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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

Quality Control Algorithms for the Kennedy Space Center 50-Megahertz Doppler Radar Wind Profiler Winds Database

This paper presents the process used by the Marshall Space Flight Center Natural Environments Branch (EV44) to quality control (QC) data from the Kennedy Space Center's 50-MHz Doppler Radar Wind Profiler for use in vehicle wind loads and steering commands. The database has been built to mitigate limitations of using the currently archived databases from weather balloons. The DRWP database contains wind measurements from approximately 2.7-18.6 km altitude at roughly five minute intervals for the August 1997 to December 2009 period of record, and the extensive QC process was designed to remove spurious data from various forms of atmospheric and non-atmospheric artifacts. The QC process is largely based on DRWP literature, but two new algorithms have been developed to remove data contaminated by convection and excessive first guess propagations from the Median Filter First Guess Algorithm. In addition to describing the automated and manual QC process in detail, this paper describes the extent of the data retained. Roughly 58% of all possible wind observations exist in the database, with approximately 100 times as many complete profile sets existing relative to the EV44 balloon databases. This increased sample of near-continuous wind profile measurements may help increase launch availability by reducing the uncertainty of wind changes during launch countdown

Barbre, Robert E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Low altitude wind shear statistics derived from measured and FAA proposed standard wind profiles

Wind shear statistics were calculated for a simulated data set using wind profiles proposed as a standard and compared to statistics derived from measured wind profile data. Wind shear values were grouped in altitude bands of 100 ft between 100 and 1400 ft, and in wind shear increments of 0.025 kt/ft between + or - 0.600 kt/ft for the simulated data set and between + or - 0.200 kt/ft for the measured set. No values existed outside the + or - 0.200 kt/ft boundaries for the measured data. Frequency distributions, means, and standard deviations were derived for each altitude band for both data sets, and compared. Also, frequency distributions were derived for the total sample for both data sets and compared. Frequency of occurrence of a given wind shear was about the same for both data sets for wind shears, but less than + or 0.10 kt/ft, but the simulated data set had larger values outside these boundaries. Neglecting the vertical wind component did not significantly affect the statistics for these data sets. The frequency of occurrence of wind shears for the flight measured data was essentially the same for each altitude band and the total sample, but the simulated data distributions were different for each altitude band. The larger wind shears for the flight measured data were found to have short durations.

Dunham, R. E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Estimating Planetary Boundary Layer Heights from NOAA Profiler Network Wind Profiler Data

An algorithm was developed to estimate planetary boundary layer (PBL) heights from hourly archived wind profiler data from the NOAA Profiler Network (NPN) sites located throughout the central United States. Unlike previous studies, the present algorithm has been applied to a long record of publicly available wind profiler signal backscatter data. Under clear conditions, summertime averaged hourly time series of PBL heights compare well with Richardson-number based estimates at the few NPN stations with hourly temperature measurements. Comparisons with clear sky reanalysis based estimates show that the wind profiler PBL heights are lower by approximately 250-500 m. The geographical distribution of daily maximum PBL heights corresponds well with the expected distribution based on patterns of surface temperature and soil moisture. Wind profiler PBL heights were also estimated under mostly cloudy conditions, and are generally higher than both the Richardson number based and reanalysis PBL heights, resulting in a smaller clear-cloudy condition difference. The algorithm presented here was shown to provide a reliable summertime climatology of daytime hourly PBL heights throughout the central United States.

Wind Profiler↗
NASA NTRS1983

Comparison of low-altitude wind-shear statistics derived from measured and proposed standard wind profiles

Wind shear statistics were calculated for a simulated set of wind profiles based on a proposed standard wind field data base. Wind shears were grouped in altitude in altitude bands of 100 ft between 100 and 1400 ft and in wind shear increments of 0.025 knot/ft. Frequency distributions, means, and standard deviations for each altitude band were derived for the total sample were derived for both sets. It was found that frequency distributions in each altitude band for the simulated data set were more dispersed below 800 ft and less dispersed above 900 ft than those for the measured data set. Total sample frequency of occurrence for the two data sets was about equal for wind shear values between +0.075 knot/ft, but the simulated data set had significantly larger values for all wind shears outside these boundaries. It is shown that normal distribution in both data sets neither data set was normally distributed; similar results are observed from the cumulative frequency distributions.

