Engineering topics

Adams, C. N.

Publications and source records attributed to Adams, C. N..

5 records

NASA NTRS1978

Radiative transfer in spherical shell atmospheres. II - Asymmetric phase functions

This paper investigates the effects of sphericity on the radiation reflected from a planet with a homogeneous conservative-scattering atmosphere of optical thicknesses of 0.25 and 1.0. A Henyey-Greenstein phase function with asymmetry factors of 0.5 and 0.7 was considered. Significant differences were found when these results were compared with the plane-parallel calculations. Also, large violations of the reciprocity theorem, which is only true for plane-parallel calculations, were noted. Results are presented for the radiance versus height distributions as a function of planetary phase angle. These results will be useful to researchers in the field of remote sensing and planetary spectroscopy.

Kattawar, G. W.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Radiative transfer in spherical shell atmospheres. I - Rayleigh scattering

The plane-parallel approximation and the more realistic spherical shell approximation for the radiance reflected from a planetary atmosphere are compared and are applied to the study of a planet the size of the earth with a homogeneous conservative Rayleigh scattering atmosphere extending to a height of 100 km. Inadequacies of the approximations are considered. Radiance versus height distributions for both single and multiple scattering are presented, as are results for the fractional radiance from altitudes in the atmosphere which contribute to the total unidirectional reflected radiance at the top of the atmosphere. The data can be used for remote sensing applications and planetary spectroscopy.

Adams, C. N.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Radiative transfer in spherical shell atmospheres. 2: Asymmetric phase functions

The effects are investigated of sphericity on the radiation reflected from a planet with a homogeneous, conservative scattering atmosphere of optical thicknesses of 0.25 and 1.0. A Henyey-Greenstein phase function with asymmetry factors of 0.5 and 0.7 is considered. Significant differences were found when these results were compared with the plane-parallel calculations. Also large violations of the reciprocity theorem, which is only true for plane-parallel calculations, were noted. Results are presented for the radiance versus height distributions as a function of planetary phase angle.

Kattawar, G. W.↗

NASA NTRS1974

The influence of ozone and aerosols on the brightness and color of the twilight sky

The radiance and color of the twilight sky are calculated for single scattered radiation with the use of spherically symmetric models of the earth's atmosphere. Spherical geometry is used throughout the calculations with no plane-parallel approximations. Refraction effects are taken into account through fine subdivision of the atmosphere into spherical shells of fixed index of refraction. Snell's law of refraction is used to calculate a new direction of travel each time that a photon traverses the interface between layers. Five different models of the atmosphere were used: a pure molecular scattering atmosphere; molecular atmosphere plus ozone absorption; and three models with aerosol concentrations of one, three, and ten times normal together with molecular scattering and ozone absorption. The results of the calculations are shown for various observation positions and local viewing angles in the solar plane for wavelengths in the range from 0.40 to 0.75 micron.

Adams, C. N.↗

NASA NTRS1973

The influence of ozone and aerosols on the brightness and color of the twilight zone

The radiance and color of the twilight sky are calculated for single scattered radiation with the use of spherically symmetric models of the earth's atmosphere. Spherical geometry is used throughout the calculations with no plane parallel approximations. Refraction effects are taken into account through fine subdivision of the atmosphere into spherical shells of fixed index of refraction. Shell's law of refraction is used to calculate a direction of travel each time that a photon traverses the interface between layers. Five different models of the atmosphere were used: a pure molecular scattering atmosphere; molecular atmosphere plus ozone absorption; and three models with aerosol concentrations of 1, 3, and 10 times normal together with molecular scattering and ozone absorption. The results of the calculations are shown for various observation positions and local viewing angles in the solar plane for wavelengths in the range of 0.40 microns to 0.75 microns.

Adams, C. N.↗