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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Application of airborne field mill data for use in launch support

An airborne field mill (ABFM) system was implemented on a Learjet 36A and was used to collect electric-field and microphysical data for summertime convective clouds near Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. This system is described and the method used for calibrating it is outlined. Data from this ABFM system were used to investigate the relationship between the strengths of electric fields at the boundaries of summer maritime convective clouds and the distances from these cloud where the fields could first be detected by this system. The relationship between the electric-field strengths at the boundaries of convective clouds and selected radar-measurable parameters of these clouds were also investigated. This study shows promise that the radar volume of these clouds can be used to estimate the order of magnitude electric-field intensity. It is possible that selected remote radar measurements could be incorporated into the launch commit criteria as a means of providing greater confidence and flexibility for determining safe stand-off distances for launch vehicles from convective clouds.

Harris-Hobbs, Ray↗
NASA NTRS1990

A unified view of convective transports by stratocumulus clouds, shallow cumulus clouds, and deep convection

A bulk planetary boundary layer (PBL) model was developed with a simple internal vertical structure and a simple second-order closure, designed for use as a PBL parameterization in a large-scale model. The model allows the mean fields to vary with height within the PBL, and so must address the vertical profiles of the turbulent fluxes, going beyond the usual mixed-layer assumption that the fluxes of conservative variables are linear with height. This is accomplished using the same convective mass flux approach that has also been used in cumulus parameterizations. The purpose is to show that such a mass flux model can include, in a single framework, the compensating subsidence concept, downgradient mixing, and well-mixed layers.

Randall, David A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Remote sensing of severe convective storms over Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

The American satellite, GOES-1 was moved to the Indian Ocean at 58 deg E during the First GARP Global Experiment (FGGE). The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau significantly affects the initiation and development of heavy rainfall and severe storms in China, just as the Rocky Mountains influence the local storms in the United States. Satelite remote sensing of short-lived, meso-scale convective storms is particularly important for covering a huge area of a high elevation with a low population density, such as the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Results of this study show that a high growth rate of the convective clouds, followed by a rapid collapse of the cloud top, is associated with heavy rainfall in the area. The tops of the convective clouds developed over the Plateau lie between the altitudes of the two tropopauses, while the tops of convective clouds associated with severe storms in the United States usually extend much above the tropopause.

Hung, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Cloud and convection frequencies over the southeast United States as related to small-scale geographic features

Based on relatively high spatial and temporal resolution satelite data collected at 0700 CST and at each hour from 1000 CST to 1700 CST during the summer of 1986, cloud and convection variations over the area from Mississippi east to Georgia and from the Gulf of Mexico north to Tennessee are discussed. The data analyses show an average maximum cloud frequency over the land areas at 1400 local time and a maximum of deep convection one hour later. Both cloudiness and deep convection are found to be at a maximum during the nocturnal hours over the Gulf of Mexico. Cloud frequency shows a strong relationship to small terrain features. Small fresh water bodies have cloud minima relative to the surroundings in the afternoon hours. Higher, steep terrain shows cloud maxima and the adjacent lower terrain exhibits afternoon cloud minima due to a divergence of mountain breeze caused by the valley.

Gibson, Harold M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Convective transport over the central United States and its role in regional CO and ozone budgets

We have constructed a regional budget for boundary layer carbon monoxide over the central United States (32.5 deg - 50 deg N, 90 deg - 105 deg W), emphasizing a detailed evaluation of deep convective vertical fluxes appropriate for the month of June. Deep convective venting of the boundary layer (upward) dominates other components of the CO budget, e.g., downward convective transport, loss of CO by oxidation, anthropogenic emissions, and CO produced from oxidation of methane, isoprene, and anthropogenic nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs). Calculations of deep convective venting are based on the method pf Pickering et al.(1992a) which uses a satellite-derived deep convective cloud climatology along with transport statistics from convective cloud model simulations of observed prototype squall line events. This study uses analyses of convective episodes in 1985 and 1989 and CO measurements taken during several midwestern field campaigns. Deep convective venting of the boundary layer over this moderately polluted region provides a net (upward minus downward) flux of 18.1 x 10(exp 8) kg CO/month to the free troposphere during early summer. Shallow cumulus and synoptic-scale weather systems together make a comparable contribution (total net flux 16.2 x 10(exp 8) kg CO/month). Boundary layer venting of CO with other O3 precursors leads to efficient free troposheric O3 formation. We estimate that deep convective transport of CO and other precursors over the central United States in early summer leads to a gross production of 0.66 - 1.1 Gmol O3/d in good agreement with estimates of O3 production from boundary layer venting in a continental-scale model (Jacob et al., 1993a, b). On this respect the central U.S. region acts as s `chimney' for the country, and presumably this O3 contributes to high background levels of O3 in the eastern United States and O3 export to the North Atlantic.

