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NASA NTRS1985

The read-out system of spatial distribution of thermoluminescence in meteorites

The thermoluminescence (TL) technique used for dating the terrestrial age of meteorites is based on the TL fading of interior samples. The depth dependence of the TL for Antarctic meteorites with fusion crust is measured. Usually, meteorites are powdered and their TL measured under a photomultiplier. In this case, a TL spatial distribution of a cross section of antarctic meteorites is measured using a read out system of spatial distribution of TL, since a meteorite is made up of inhomogeneous material. Antarctic meteorites MET-78028(L6) and ALH-77278(L13) are used.

Ninagawa, K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Luminosity and spatial distribution of the forbidden O I 6300-A emission in comets

The Tuttle, Stephan-Oterna, and Brooks 2 comets have been subjected to CCD observations of the 6300 and 6364 A forbidden oxygen lines, in order to determine the spatial profiles and absolute luminosities of the cometary forbidden O I lines. Analysis indicates the source of the observed O I photons to be direct photodissociation of water vapor. O 1D production by dissociation of OH becomes dominant at larger distances from the nucleus, and the water vapor production rates derived from O I emissions are found to be in good agreement with those determined from forbidden line OH by the IUE spacecraft, as well as ground-based photometry. It is demonstrated that analysis of cometary O 1D emission allows the determination of the spatial distribution of the parent molecule water vapor.

Fink, U.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Spatial variation of sea surface temperature and flux-related parameters measured from aircraft in the JASIN experiment

Spatial variation of some parameters measured on two aircraft flying 100-km box and 200-km triangular patterns at low levels in the atmospheric boundary layer during the Joint Air Sea Interaction Experiment in the North Atlantic was studied. The variation should be representative of summer conditions in mid-latitude oceans. The variance density of remotely sensed sea surface temperature, corrected for sky reflection, is found to depend on the one-dimensional wave number raised to the power of approximately -5/3. Nonuniform clouds add low-frequency variance to observations of a downward looking radiometer and result in steeper slope of the spectra of uncorrected sea surface temperature. Turbulent fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, and moisture were determined with the bulk formulae from the parameters (wind speed, temperature, specific humidity, and sea surface temperature) measured from the aircraft. The averages of these fluxes over each flight leg were compared with the fluxes determined from the parameters averaged over the same leg. The difference is negligible, showing that spatially averaged observations, such as those from spaceborne sensors, can be used in the bulk formulae to evaluate the fluxes.

Liu, W. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A spatial model of wind shear and turbulence

The purpose of the spatial model considered in the present investigation is to generate the wind environment for use by others for flight simulation. Winds and gusts are provided over any finite area (e.g., aircraft body) from which aircraft loads and moments may be calculated. Three-dimensional autospectral information and correlation are contained in the data. It is pointed out that the three-dimensionality as contained in the spatial model affords much greater realism than widely used one-dimensional models. The resulting simulated wind is a nonlinear, non-Gaussian combination of real atmospheric winds and Gaussian, three-dimensional turbulence modulated by gust intensities which may vary freely as desired over space. The turbulence as represented by a product of a varying gust intensity and simulated turbulence is nonlinear and non-Gaussian.

Campbell, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

SAMSI: An orbiting spatial interferometer for micro-arc second astronomical observations

The concept and performance of (SAMSI) Spacecraft Array for Michelson Spatial Interferometry, an orbiting spatial interferometer comprised of three free-flying spacecraft, two collector telescopes and a central mixing station are described. In the one-dimensional interferometry mode orbits exist which provide natural scanning of the baseline. These orbits place extremely small demands on thrusters and fuel consumption. Resolution of 0.00001 arcsecond and magnitude limits of mv = 15 to 20 are achievable in a single orbit. In the imaging mode, SAMSI could synthesize images equivalent to those produced by equal diameter filled apertures in space, making use of the fuel resupply capability of a space station. Simulations indicate that image reconstruction can be performed with milliarcsecond resolution to a visual magnitude 12 in 12 hr of spiral scanning integration time.

Stachnik, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The quantitative modelling of human spatial habitability

A model for the quantitative assessment of human spatial habitability is presented in the space station context. The visual aspect assesses how interior spaces appear to the inhabitants. This aspect concerns criteria such as sensed spaciousness and the affective (emotional) connotations of settings' appearances. The kinesthetic aspect evaluates the available space in terms of its suitability to accommodate human movement patterns, as well as the postural and anthrometric changes due to microgravity. Finally, social logic concerns how the volume and geometry of available space either affirms or contravenes established social and organizational expectations for spatial arrangements. Here, the criteria include privacy, status, social power, and proxemics (the uses of space as a medium of social communication).

