Venus

Pioneer Venus orbiter (PVO) gravity profiles over Aphrodite Terra are compared with profiles predicted from models of thermal isostasy, mantle convection, and Airy compensation. Topography profiles across Aphrodite are compared to model spreading-ridge profiles in order to further assess this model. Airy compensation depths and convection-layer thicknesses are greater under eastern Aphrodite than western Aphrodite. Compensation depths in the east are greater than most estimates of lithospheric thickness, suggesting that this part of the ridge is dynamically supported. In parts of western Aphrodite, the spreading-ridge model gravity provides a better fit to the data than either Airy compensation or mantle convection. Best-fit spreading rates are between 0.3 and 1.6 cm/yr. Airy compensation and mantle convection cannot be distinguished in most places using only PVO data.

Black, Martin T.↗