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At least 1,693 records · Page 94
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

An observational study of large-scale atmospheric Rossby waves during FGGE

Analyzed global data from the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts for the FGGE year are projected onto Hough functions at each synoptic time and the time series filtered to retain all westward propagating components on time scales less than seasonal. The evolution of Hough mode phase agrees closely with Rossby wave theory whenever the amplitudes are not small. The evolution of the wave amplitude is described as irregular vacillation. The first three zonal and meridional wavenumbers are studied. The total Rossby wave field can be as large as 130 m and can potentially explain a significant part of observed, persistent anomalies.

Lindzen, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A numerical simulation of barotropic instability. I Wave-mean flow interaction

A numerical model is used to study the evolution of the barotropic point jet instability as it interacts with the mean flow. The linearized instability solution agrees well with the recent analytical solutions of Lindzen. Stabilization of the point jet instability occurs as the mean flow is modified by wave vorticity transport. Assuming stabilization occurs when the meridional gradient of the zonal mean vorticity is no longer negative, the maximum integrated wave enstrophy can be predicted. In addition, an estimate of the integrated wave enstrophy at steady state can be made by balancing the generation of vorticity against dissipation. These limits are found to be in good agreement with the numerical results.

Schoeberl, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

North-south asymmetries of solar particle events in upper stratospheric ozone

Stratospheric ozone depressions, following intense solar particle events (SPE) observed by the backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) experiment on the Nimbus-4 satellite, indicate the existence of distinct asymmetries between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. These asymmetries are observed in the magnitude of the depressions above the 5-mb level, their temporal variations, and the spatial (i.e., latitude and longitude) dependence of these variations. Possible causes of asymmetries, shown by two events on August 4, 1972 and January 25, 1971, can be attributed to: (1) tilt of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) with respect to the earth's dipole magnetic field which influences the precipitation of energetic solar particles into the polar atmospheres; (2) differences in ozone chemistry caused by the large change in atmospheric temperature between summer and winter hemispheres; (3) seasonal differences of the stratosphere's dynamic states which are affected by upward propagating planetary waves in winter in contrast to the relatively undisturbed zonal flows in summer; and (4) topographic asymmetry between Northern and Southern Hemispheres. These effects are shown by three-dimensional plots of the events in geographic coordinates and by color contour plots of the stratospheric ozone distributions in geomagnetic and geographic polar coordinates, respectively.

Maeda, K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The dynamics of a high-speed Jovian jet

New measurements of the velocity field in the neighborhood of the high-speed jet located at approximately 24 deg N latitude in the Jovian atmosphere are presented. The maximum zonal velocity is found to be 182 + or - 10 m/s, located at 23.7 + or - 0.2 deg N and representing the largest velocity measured on the planet. The distinctive cloud markings found close to this latitude are discussed and possible dynamical consequences presented.

Maxworthy, T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The simulation of the seasonal cycle of the Southern Hemispheric circulation by the GLAS Seasonal Cycle Model and a comparison to observations

The general circulation of the Southern Hemisphere is quite different from that of the Northern Hemisphere in many important ways. These include the barotropic nature of the stationary waves and the presence of a strong barotropic component to the mean zonal wind, the lack of a strong seasonal dependence of the transient eddies, and the dominant role played by eddies with periods less than 10 days compared to longer period fluctuations. Such differences attest to the importance of the altered nature of the orographic and thermal land-sea forcings in the Southern Hemisphere compared to the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the important features of the Southern Hemisphere circulation as simulated by the GLAS Seasonal Cycle Model (SCM) are presented. The geographical patterns of local variability and their seasonal shifts in the SCM are discussed and compared to observations.

Straus, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Modes of inter-hemispheric wave propagation

Attention is given to observations made in connection with the First GARP (Global Atmospheric Research Program) Global Experiment (FGGE), taking into account the average 200 mb zonal wind for two periods during the First Special Observing Period of FGGE, and the 200 mb velocity potential. The meridional linkages implied in the observations involve sources south of 15 deg N, and the most active extratropical patterns are collocated with regions of tropical easterlies. The possibility is investigated that the theory of reduced Rossby wave propagation through easterlies is not sufficiently general to cover the considered observations, taking into account a shallow water model. It is found that the meridional interactions cannot be associated with Rossby waves because these waves connot be generated in the regions of zero absolute vorticity gradient within which the forcing is embedded.

