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At least 1,531 records · Page 85

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NASA NTRS1980

A Lagrangian mean theory of wave, mean-flow interaction with applications to nonacceleration and its breakdown

A review is given of new Lagrangian mean theory of wave transport. Attention is focused on the so-called 'nonacceleration' theorem, and it is shown that such a theorem arises naturally in the Lagrangian mean framework. Also discussed is a simple example of the Stokes drift, a concept which is central to nonacceleration. The Lagrangian mean theory substantially simplifies and unifies the understanding of wave driving in cases where nonacceleration is violated because of wave transience and dissipation. Moreover, the theory has given new insights in one particular case, that of Rossby gravity wave, mean-flow interaction. These insights have successfully explained some hitherto unresolved paradoxes in the theory of the quasi-biennial oscillation of zonal wind in the equatorial stratosphere. Some brief remarks are also made concerning some of the outstanding difficulties of the theory in need of future investigation.

Dunkerton, T.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Dynamic sea surface topography from GEOS-3 altimetry - Determination of some dominant parameters

The second, third and fourth degree zonal harmonics of the quasi-stationary dynamic sea surface topography can be recovered from the GEOS-3 altimetry despite the adverse levels of noise indicated by the crossover discrepancies generated from the best orbits available at the end of 1977 and the GEOS-3 altimetry. Techniques for modelling the global sea surface topography are discussed along with methods for signal recovery in the presence of significant levels of noise. The analysis also provides a means of defining the geocentricity of the system of reference used in preparing the GEOS-3 ephemeris.

Mather, R. S.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Radar altimetry of South Tharsis, Mars

The paper discusses Martian altitudes measured by radar during the oppositions of 1971 and 1973 using the 64-m antenna at Goldstone, Calif. The resultant topographic profiles substantiate a zonal classification of the volanic flows blanketing the south flanks of Arsia Mons, and they confirm the existence of a secondary, parasitic shield, attached from the SSW to the main Arsia shield. The secondary shield is about 400 km in diameter at its base and at least 4 km high at its center. The distribution and orientation of the lunar mare - like ridges in Sinai Planum appear to be independent of the regional gradients. Segments of the chaotic terrain at the eastern terminus of Valles Marineris are located down to 6 km below the level of the surrounding plains.

Roth, L. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

On nonlinear cascades of enstrophy over the tropics at 200 mb during two Northern Hemisphere summers

Diagnostic computations of nonlinear cascades of enstrophy have been performed in the wavenumber domain for two northern summers. Attention is focused on the interactions among the waves, the interaction between the zonal flow and a given wave and the exchanges due to the beta effect. It is found that two wave ranges (low and intermediate wavenumbers) cascade enstrophy to two ranges of wavenumbers. Calculations are also performed to evaluate the contribution from the standing (92-day mean) and transient modes to the nonlinear enstrophy cascade.

Chen, T.-C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Statistical wind profile gust model

A statistical wind profile gust model for the Space Transportation Operations and Trade Studies is developed by using 1800 Jimsphere wind profile data collected at Cape Kennedy during 1965 to 1972. Wind profiles from the surface to 20 km in component form, i.e., zonal and meridional are processed through the digital filters of different wave length ranges bases on the Martin-Graham cosine rolloff model. The residuals obtained from the filtering processes for the data base for the statistical analysis. For each wind component the gust and gust length at a specified reference altitude in a residual profile are defined. A two parameter gamma probability marginal distribution seems to fit the component gust amplitude and the gust length when redefined. The problem of finding an appropriate bivariate joint distribution of the gust amplitude and length remains to be solved. The probability distribution of the modulus of the gust amplitudes was derived under the assumption that they are independently distributed as gamma variates.

Doss, D. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Atmospheric studies related to aerospace activities and remote sensing technology

Parallel investigations were conducted relating to: the sensitivity of 1-D photochemical model simulated column ozone perturbations due to a projected fleet of 1000 aircraft cruising 7 hours per day at altitudes of 15-16 and 18-19 km to uncertainties in kinetic rate constant data determining modeled OH concentrations and eddy diffusivity profile parameterization and a comparison of the inherent strengths and weaknesses of Eulerian and Langrangian averaging processes in the development of multidimensional models and investigation of approaches to applying the Generalized Lagrangian Mean (GLM) formalism to zonal-mean models. The role of multiple scattering and Earth curvature in the evaluation of diurnally dependent photodissociation rates and trace species variations was examined.