Wise, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Segmentation of computer-classified Landsat multispectral scanner data into spatially-connected regions of elk habitat components

Segmentation of computer-classified Landsat multispectral data into spatially-connected regions of ground cover is described. Sorting and hash addressing, techniques commonly used for ordering and searching data records keyed by attributes, are the basis for the region identification and extraction. An example based on the use of spatial regions for evaluating elk habitat components is outlined.

Murray, R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Using spatial logic in classification of Landsat TM data

A strategy for spatial/spectral classification of Landsat TM data is presented. The strategy is founded upon 'spatial logic', a logic that seeks to emulate important aspects of visual image interpretation. The carefully structured classification process begins with spectral stratification of the data into water, vegetated and non-vegetated pixels. A region growing algorithm is then used to define 'fields' of similar land cover composition. Fields are characterized by cover composition, size and neighborhood characteristics. A supervised iterative contextual classification algorithm is developed to assign final land use/land cover labels. Maps are generalized using a spatial post-processing technique. Positive, though preliminary, results are presented.

Merchant, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Spatial analysis in recreation resource management for the Berlin Lake Reservoir Project

Spatial analysis of geographic information systems and the acquisition and use of remotely-sensed data within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is an emerging Technology Work units have been developed under te Remote Sensing Research and Development Program, which are most relevant to the productive needs of the Corps in both the military and civil works missions. Corps participation in the SPOT simulation champaign is one such example of this research. This paper describes the application of spatial analysis and remote sensing in recreation resource managmaster planning at the Berlin Lake Reservoir Project within the Pittsburgh District. SPOT simulator data was acquired over Berlin Lake, Site No. 10, on July 8, 1983. The first part of this paper describes the background of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Berlin Lake project, the geographic information system being developed, and the planned use of SPOT and similar data. The remainder of the paper describes the results on an analysis of the simulated SPOT data conducted at the NASA Goddard Institut for Space Studies.

Edwardo, H. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The spatial structure of IRC + 10216 and NGC 7027 in the far-infrared

Spatial scans of IRC + 10216 and NGC 7027 were made at 50 and 100 microns using a diffraction-limited slit. Maximum entropy deconvolution techniques were applied to the data and, in effect, the structure of these sources was probed down to a scale far smaller than previously achieved at these wavelengths. IRC + 10216 was unresolved on a spatial scale of several arcsecs and a low upper limit to either the dust-gas ratio or the bulk emissivity of the grains was implied for the large molecular envelope surrounding the star. NGC 7027 was easily resolved in the scans, with far-infrared emission distribution corresponding closely with the distribution of ionized gas and shorter wavelength infrared emission.

Lester, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Development of algorithms for understanding the temporal and spatial variability of the earth's radiation balance

A brief description is given of how temporal and spatial variability in the earth's radiative behavior influences the goals of satellite radiation monitoring systems and how some previous systems have addressed the existing problems. Then, results of some simulations of radiation budget monitoring missions are presented. These studies led to the design of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE). A description is given of the temporal and spatial averaging algorithms developed for the ERBE data analysis. These algorithms are intended primarily to produce monthly averages of the net radiant exitance on regional, zonal, and global scales and to provide insight into the regional diurnal variability of radiative parameters such as albedo and long-wave radiant exitance. The algorithms are applied to scanner and nonscanner data for up to three satellites. Modeling of dialy shortwave albedo and radiant exitance with satellite samling that is insufficient to fully account for changing meteorology is discussed in detail. Studies performed during the ERBE mission and software design are reviewed. These studies provide quantitative estimates of the effects of temporally sparse and biased sampling on inferred diurnal and regional radiative parameters. Other topics covered include long-wave diurnal modeling, extraction of a regional monthly net clear-sky radiation budget, the statistical significance of observed diurnal variability, quality control of the analysis, and proposals for validating the results of ERBE time and space averaging.

Brooks, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The preferred spatial mode of instability for a Mach 2 jet

Phase-averaged schlieren video and an array of azimuthally oriented microphones were used in the experiments performed to determine the preferred spatial structure associated with supersonic nozzle design for an exhaust Mach number of 2. The jet flow was unheated, chemically inert, and submerged in a static environment, conditions that are satisfactory for the quasi-linear wave-analytical model of Tam and Morris (1980) and Tam and Burton (1984). For general conditions of undeterminate phase-averaged optical records, a conditional sampling method was devised, based on fundamental multimode components. This method uncovers the preferred spatial structure, and shows that in addition to the dominant jet flapping mode, there is also a significant contribution from the axisymmetric mode. Near-field correlations with a moving microphone indicate that the flapping plane is nearly stationary, and not spinning as in the Westley and Wolley (1975) experiment.

