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At least 1,621 records · Page 90

Global crustal response model

A computer program was developed for calculating the radial displacement due to the body tide as a function of spatial position and time. The positions of the moon and sun were evaluated by means of the Hill-Brown and Newcomb theories, respectively. Green's functions were utilized to simulate the elastic Earth responses due to point loads, a convolution program has been developed to evaluate the elastic Earth responses due to ocean loading by a given ocean tide constituent. These responses include radial and horizontal displacement, tilt and gravity acceleration, and strain tensor components.

Source record↗

Spherical harmonic analysis of a synoptic climatology generated with a global general circulation model

Spherical harmonic analysis was used to analyze the observed climatological (C) fields of temperature at 850 mb, geopotential height at 500 mb, and sea level pressure. The spherical harmonic method was also applied to the corresponding "model climatological" fields (M) generated by a general circulation model, the "GISS climate model." The climate model was initialized with observed data for the first of December 1976 at 00. GMT and allowed to generate five years of meteorological history. Monthly means of the above fields for the five years were computed and subjected to spherical harmonic analysis. It was found from the comparison of the spectral components of both sets, M and C, that the climate model generated reasonable 500 mb geopotential heights. The model temperature field at 850 mb exhibited a generally correct structure. However, the meridional temperature gradient was overestimated and overheating of the continents was observed in summer.

Christidis, Z. D.↗

A study of the dynamics of droughts in Northern Brazil: Observations, theory, and numerical experiments with a global atmospheric circulation model

The monthly mean sea surface temperature anomalies over tropical Altantic and rainfall anomalies over two selected stations for 25 years (1948-1972) were examined. It is found that the most severe drought events are associated with the simultaneous occurrence of warm sea surface temperature anomalies over north and cold sea surface temperature anomalies over south tropical Atlantic. Simultaneous occurrences of warm sea surface temperature anomaly at 15 deg N, 45 deg W and cold sea surface temperature anomaly at 15 deg S, 5 deg W were always associated with negative anomalies of rainfall, and vice versa. A simple primitive equation model is used to calculate the frictionally controlled and thermally driven circulation due to a prescribed heating function in a resting atmosphere.

Moura, A. D.↗

On the effect of high latitude filtering in global grid point models

The application of various Fourier filtering techniques in a coarse resolution grid point model and the poor simulation of the nonlinear effects responsible for change in the mean zonal flow is discussed. The poor simulation results in spurious energy and momentum transfers. An operational filter, a second order filter on a staggered grid, a fourth order filter on a nonstaggered grid, and a biharmonic diffusion filter were considered.

Takacs, L. L.↗

PAN and the NOx budget of the troposphere

The present investigation has the objective to examine the interaction of NOx with the nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) photochemistry. Attention is given to the influence of temperature, transport, and hydrocarbon radical reactions on the profiles of peroxyacylnitrates (PANs) and NO2. A lumped NMHC chemical reaction scheme was used in a one-dimensional photochemical model of the global troposphere. Model calculations were performed with various temperature profiles and the corresponding solar zenith angles to examine seasonal variations in the profiles of PAN and NOx. A study of the effects of changing temperature and solar zenith angle on the profiles of PAN and NOx showed that the amount of NO2 tied up in PAN increased as temperature decreased.

Brewer, D. A.↗

Mars global reference atmosphere model (Mars-GRAM)

Mars-GRAM is an empirical model that parameterizes the temperature, pressure, density, and wind structure of the Martian atmosphere from the surface through thermospheric altitudes. In the lower atmosphere of Mars, the model is built around parameterizations of height, latitudinal, longitudinal, and seasonal variations of temperature determined from a survey of published measurements from the Mariner and Viking programs. Pressure and density are inferred from the temperature by making use of the hydrostatic and perfect gas laws relationships. For the upper atmosphere, the thermospheric model of Stewart is used. A hydrostatic interpolation routine is used to insure a smooth transition from the lower portion of the model to the Stewart thermospheric model. Other aspects of the model are discussed.

Justus, C. G.↗

Plasmasphere refilling - Recent observations and modeling

The phenomenon of plasmasphere refilling and general considerations of plasmasphere structure and plasmasphere-ionosphere coupling have received increased attention in recent years in terms of both observational considerations and modeling investigations. 'Global' observational and modeling studies of the plasmasphere structure are in the process of demonstrating the complex manner in which refilling and the spatial and temporal variations of convection interplay to produce complex structure in the plasmasphere; these studies are particularly timely as they could be extremely helpful for interpreting results from proposed imaging of plasmaspheric He(+). This review highlights the observational and theoretical/modeling progress during the past few years as well as introduces and places in context the particular contributions contained in this special section.