Sze, N. D.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Vector wind profile gust model

To enable development of a vector wind gust model suitable for orbital flight test operations and trade studies, hypotheses concerning the distributions of gust component variables were verified. Methods for verification of hypotheses that observed gust variables, including gust component magnitude, gust length, u range, and L range, are gamma distributed and presented. Observed gust modulus has been drawn from a bivariate gamma distribution that can be approximated with a Weibull distribution. Zonal and meridional gust components are bivariate gamma distributed. An analytical method for testing for bivariate gamma distributed variables is presented. Two distributions for gust modulus are described and the results of extensive hypothesis testing of one of the distributions are presented. The validity of the gamma distribution for representation of gust component variables is established.

Adelfang, S. I.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Energetics of a sudden stratospheric warming simulated with a three-dimensional, spectral, quasi-geostrophic model

The energetics of a three dimensional, quasi-geostrophic simulation of a sudden stratospheric warming which developed spontaneously during an annual cycle simulation are described. Daily values of the stratospheric temperatures, zonal winds, heating rates, energies, and energy conversions are discussed and compared with those for observed warmings. It is shown that, like observed warmings, the simulated warming was preceded by an increased vertical flux of eddy kinetic energy from the troposphere and the polar heating resulted because of the strong convergence of the horizontal, eddy heat flux which was only partially balanced by adiabatic and diabatic cooling. There is a significant similarity between the energetics of the simulated and observed warmings. In addition, the warming was spontaneous and the model did not develop a major warming in each winter of the simulation. These facts suggest that this model may be useful for studying not only the warming process but also the conditions that favor its development.

Haggard, K. V.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Some effects of topography, soil moisture, and sea-surface temperature on continental precipitation as computed with the GISS coarse mesh climate model

The effects of terrain elevation, soil moisture, and zonal variations in sea/surface temperature on the mean daily precipitation rates over Australia, Africa, and South America in January were evaluated. It is suggested that evaporation of soil moisture may either increase or decrease the model generated precipitation, depending on the surface albedo. It was found that a flat, dry continent model best simulates the January rainfall over Australia and South America, while over Africa the simulation is improved by the inclusion of surface physics, specifically soil moisture and albedo variations.

Spar, J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Calculation of surface temperature and surface fluxes in the GLAS GOM

Because the GLAS model's surface fluxes of sensible and latent heat exhibit strong 2 delta t oscillations at the individual grid points as well as in the zonal hemispheric averages and because a basic weakness of the GLAS model lower evaporation over oceans and higher evaporation over land in a typical monthly simulation, the GLAS model PBL parameterization was changed to calculate the mixed layer temperature gradient by solution of a quadratic equation for a stable PBL and by a curve fit relation for an unstable PBL. The new fluxes without any 2 delta t oscillation. Also, the geographical distributions of the surface fluxes are improved. The parameterization presented is incorporated into the new GLAS climate model. Some results which compare the evaporation over land and ocean between old and new calculations are appended.

Sud, Y. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The influence of initial and surface boundary conditions on a model-generated January climatology

The influence on a model-generated January climate of various surface boundary conditions, as well as initial conditions, was studied by using the GISS coarse-mesh climate model. Four experiments - two with water planets, one with flat continents, and one with mountains - were used to investigate the effects of initial conditions, and the thermal and dynamical effects of the surface on the model generated-climate. However, climatological mean zonal-symmetric sea surface temperature is used in all four runs over the model oceans. Moreover, zero ground wetness and uniform ground albedo except for snow are used in the last experiments.

Wu, K. F.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Latitude-dependent sensitivity to stationary perturbations in simple climate models

The steady-state zonally averaged climate is perturbed by adding a latitude-dependent heat source to an energy balance equation of the simplified Budyko-Sellers type. The latitude of the ice edge, which is attached to an isotherm, becomes dependent on the strength of the perturbation. This dependence is given in terms of the well-known iceline-solar constant relation, and the latitude dependence of the perturbed temperature field is then uniquely determined. The exact analytical solution is linearized and expressed in terms of a superposition of line sources at various latitudes. The main features are: (1) The total temperature response is a sum of the direct effect of the perturbation and an indirect ice-albedo effect proportional to the solar ice-edge sensitivity; and (2) the indirect feedback effect produces an enhanced response in polar latitudes.