Paegle, J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Kelvin wave packets and flow acceleration - A comparison of modeling and observations

Atmospheric Kelvin waves, as revealed by temperatures obtained from the recent Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) experiment, commonly occur in packets. A simple two-dimensional gravity-wave model is used to study the upward propagation of these packets through different zonal mean wind profiles derived from the LIMS data. The observed prevalence of high frequency waves in the lower mesosphere and low frequency waves in the lower stratosphere can be exlained by dispersion of energy associated with the range of frequencies comprising a packet. Dominant wave frequencies at upper and lower levels are more distinctly separated if the packet propagates through a layer of westerly winds. Due to dispersion and shear effects, a packet of short temporal length at low levels will have a considerably extended impact on a layer of westerly winds at higher levels. Observed and modeled westerly accelerations resulting from packet absorption occur in the same layer, and are similar in magnitude and duration. These results support the theory that Kelvin waves are responsible for the westerly phase of the semiannual oscillation.

Coy, L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The Z3 model of Saturn's magnetic field and the Pioneer 11 vector helium magnetometer observations

Magnetic field observations obtained by the Pioneer 11 vector helium magnetometer are compared with the Z(sub 3) model magnetic field. These Pioneer 11 observations, obtained at close-in radial distances, constitute an important and independent test of the Z(sub 3) zonal harmonic model, which was derived from Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 fluxgate magnetometer observations. Differences between the Pioneer 11 magnetometer and the Z(sub 3) model field are found to be small (approximately 1 percent) and quantitatively consistent with the expected instrumental accuracy. A detailed examination of these differences in spacecraft payload coordinates shows that they are uniquely associated with the instrument frame of reference and operation. A much improved fit to the Pioneer 11 observations is obtained by rotation of the instrument coordinate system about the spacecraft spin axis by 1.4 degree. With this adjustment, possibly associated with an instrumental phase lag or roll attitude error, the Pioneer 11 vector helium magnetometer observations are fully consistent with the Voyager Z(sub 3) model.

Connerney, J. E. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Forecasts of the 500 mb height using a dynamically oriented statistical model

The forecast skill of a simple dynamically inspired statistical model of the Northern Hemisphere 500 mb height field is evaluated in spectral and physical space for a variety of forecast lead times (1-32 days) and predictand averaging times (1-32 days). The model includes viscous damping, wave propagation, climatology and implicit stochastic forcing. The largest model skill was found for forecasts of the zonal flow and the largest waves. In general, the largest forecast skills were also associated with the largest forecast error, there being a slight geographic phase shift of the skill with respect to the error. Model skills for climate (time-averaged) forecasts are greater when using instantaneous rather than time averages to forecast time averages. Analysis of model errors suggests areas for improvement in representing forcing terms and model physics. However, the model error fields are largely 'white noise' which suggests that global forecast skills substantially larger than those obtained here are unlikely to be achieved by more sophisticated models.

Roads, J. O.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Rotational Properties of Uranus and Neptune

An assessment of recent research bearing on the rotational properties of Uranus and Neptune is given. It is concluded that these properties are best described by the following estimates; URANUS: Direction of pole = alpha (1950) = 256:72 delta (1950) = -15:04 with an absolute uncertainty of about 0:2, Period = 15 to 17 hours; Sense of spin = Retrograde; NEPTUNE: alpha (1950) = 297:8; delta (1950) = + 41:2, with an uncertainty of about 4 degrees towards the pole of Triton's orbit, Period = 18.2 + or - 0.4 hours, Sense of spin = Prograde. There is a clear signature of large scale, zonal, atmospheric flows in observations of the atmosphere of Neptune. Wind velocities are at least as great as 109 m.sec-1. There is no evidence pro or con for atmospheric motions in the Uranus case.

Belton, M. J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The 1984 ASEE-NASA summer faculty fellowship program (aeronautics and research)

The 1984 NASA-ASEE Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) is reported. The report includes: (1) a list of participants; (2) abstracts of research projects; (3) seminar schedule; (4) evaluation questionnaire; and (5) agenda of visitation by faculty programs committee. Topics discussed include: effects of multiple scattering on laser beam propagation; information management; computer techniques; guidelines for writing user documentation; 30 graphics software; high energy electron and antiproton cosmic rays; high resolution Fourier transform infrared spectrum; average monthly annual zonal and global albedos; laser backscattering from ocean surface; image processing systems; geomorphological mapping; low redshift quasars; application of artificial intelligence to command management systems.