Usry, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Development of a Climatology of Vertically Complete Wind Profiles from Doppler Radar Wind Profiler Systems

Assessment of space vehicle loads and trajectories during design requires a large sample of wind profiles at the altitudes where winds affect the vehicle. Traditionally, this altitude region extends from near 8-14 km to address maximum dynamic pressure upon ascent into space, but some applications require knowledge of measured wind profiles at lower altitudes. Such applications include crew capsule pad abort and plume damage analyses. Two Doppler Radar Wind Profiler (DRWP) systems exist at the United States Air Force (USAF) Eastern Range and at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Kennedy Space Center. The 50-MHz DRWP provides wind profiles every 3-5 minutes from roughly 2.5-18.5 km, and five 915-MHz DRWPs provide wind profiles every 15 minutes from approximately 0.2-3.0 km. Archived wind profiles from all systems underwent rigorous quality control (QC) processes, and concurrent measurements from the QC'ed 50- and 915-MHz DRWP archives were spliced into individual profiles that extend from about 0.2-18.5 km. The archive contains combined profiles from April 2000 to December 2009, and thousands of profiles during each month are available for use by the launch vehicle community. This paper presents the details of the QC and splice methodology, as well as some attributes of the archive.

Barbre, Robert, Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Development of a Climatology of Vertically Complete Wind Profiles from Doppler Radar Wind Profiler Systems

This paper describes in detail the QC and splicing methodology for KSC's 50- and 915-MHz DRWP measurements that generates an extensive archive of vertically complete profiles from 0.20-18.45 km. The concurrent POR from each archive extends from April 2000 to December 2009. MSFC NE applies separate but similar QC processes to each of the 50- and 915-MHz DRWP archives. DRWP literature and data examination provide the basis for developing and applying the automated and manual QC processes on both archives. Depending on the month, the QC'ed 50- and 915-MHz DRWP archives retain 52-65% and 16-30% of the possible data, respectively. The 50- and 915-MHz DRWP QC archives retain 84-91% and 85-95%, respectively, of all the available data provided that data exist in the non- QC'ed archives. Next, MSFC NE applies an algorithm to splice concurrent measurements from both DRWP sources. Last, MSFC NE generates a composite profile from the (up to) five available spliced profiles to effectively characterize boundary layer winds and to utilize all possible 915-MHz DRWP measurements at each timestamp. During a given month, roughly 23,000-32,000 complete profiles exist from 0.25-18.45 km from the composite profiles' archive, and approximately 5,000- 27,000 complete profiles exist from an archive utilizing an individual 915-MHz DRWP. One can extract a variety of profile combinations (pairs, triplets, etc.) from this sample for a given application. The sample of vertically complete DRWP wind measurements not only gives launch vehicle customers greater confidence in loads and trajectory assessments versus using balloon output, but also provides flexibility to simulate different DOL situations across applicable altitudes. In addition to increasing sample size and providing more flexibility for DOL simulations in the vehicle design phase, the spliced DRWP database provides any upcoming launch vehicle program with the capability to utilize DRWP profiles on DOL to compute vehicle steering commands, provided the program applies the procedures that this report describes to new DRWP data on DOL. Decker et al. (2015) details how SLS is proposing to use DRWP data and splicing techniques on DOL. Although automation could enhance the current DOL 50-MHz DRWP QC process and could streamline any future DOL 915-MHz DRWP QC and splicing process, the DOL community would still require manual intervention to ensure that the vehicle only uses valid profiles. If a program desires to use high spatial resolution profiles, then the algorithm could randomly add high-frequency components to the DRWP profiles. The spliced DRWP database provides lots of flexibility in how one performs DOL simulations, and the algorithms that this report provides will assist the aerospace and atmospheric communities that are interested in utilizing the DRWP.