Salmun, H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Time spectral analysis of midlatitude disturbances in the Martian atmosphere

Time-spectral and cross-spectral analyses are used to investigate synoptic pressure variations in the Viking-2 pressure, wind, and temperature data for selected portions of the Mars fall, winter, and spring seasons. Estimates of the phase relationships between the highly coherent pressure, wind, and temperature oscillations are obtained, and found to be very similar to those expected for baroclinic waves and to those obtained from terrestrial surface data. Phase speeds and zonal wavenumbers are inferred by interpreting the pressure and meridional wind variations in terms of eastward-traveling quasi-geostrophic waves.

Barnes, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Seasonal variation of radiance variances from satellite observations Implication of seasonal variation of available potential energy in the stratosphere

Nimbus 5 satellite radiances for the period 1973-74 are used to examine the seasonal variation of available potential energy in the stratosphere in order to provide a further observational basis for a long-term numerical simulation of stratospheric circulation. The maximum value of stratospheric zonal available potential energy, A(Z), in the upper and middle stratosphere shows pronounced variations between winter and summer, while little variation occurs in the lower stratospheric A(Z). The aperiodic occurrence of sudden warmings complicates the seasonal variation of A(Z) and A(E) (eddy available potential energy) in the stratosphere, making the energetics irregular. Time-Fourier analysis reveals that the primary variation of A(Z) and A(E) in the stratosphere is annual and semiannual, respectively.

Chen, T.-C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment /ERBE/ - An overview

An overview of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) is presented along with a brief history relative to the evolution of the ERBE science measurement requirements. A description of the ERBE instrument is presented which includes both the non-scanner and scanner instrument packages. In addition, ERBE science investigations are summarized. The ERBE, to be flown on a three-satellite mission in the 1980's will, for the first time, provide radiation measurements with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution to determine the monthly average radiation budget on regional, zonal, and global scales and the diurnal variation on regional and monthly scales.

Barkstrom, B. R.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Interior structure of Saturn inferred from Pioneer 11 gravity data

The structure of Saturn is studied via a fourth-order theory for rotating planets and equations of state for the envelope which depend parametrically on the helium abundance, on the starting temperature for the adiabat, and on adopted forms of the pressure-density curve in the region of transition from molecular to metallic hydrogen. Models are constrained by the values of J2 and J4 obtained from the Pioneer-Saturn celestial mechanics experiment. Equations of state are tested by computing Jupiter models, which can now be subjected to a more stringent comparison with observed zonal harmonics. It is found that Saturn has a low-density hydrogen-helium envelope with no evidence for enhancement of H2O, CH4, or other abundant compounds. Such compounds are presumably located near the core. The helium mass abundance for Saturn's envelope appears to be in the range of approximately 0.12 to 0.19, but this result is very model-dependent. The helium abundance in the envelope of Jupiter is apparently very similar to that of Saturn.

Hubbard, W. B.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Solitary Rossby waves in the presence of vertical shear

The effects of vertical shear on regular neutral mode Rossby solitons driven by a horizontal shear are investigated in light of the proposition that certain features in the Jupiter atmosphere may be explained by solitary Rossby waves. Consideration is given to a two-layer quasi-geostrophic model in which the motion in each layer consists of a different zonal shear flow, with vertical shear concentrated at the interface between the layers. In the case of a strong vertical shear, it is found that only a very restricted set of flows will admit Rossby neutral model solitons. For the more realistic case of a weak vertical shear, results indicate similar, but latitudinally shifted, wave patterns in each layer. It is noted that no such slant has yet been detected in the Great Red Spot.

Weidman, P. D.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The effect of directional radiation models on the interpretation of earth radiation budget measurements

A parameter estimation technique is presented to estimate the radiative flux density distribution over the earth from a set of radiometer measurements at satellite altitude. The technique analyzes measurements from a wide field of view, horizon to horizon, nadir pointing sensor with a mathematical technique to derive the radiative flux density estimates at the top of the atmosphere for resolution elements smaller than the sensor field of view. A computer simulation of the data analysis technique is presented for both earth-emitted and reflected radiation. The errors resulting from the assumed directional radiation model, spatial model and random measurement error have little effect on the global mean radiation. Zonal estimates were found to be more sensitive to the spatial model than to the directional radiation model. Results from analyzing medium field of view measurements showed a much greater sensitivity to the directional radiation model even on a global scale.

Green, R. N.↗