Dah-Nien, F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Jet Stream Errors and Tropospheric-stratospheric Interactions in the GLAS General Circulation Model

This project used the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences general circulation model (GCM) to explore the causes of erroneously weak shears above the subtropicl jet in GCMs. This problem was seen over the past 15 years of general circulation modeling both as a weak vertical shear and as a cold polar stratosphere. Although recent models now have closed zonal wind contours in their monthly Northern Hemisphere winter climatologies, the weak shears are still present in both winter, summer, Northern, and Southern hemispheres. Numerous hypotheses have been advanced to explain this failure including the rigid top, poor vertical resolution, incorrect modeling of radiative processes, and incorrect model generation of tropospheric waves. Although the Community Climate Model, attempted to deal with many of these causes, especially radiative processes, the problem is still present.

Tenenbaum, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Global scale diagnoses of FGGE data

Descriptive global scale diagnoses of the First Global Atmospheric Research Experiment SOP-1 analyses were made and compared against controlled, real data integrations of the Goddard Laboratory of Atmospheric Science (GLAS) general circulation model (GCM) as well as other data sets. The effects of critical latitudes were studied; the influence of tropical wind data and latent heating upon the GLAS GCM was diagnosed; planetary wave structure on various time scales from the diurnal to the monthly was studied; and the GLAS analyses were compared with other analyses. Short term controlled GLAS GCM integrations show that: (1) the inclusion of tropical wind data in real data integrations has an important influence in the mid-latitude prediction in both hemispheres; and (2) the tropical divergent wind reacts almost immediately to alteration of the tropical latent heating. The presence or absence of zonally averaged easterlies depends strongly upon the presence of tropical latent heating.

Paegle, J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Middle Atmosphere Program. Handbook for MAP, Volume 5

The variability of the stratosphere during the winter in the Northern Hemisphere is considered. Long term monthly mean 30-mbar maps are presented that include geopotential heights, temperatures, and standard deviations of 15 year averages. Latitudinal profiles of mean zonal winds and temperatures are given along with meridional time sections of derived quantities for the winters 1965/66 to 1980/81.

Sechrist, C. F., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Variation of Derived Mesospheric Nitric Oxide in Relation to Wind and Temperature in Winter

As a good approximation, changes of the NO-density are solely responsible for changes of the non-auroral D-region. Under the assumption that other ion production processes are either known or negligible, one can derive (NO) from electron densities using a suitable effective electron loss rate. In the Winter Anomaly Campaign 1975/76 nineteen rocket payloads carried electron density measurements on fifteen days. On two of these days (NO) was measured in-situ by photometers. For these days one can establish the production not due to Lyman-alpha and NO. This rest production can then be applied to all (NO) derivations based on electron density measurements. In addition, in this campaign winds and temperatures were measured from the ground to approximately the base of the thermosphere. The derived field of NO densities between December 1975 and February 1976 from 70 to 100 km is compared to corresponding fields of winds (zonal and meridional), temperatures, pressure and Richardson numbers.

Friedrich, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A Model of the Influence of Neutral Air Dynamics on the Seasonal Variation in the Low Ionosphere

Recently it has become clear that the phenomena in the ionospheric D-region are determined to a great extent by dynamical processes in the strato-mesosphere D-region. In this respect much attention is paid to the study of the winter anomaly (WA) phenomenon on medium and short radiowaves, in which the meteorological character of the lower ionosphere is most prominent. Significant experimental data about the variations of the electron concentration, N, ion composition, temperature and dynamic regime during WA permit a better understanding of the character of the physical processes in the middle atmosphere. The influence of the neutral wind on the seasonal variation of the electron concentration N for the altitude interval 90 or = z or = 120 km, where the ratio upsilon sub in/omega sub i, of the ion-neutral collision frequency, upsilon sub in and the ion gyrofrequency, omega sub i decreases from 40 to 1 was evaluated. CIRA-72 is used as a model of the zonal wind.

Nestorov, G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Changes in the Ozone Content over Central Europe During Reversals of Stratospheric Circulation in Late Winter

A superposed epoch analysis during late winter zonal wind reversals was carried out from 18 year observation series (1963 to 1980) of the meridional geopotential height gradient in the 30 mb level (latitude mean) and of the ozone content over central Europe. Experimental data suggest that if planetary waves are responsible for the additional meridional ozone transport during stratospheric warmings, this transport has to take place at heights other than those up to the ozone maximum in the middle latitudes.

Entzian, G.↗