Barbre, Robert E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Assimilation of Wind Profiles from Multiple Doppler Radar Wind Profilers for Space Launch Vehicle Applications

Atmospheric wind data are required by space launch vehicles in order to assess flight vehicle loads and performance on day-of-launch. Space launch ranges at NASA's Kennedy Space Center co-located with the United States Air Force's (USAF) Eastern Range (ER) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and USAF's Western Range (WR) at Vandenberg Air Force Base have extensive networks of in-situ and remote sensing instrumentation to measure atmospheric winds. Each instrument's technique to measure winds has advantages and disadvantages in regards to use within vehicle trajectory analyses. Balloons measure wind at all altitudes necessary for vehicle assessments, but two primary disadvantages exist when applying balloon output. First, balloons require approximately one hour to reach required altitudes. Second, balloons are steered by atmospheric winds down range of the launch site that could significantly differ from those winds along the vehicle ascent trajectory. These issues are mitigated by use of vertically pointing Doppler Radar Wind Profilers (DRWPs). However, multiple DRWP instruments are required to provide wind data over altitude ranges necessary for vehicle trajectory assessments. The various DRWP systems have different operating configurations resulting in different temporal and spatial sampling intervals. Therefore, software was developed to combine data from both DRWP-generated profiles into a single profile for use in vehicle trajectory analyses. This paper will present details of the splicing software algorithms and will provide sample output.

Decker, Ryan K.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Assimilation of Wind Profiles from Multiple Doppler Radar Wind Profilers for Space Launch Vehicle Applications

Space launch vehicles utilize atmospheric winds in design of the vehicle and during day-of-launch (DOL) operations to assess affects of wind loading on the vehicle and to optimize vehicle performance during ascent. The launch ranges at NASA's Kennedy Space Center co-located with the United States Air Force's (USAF) Eastern Range (ER) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and USAF's Western Range (WR) at Vandenberg Air Force Base have extensive networks of in-situ and remote sensing instrumentation to measure atmospheric winds. Each instrument's technique to measure winds has advantages and disadvantages in regards to use for vehicle engineering assessments. Balloons measure wind at all altitudes necessary for vehicle assessments, but two primary disadvantages exist when applying balloon output on DOL. First, balloons need approximately one hour to reach required altitude. For vehicle assessments this occurs at 60 kft (18.3 km). Second, balloons are steered by atmospheric winds down range of the launch site that could significantly differ from those winds along the vehicle ascent trajectory. Figure 1 illustrates the spatial separation of balloon measurements from the surface up to approximately 55 kft (16.8 km) during the Space Shuttle launch on 10 December 2006. The balloon issues are mitigated by use of vertically pointing Doppler Radar Wind Profilers (DRWPs). However, multiple DRWP instruments are required to provide wind data up to 60 kft (18.3 km) for vehicle trajectory assessments. The various DRWP systems have different operating configurations resulting in different temporal and spatial sampling intervals. Therefore, software was developed to combine data from both DRWP-generated profiles into a single profile for use in vehicle trajectory analyses. Details on how data from various wind measurement systems are combined and sample output will be presented in the following sections.

Decker, Ryan K.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

AWP: NASA's Aerosol Wind Profiler Coherent Doppler Wind Lidar

A new airborne coherent Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL) instrument has been implemented leveraging NASA's development of the 2-micron Wind-Space Pathfinder (Wind-SP) lidar transceiver. A technology development project, Wind-SP refined and demonstrated numerous components required for a coherent-detection space wind lidar instrument. Aerosol Wind Profiler (AWP) transitioned this transceiver into an airborne wind lidar capable of providing full 3-D wind vector retrievals. AWP operates with laser pulse energy and repetition rate combination required for high spatial and vertical resolution wind profiling from space. Operation from aircraft platforms will yield very strong signal return required for detailed process studies at <2km spatial and <100m vertical resolution under most conditions. AWP will serve as NASA’s wind calibration and validation instrument for future space-based wind observations over the coming decades, while also providing data supporting space wind lidar simulation studies. The AWP instrument is introduced and preliminary results from recent AWP demonstration flights are presented.