Singh, M.↗

Linear velocity fields in non-Gaussian models for large-scale structure

Linear velocity fields in two types of physically motivated non-Gaussian models are examined for large-scale structure: seed models, in which the density field is a convolution of a density profile with a distribution of points, and local non-Gaussian fields, derived from a local nonlinear transformation on a Gaussian field. The distribution of a single component of the velocity is derived for seed models with randomly distributed seeds, and these results are applied to the seeded hot dark matter model and the global texture model with cold dark matter. An expression for the distribution of a single component of the velocity in arbitrary local non-Gaussian models is given, and these results are applied to such fields with chi-squared and lognormal distributions. It is shown that all seed models with randomly distributed seeds and all local non-Guassian models have single-component velocity distributions with positive kurtosis.

Scherrer, Robert J.↗

Global Reference Atmosphere Model (GRAM)

4D model provides atmospheric parameter values either automatically at positions along linear path or along any set of connected positions specified by user. Based on actual data, GRAM provides thermal wind shear for monthly mean winds, percent deviation from standard atmosphere, mean vertical wind, and perturbation data for each position.

Johnson, D. L.↗

Global Reference Atmospheric Model - 1990

GRAM-90, improvement on original model, provides values of atmospheric parameters, either automatically at positions along linear path or along any set of connected positions specified by user. Parameters produced include monthly total and mean values of pressure, density, temperature, and wind, as well as perturbation values and magnitudes. Also provides thermal wind shear for monthly mean winds, percent deviation from standard atmosphere, mean vertical wind, and perturbation data for each position. Perturbation data consist of values of quasi-biennial and random perturbations. Written in FORTRAN 77.

Justus, C. G.↗

Tracer evolution in winds generated by a global spectral mechanistic model

The lower boundary of a spectral mechanistic model is prescribed with 100 hPa geopotentials, and its performance during a November 1989 through March 1990 integration is compared with National Meteorological Center observations. Although the stratopause temperatures quickly become biased near the pole in both hemispheres, the model develops a residual mean circulation which shows significant descent over the winter pole and ascent in the tropics and over the summer pole at pressures less than 10 hPa. The daily correspondence of observed to modeled features in the upper stratosphere and mesosphere degrades after one month. However, the long-term variability qualitatively follows the observations. The results of off-line transport experiments are also described. A passive tracer is instantaneously injected into the flow over the poles and evolves in a manner which is consistent with the residual mean circulation. It demonstrates a significant cross-equatorial flux in the mesosphere near solstice, and air which originates in the southern hemisphere polar mesosphere can be found descending deep into the nothern polar stratosphere at the end of the integration. Nitrous oxide is also transported, and its ability to act as a dynamical tracer is evaluated by comparison to the evolution of the passive tracer.

Nielsen, J. E.↗

A Shell/3D Modeling Technique for the Analysis of Delaminated Composite Laminates

A shell/3D modeling technique was developed for which a local solid finite element model is used only in the immediate vicinity of the delamination front. The goal was to combine the accuracy of the full three-dimensional solution with the computational efficiency of a shell finite element model. Multi-point constraints provided a kinematically compatible interface between the local 3D model and the global structural model which has been meshed with shell finite elements. Double Cantilever Beam, End Notched Flexure, and Single Leg Bending specimens were analyzed first using full 3D finite element models to obtain reference solutions. Mixed mode strain energy release rate distributions were computed using the virtual crack closure technique. The analyses were repeated using the shell/3D technique to study the feasibility for pure mode I, mode II and mixed mode I/II cases. Specimens with a unidirectional layup and with a multidirectional layup were simulated. For a local 3D model, extending to a minimum of about three specimen thicknesses on either side of the delamination front, the results were in good agreement with mixed mode strain energy release rates obtained from computations where the entire specimen had been modeled with solid elements. For large built-up composite structures the shell/3D modeling technique offers a great potential for reducing the model size, since only a relatively small section in the vicinity of the delamination front needs to be modeled with solid elements.

Krueger, Ronald↗

Sensitivity of the Tropical Atmospheric Energy Balance to ENSO-Related SST Changes: Comparison of Climate Model Simulations to Observed Responses

This paper focuses on how fresh water and radiative fluxes over the tropical oceans change during ENSO warm and cold events and how these changes affect the tropical energy balance. At present, ENSO remains the most prominent known mode of natural variability at interannual time scales. While this natural perturbation to climate is quite distinct from possible anthropogenic changes in climate, adjustments in the tropical water and energy budgets during ENSO may give insight into feedback processes involving water vapor and cloud feedbacks. Although great advances have been made in understanding this phenomenon and realizing prediction skill over the past decade, our ability to document the coupled water and energy changes observationally and to represent them in climate models seems far from settled (Soden, 2000 J Climate). In a companion paper we have presented observational analyses, based principally on space-based measurements which document systematic changes in rainfall, evaporation, and surface and top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiative fluxes. Here we analyze several contemporary climate models run with observed SSTs over recent decades and compare SST-induced changes in radiation, precipitation, evaporation, and energy transport to observational results. Among these are the NASA / NCAR Finite Volume Model, the NCAR Community Climate Model, the NCEP Global Spectral Model, and the NASA NSIPP Model. Key disagreements between model and observational results noted in the recent literature are shown to be due predominantly to observational shortcomings. A reexamination of the Langley 8-Year Surface Radiation Budget data reveals errors in the SST surface longwave emission due to biased SSTs. Subsequent correction allows use of this data set along with ERBE TOA fluxes to infer net atmospheric radiative heating. Further analysis of recent rainfall algorithms provides new estimates for precipitation variability in line with interannual evaporation changes inferred from the da Silva, Young, Levitus COADS analysis. The overall results from our analysis suggest an increase (decrease) of the hydrologic cycle during ENSO warm (cold) events at the rate of about 5 W/sq m per K of SST change. Model results agree reasonably well with this estimate of sensitivity. This rate is slightly less than that which would be expected for constant relative humidity over the tropical oceans. There remain, however, significant quantitative uncertainties in cloud forcing changes in the models as compared to observations. These differences are examined in relationship to model convection and cloud parameterizations Analysis of the possible sampling and measurement errors compared to systematic model errors is also presented.