Thompson, Anne M.↗
NASA NTRS2009

A Multiscale Modeling System: Developments, Applications, and Critical Issues

The foremost challenge in parameterizing convective clouds and cloud systems in large-scale models are the many coupled dynamical and physical processes that interact over a wide range of scales, from microphysical scales to the synoptic and planetary scales. This makes the comprehension and representation of convective clouds and cloud systems one of the most complex scientific problems in Earth science. During the past decade, the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud System Study (GCSS) has pioneered the use of single-column models (SCMs) and cloud-resolving models (CRMs) for the evaluation of the cloud and radiation parameterizations in general circulation models (GCMs; e.g., GEWEX Cloud System Science Team 1993). These activities have uncovered many systematic biases in the radiation, cloud and convection parameterizations of GCMs and have led to the development of new schemes (e.g., Zhang 2002; Pincus et al, 2003; Zhang and Wu 2003; Wu et al. 2003; Liang and Wu 2005; Wu and Liang 2005, and others). Comparisons between SCMs and CRMs using the same large-scale forcing derived from field campaigns have demonstrated that CRMs are superior to SCMs in the prediction of temperature and moisture tendencies (e.g., Das et al. 1999; Randall et al 2003b; Xie et al. 2005).

Tao, Wei-Kuo↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Sensitivity of the ACCP Value Framework Science Benefit Score

NASA’s priorities for Earth Science are informed by the 2017-2027 Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. In that document, five Designated Observables are identified as priorities for implementation: Aerosols, Cloud-Convection-Precipitation, Surface Biology, Mass Change, and Surface Deformation Change. In 2019, NASA initiated four multi-year studies to formulate, assess, and recommend potential Observing System concepts that are responsive to the recommendations of the Earth Science Decadal Survey. The Aerosols, Clouds, Convection, and Precipitation (ACCP) study investigates opportunities for synergistic science resulting from implementations that combine both Aerosols science objectives and Clouds, Convection, and Precipitation science objectives. For the ACCP study, a Value Framework was designed to introduce structure, transparency, and traceability in the mission down-select decision process. This paper presents a sensitivity analysis that was conducted to characterize the behavior of the science benefit score of the ACCP Value Framework. it includes derivations of the sensitivity analysis equations, numerical analyses of the behavior of the combined benefit score, and the conclusions drawn from the results of the work that was conducted. The results of this analysis were key to ensuring that the aggregated science benefit scores would enable the team to differentiate and contrast across concepts.

John McLaughlan↗
NASA NTRS1981

Mesoscale convection in the clouds of Venus

A theory explaining the high aspect ratios for cloud level convection in the Venusian atmosphere is presented. The apparent flatness of large-scale convection cells in the Venusian clouds is accounted for by anisotropic eddy diffusion and radiative transfer effects. Horizontal eddy diffusivities must be at least ten-fold greater than vertical diffusivities. Anisotropy ratios greater than or approximately equal to 1,000 are sufficient to explain the flattening in cases where the vertical eddy diffusivity is greater than or approximately equal to 100,000 sq cm/s and the effects of radiative transfer are negligible. For vertical diffusivity greater than or approximately equal to 100,000 sq cm/s, radiative transfer contributes to the flattening. Radiative transfer alone can not account for the apparent aspect ratios, as this would require vertical heat diffusivities large enough to give a nonphysically high value of convective heat transport.

Covey, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Cloud motion in relation to the ambient wind field

Trajectories of convective clouds were computed from a mathematical model and compared with trajectories observed by radar. The ambient wind field was determined from the AVE IIP data. The model includes gradient, coriolis, drag, lift, and lateral forces. The results show that rotational effects may account for large differences between the computed and observed trajectories and that convective clouds may move 10 to 20 degrees to the right or left of the average wind vector and at speeds 5 to 10 m/sec faster or slower than the average ambient wind speed.