Seiner, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Investigation of clouds spatial distribution using ground-based lidar

Certain investigations of spatial distribution of clouds by employing ground based lidar are presented. The great changeability is one of the main properties of the clouds in the boundary layer. As a result, their optical properties change rapidly which complicates the modeling of cloud evolution. Suitable equipped lidars are widely used for diagnostics of the clouds via a number of scattering and absorption processes. In particular, lidar can provide information on the distribution of meteorological parameters and of the other important cloud characteristics both in vertical and horizontal directions. Herein the time and spatial distribution of the aerosol backscattering coefficient of S sub t and S sub c type clouds are investigated by means of a correlation analysis of the lidar obtained data provided from several arbitrary directions and heights.

Kolev, I. N.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Spatial analysis of storm depths from an Arizona raingage network

Eight years of summer rainstorm observations are analyzed by a dense network of 93 raingages operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, in the 150 km Walnut Gulch experimental catchment near Tucson, Arizona. Storms are defined by the total depths collected at each raingage during the noon-to-noon period for which there was depth recorded at any of the gages. For each of the resulting 428 storm days, the gage depths are interpolated onto a dense grid and the resulting random field analyzed to obtain moments, isohyetal plots, spatial correlation function, variance function, and the spatial distribution of storm depth.

Fennessey, N. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Spatially growing disturbances in a high velocity ratio two-stream, coplanar jet

The influence of cold and heated secondary flow on the instability of a two-stream, coplanar jet having a 0.7 Mach number heated primary jet for a nominal fan to primary velocity ratio of 0.68 was investigated by means of inviscid linearized stability theory. The instability properties of spatially growing axisymmetric and first order azimuthal disturbances were studied. The instability characteristics of the two-stream jet with a velocity ratio of 0.68 are very different from those of a single stream jet, and a two-stream, coplanar jet having a 0.9 Mach number heated primary jet and a cold secondary jet for a fan to primary velocity ratio of 0.30. For X/D = 1 and in comparison to the case where the velocity ratio was 0.3, the presence of the fan stream with a velocity ratio of 0.68 enhanced the instability of the jet and increased the unstable frequency range. However, the axisymmetric mode (m = 0) and the first order azimuthal mode (m = 1) have similar spatial growth rates where the velocity ratio is 0.68 while for a velocity ratio of 0.3 the growth rate of the first order azimuthal mode (m = 1) is greater. Comparing the cold and hot secondary flow results showed that for a velocity ratio of 0.68 the growth rate is greater for cold.

Miles, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Stellar bars and the spatial distribution of infrared luminosity

Ground-based 10 micron observations of the central region of over 100 infrared luminous galaxies are presented. A first order estimate of the spatial distribution of infrared emission in galaxies is obtained through a combination of ground-based and Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) data. The galaxies are nearby and primarily noninteracting, permitting an unbiased investigation of correlations with Hubble type. Approximately 40% of the early-type barred galaxies in this sample are associated with enhanced luminosity in the central (approximately 1 kpc diameter) region. The underlying luminosity source is attributed to both Seyfert and star formation activity. Late-type spirals are different in that the spatial distribution of infrared emission and the infrared luminoisty are not strongly dependent on barred morphology.

Devereux, Nicholas↗
NASA NTRS1987

Spatial deconvolution of IRAS galaxies at 60 UM

Using IRAS in a slow scan observing mode to increase the spatial sampling rate and a deconvolution analysis to increase the spatial resolution, several bright galaxies were resolved at 60 micron. Preliminary results for M 82, NGC 1068, NGC 3079 and NGC 2623 show partially resolved emission from 10 to 26 arcsec., full width at half maximum, and extended emission from 30 to 90 arcsec. from the center. In addition, the interacting system, Arp 82, along with Mark 231 and Arp 220 were studied using the program ADDSCAN to average all available survey mode observations. The Arp 82 system is well resolved after deconvolution and its brighter component is extended; the two most luminous objects are not resolved with an upper limit of 15 arcsec. for Arp 220.

Low, Frank J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The effect of spatial resolution on satellite derived cloud cover

The effects of a varying sensor spatial resolution on the cloud fraction derived by reflectance threshold (RT), IR temperature threshold (IRT), hybrid bispectral threshold (HBT) and spatial coherence (SC) methods for cloud retrieval from remotely sensed data were examined experimentally. Eight subscenes from four scenes acquired with the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) in 1982, 1983 and 1985 were used in the trials. All cloud retrieval methods were applied to extract the cloud fraction in all the subscences for comparison with the total cloud amount determined from the TM band 4 data, which had 28.5 m resolution.

Wielicki, B. A.↗