Robertson, Franklin R.↗

A Modeling Approach to Global Land Surface Monitoring with Low Resolution Satellite Imaging

The effects of changing land use/land cover on global climate and ecosystems due to greenhouse gas emissions and changing energy and nutrient exchange rates are being addressed by federal programs such as NASA's Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) and by international efforts such as the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP). The quantification of these effects depends on accurate estimates of the global extent of critical land cover types such as fire scars in tropical savannas and ponds in Arctic tundra. To address the requirement for accurate areal estimates, methods for producing regional to global maps with satellite imagery are being developed. The only practical way to produce maps over large regions of the globe is with data of coarse spatial resolution, such as Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) weather satellite imagery at 1.1 km resolution or European Remote-Sensing Satellite (ERS) radar imagery at 100 m resolution. The accuracy of pixel counts as areal estimates is in doubt, especially for highly fragmented cover types such as fire scars and ponds. Efforts to improve areal estimates from coarse resolution maps have involved regression of apparent area from coarse data versus that from fine resolution in sample areas, but it has proven difficult to acquire sufficient fine scale data to develop the regression. A method for computing accurate estimates from coarse resolution maps using little or no fine data is therefore needed.

Hlavka, Christine A.↗

A Shell/3D Modeling Technique for the Analyses of Delaminated Composite Laminates

A shell/3D modeling technique was developed for which a local three-dimensional solid finite element model is used only in the immediate vicinity of the delamination front. The goal was to combine the accuracy of the full three-dimensional solution with the computational efficiency of a plate or shell finite element model. Multi-point constraints provided a kinematically compatible interface between the local three-dimensional model and the global structural model which has been meshed with plate or shell finite elements. Double Cantilever Beam (DCB), End Notched Flexure (ENF), and Single Leg Bending (SLB) specimens were modeled using the shell/3D technique to study the feasibility for pure mode I (DCB), mode II (ENF) and mixed mode I/II (SLB) cases. Mixed mode strain energy release rate distributions were computed across the width of the specimens using the virtual crack closure technique. Specimens with a unidirectional layup and with a multidirectional layup where the delamination is located between two non-zero degree plies were simulated. For a local three-dimensional model, extending to a minimum of about three specimen thicknesses on either side of the delamination front, the results were in good agreement with mixed mode strain energy release rates obtained from computations where the entire specimen had been modeled with solid elements. For large built-up composite structures modeled with plate elements, the shell/3D modeling technique offers a great potential for reducing the model size, since only a relatively small section in the vicinity of the delamination front needs to be modeled with solid elements.

Krueger, Ronald↗

A Shell/3D Modeling Technique for Delaminations in Composite Laminates

A shell/3D modeling technique was developed for which a local solid finite element model is used only in the immediate vicinity of the delamination front. The goal was to combine the accuracy of the full three-dimensional solution with the computational efficiency of a plate or shell finite element model. Multi-point constraints provide a kinematically compatible interface between the local 3D model and the global structural model which has been meshed with plate or shell finite elements. For simple double cantilever beam (DCB), end notched flexure (ENF), and single leg bending (SLB) specimens, mixed mode energy release rate distributions were computed across the width from nonlinear finite element analyses using the virtual crack closure technique. The analyses served to test the accuracy of the shell/3D technique for the pure mode I case (DCB), mode II case (ENF) and a mixed mode I/II case (SLB). Specimens with a unidirectional layup where the delamination is located between two 0 plies, as well as a multidirectional layup where the delamination is located between two non-zero degree plies, were simulated. For a local 3D model extending to a minimum of about three specimen thicknesses in front of and behind the delamination front, the results were in good agreement with mixed mode strain energy release rates obtained from computations where the entire specimen had been modeled with solid elements. For large built-up composite structures modeled with plate elements, the shell/3D modeling technique offers a great potential, since only a relatively small section in the vicinity of the delamination front needs to be modeled with solid elements.

Krueger, Ronald↗