Fuelberg, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Tracking Aerosol Convective Interactions Experiment (TRACER) Science Plan

Convective clouds play an important role in the Earth's climate system as a driver of large-scale circulations and a primary mechanism for the transport of heat, moisture, aerosols, and momentum throughout the troposphere. Despite their climatic importance, multi-scale models continue to have persistent biases produced by insufficient representation of convective clouds. This is the result of an incomplete understanding of key processes such as convective initiation, updraft and downdraft dynamics, cloud and precipitation microphysics, and aerosol-convection interactions.The Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation-Climate Initiative, an international research group dedicated to advancing understanding of aerosol impacts on clouds relevant to climate, has identified the Houston, Texas region as an optimal location for targeted studies of aerosol-convection interactions within frequently developing isolated deep convection. Houston lies within a humid subtropical climate regime, where onshore flow and sea-breeze convection interact with a range of aerosol conditions associated with Houston's urban and industrial emissions. Pilot studies have suggested that convective clouds in this region are potentially significantly impacted by the varying aerosol conditions.

Jensen, M.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Covariability in the Monthly Mean Convective and Radiative Diurnal Cycles in the Amazon

The diurnal cycle of convective clouds greatly influences the radiative energy balance in convectively active regions of Earth, through both direct presence, and the production of anvil and stratiform clouds. Previous studies show that the frequency and properties of convective clouds can vary on monthly timescales as a result of variability in the monthly mean atmospheric state. Furthermore, the radiative budget in convectively active regions also varies by up to 7 Wm-2 in convectively active regions. These facts suggest that convective clouds connect atmospheric state variability and radiation variability beyond clear sky effects alone. Previous research has identified monthly covariability between the diurnal cycle of CERES-observed top-of-atmosphere radiative fluxes and multiple atmospheric state variables from reanalysis over the Amazon region. ASVs that enhance (reduce) deep convection, such as CAPE (LTS), tend to shift the daily OLR and cloud albedo maxima earlier (later) in the day by 2-3 hr. We first test the analysis method using multiple reanalysis products for both the dry and wet seasons to further investigate the robustness of the preliminary results. We then use CloudSat data as an independent cloud observing system to further evaluate the relationships of cloud properties to variability in radiation and atmospheric states. While CERES can decompose OLR variability into clear sky and cloud effects, it cannot determine what variability in cloud properties lead to variability in the radiative cloud effects. Cloud frequency, cloud top height, and cloud microphysics all contribute to the cloud radiative effect, all of which are observable by CloudSat. In addition, CloudSat can also observe the presence and variability of deep convective cores responsible for the production of anvil clouds. We use these capabilities to determine the covariability of convective cloud properties and the radiative diurnal cycle.

Dodson, Jason B.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Aviation Applications for Satellite-Based Observations of Cloud Properties, Convection Initiation, In-flight Icing, Turbulence and Volcanic Ash

Advanced Satellite Aviation Weather Products (ASAP) was jointly initiated by the NASA Applied Sciences Program and the NASA Aviation Safety and Security Program in 2002. The initiative provides a valuable bridge for transitioning new and existing satellite information and products into Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP) efforts to increase the safety and efficiency of the airspace system. The ASAP project addresses hazards such as convective weather, turbulence (clear-air and cloud-induced), icing and volcanic ash and is particularly applicable in extending the monitoring of weather over data-sparse areas such as the oceans and other observationally remote locations. ASAP research is conducted by scientists from NASA, the FAA AWRP's Product Development Teams (PDT), NOAA and the academic research community. In this paper we provide a summary of activities since the inception of ASAP that emphasize the use of current-generation satellite technologies toward observing and mitigating specified aviation hazards. A brief overview of future ASAP goals is also provided in light of the next generation of satellite sensors (e.g., hyperspectral; high spatial resolution) to become operational in the 2006-2013 timeframe.