AWP↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Aerosol Wind Profiler (AWP) Doppler Wind Lidar Airborne Observations During the NOAA Joint Venture 3-D Wind Measurement Demonstration and NASA Active-Passive Profiling Experiment (APEX)

The NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) has recently completed development of the Aerosol Wind Profiler (AWP) airborne Doppler wind lidar (DWL) instrument. AWP was supported by the NASA Earth Science Technology Office and the Earth Science Division, a project that adapted the Wind-Space Pathfinder (Wind-SP) DWL transceiver onto a structure for flight aboard a variety of NASA research aircraft. AWP demonstrates many technologies required for a space DWL mission, including a coherent-detection, optical heterodyne laser transmitter with high pulse energy (up to ~55 mJ) and repetition rate (200 Hz), electronic control of the beam path allowing for multiple viewing angles (allowing vector wind measurements) with no moving parts, compact highly-stable and tunable reference lasers allowing for high-precision measurement of velocity at long ranges while mitigating the impact of satellite platform velocity, and many others. AWP represents NASA’s only currently operational airborne 3-D wind profiling sensor. NASA LaRC was selected by the NOAA Joint Venture (JV) program to conduct a suborbital 3-D Wind measurement campaign demonstrate how data from a coherent-detection DWL like AWP could serve NOAA’s weather analysis and forecasting needs. The NOAA JV program is designed to work with the private sector, academia and other federal agencies to explore the feasibility and capability of emerging technologies spacecraft and other mission-specific tools to meet NOAA’s mission requirements. AWP was initially demonstrated on the NASA DC-8 within this JV program in October 2023, piggybacking on the NASA EcoDemonstrator mission focused on in-situ sampling of jet aircraft emissions and contrail formation from Everett, Washington. The in-situ sampling resulted in very frequent and rapid aircraft attitude changes which unfortunately degraded AWP data quality. But, during times with level flight and AVAPS dropsonde operations, AWP demonstrated excellent precision (< 2 m/s RMS) with high vertical (< 100 meter) resolution and 2 km spacing between profiles. AWP will be flown again on the NASA LaRC Gulfstream-3 from mid-September to mid-October 2024 out of Hampton, VA to complete the NOAA JV 3-D wind demonstration. Additional AWP flights will occur in early November from southern California during the NASA Active-Passive Profiling Experiment (APEX), focused on underflights of the NASA ER-2 equipped with many atmospheric profiling sensors. This presentation will summarize AWP measurements collected during these two fall 2024 flight campaigns, and how the AWP data compares with AVAPS dropsonde, NOAA weather prediction model, and GOES atmospheric motion vector data.

Kristopher Bedka↗
NASA NTRS2000

A Comparison of the Automated Meteorological Profiling System High Resolution Flight Element to the Kennedy Space Center 50 MHz Doppler Wind Profiler

Wind profile measurement and the simulation of aerodynamic loads on a launch vehicle play an important role in determining launch capability and post launch assessment of the vehicle's performance. To date, all United States range certified wind profile measurement systems have been based on balloon tracking. Since the 1960's, the standard used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Air Force at the Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS) for detailed wind profile measurements has been the radar tracked, aerodynamically stabilized Jimsphere balloon system. Currently, the Air Force is nearing certification and operational implementation of the Automated Meteorological Profiling System (AMPS) at CCAS and Vandenburg Air Force Base (VAFB). AMPS uses the Global Positioning System for tracking the Jimsphere balloon. It is anticipated that the AMPS/Jimsphere, named the High Resolution Flight Element (HRFE), will have equivalent, or better resolution than the radar tracked Jimsphere, especially when the balloon is far downrange, at a low elevation angle. By the 1980's, the development of Doppler Wind Profilers (DWP) had become sufficiently advanced to justify an experimental measurement program at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). In 1989 a 50 MHz DWP was installed at KSC. In principal, the 50 MHz DWP has the capability to track the evolution of wind profile dynamics within 5 minutes of a launch. Because of fundamental differences in the measurement technique, there is a significant time and space differential between 50 MHz DWP and HRFE wind profiles. This paper describes a study to quantify these differences from a sample of 50 MHz DWP/HRFE pairs obtained during the AMPS certification test program.

Roberts, Barry C.↗