Mecikalski, John R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Remote sensing of severe convective storms

The Tibet Plateau significantly affects the initiation and development of heavy rainfall and severe storms in China, just as the Rocky Mountains influence local severe storms in the United States. The study shows that the heavy rainfall in the Plateau area is usually preceded by a high growth rate of the convective clouds, followed by a rapid collapse of the cloud top. The study also shows that the tops of the convective clouds associated with heavy rainfall over the Plateau usually lie between the altitude of the two tropopauses which exist over the Plateau. There is good agreement between the collapsing of the cloud as observed from the satellite imagery, and the beginning of the rainfall observed by the ground stations and also between the dissipation of the cloud observed from the satellite infrared imagery, and the ending of the rainfall, observed by the ground stations. Comparison of the volumetric dissipation of clouds per unit area over the location of the ground station with the rainfall recorded at that station shows a linear relationship for rainfall mounts exceeding 8 mm. The ratio of observed rainfall at the ground station over the satellite observed cloud volume dissipation per unit area was also computed. The result shows that the ratio is almost constant with the value of 9.55 mm/(pixel . km/pixel) for rainfall amounts exceeding 15 mm; and the variation is less then 10 percent for rainfall mounts between 8 and 15 mm. Needless to say, further investigation is required to verify this ratio.

Hung, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Seasonal Changes in Titan's Meteorology

The Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem has observed Titan for 1/4 Titan year, and we report here the first evidence of seasonal shifts in preferred locations of tropospheric methane clouds. South \polar convective cloud activity, common in late southern summer, has become rare. North \polar and northern mid \latitude clouds appeared during the approach to the northern spring equinox in August 2009. Recent observations have shown extensive cloud systems at low latitudes. In contrast, southern mid \latitude and subtropical clouds have appeared sporadically throughout the mission, exhibiting little seasonality to date. These differences in behavior suggest that Titan s clouds, and thus its general circulation, are influenced by both the rapid temperature response of a low \thermal \inertia surface and the much longer radiative timescale of Titan s cold thick troposphere. North \polar clouds are often seen near lakes and seas, suggesting that local increases in methane concentration and/or lifting generated by surface roughness gradients may promote cloud formation. Citation

Turtle, E. P.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Comparison of Cloud Resolving Model Simulations to Remote Sensing Data

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the ability of a cloud-resolving model (CRM) to simulate the dynamical, radiative, and microphysical properties of deep convective cloud objects identified using CERES (Clouds and the Earth s Radiant Energy System) on board the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite platform, for many cases. A deep convective cloud object is a contiguous region that is composed of satellite footprints that fulfill the following selection criteria: 100% cloud fraction, cloud optical depth > 10, and a cloud top height of at least 10 km. Selection criteria have also been formed for different types of boundary-layer clouds, as described in Xu et al. (2005). The purpose of the cloud object approach is to identify specific areas of where the cloud properties simulated by the CRM systematically differ from the observed cloud properties. Where these systematic differences exist, concrete steps can be made to improve the CRM s simulation of an entire class of clouds, rather than by tuning the model to correctly simulate a single case study, as is often done. Additional information regarding detailed approaches and findings are presented.

Randall, David A.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Quasi-Equilibrium States in the Tropics Simulated by a Cloud-Resolving Model: Specific Features and Budget Analysis - Part 1

A series of long-term integrations using the two-dimensional Goddard Cumulus Ensemble (GCE) model were performed by altering imposed environmental components to produce various quasi-equilibrium thermodynamic states. Model results show that the genesis of a warm/wet quasi-equilibrium state is mainly due to either strong vertical wind shear (from nudging) or large surface fluxes (from strong surface winds), while a cold/dry quasi-equilibrium state is attributed to a remarkably weakened mixed-wind shear (from vertical mixing due to deep convection) along with weak surface winds. In general, latent heat flux and net large-scale temperature forcing, the two dominant physical processes, dominate in the beginning stage of the simulated convective systems, then considerably weaken in the final stage, which leads to quasi-equilibrium states. A higher thermodynamic regime is found to produce a larger rainfall amount, as convective clouds are the leading source of rainfall over stratiform clouds even though the former occupy much less area. Moreover, convective clouds are more likely to occur in the presence of strong surface winds (latent heat flux), while stratiform clouds (especially the well-organized type) are favored in conditions with strong wind shear (large-scale forcing). The convective systems, which consist of distinct cloud types due to the variation in horizontal winds, are also found to propagate differently. Accordingly, convective systems with mixed-wind shear generally propagate in the direction of shear, while the system with strong (multidirectional) wind shear propagates in a more complex way. Based on the results from the temperature (Q1) and moisture (Q2) budgets, cloud-scale eddies are found to act as a hydrodynamic 'vehicle' that cascades the heat and moisture vertically. Several other specific features such as atmospheric stability, CAPE, and mass fluxes are also investigated and found to be significantly different between diverse quasi-equilibrium states. Detailed comparisons between the various states are presented.

Shie, C.-L.↗