Engineering topics

Lame, D. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Lame, D. B..

8 records

NASA NTRS1984

The potential of satellite-based radar altimeters

The benefits of satellite-based radar altimetry for oceanographic research are discussed in connection with the Seasat Altimeter Data Seminar. After a general review of the oceanographic data collected by the Seasat and GEOS-3 satellites, a number of criteria are proposed for the successful operation of a satellite-based radar altimeter for oceanographic remote sensing applications. It is shown how the interpretation of altimeter return power waveforms can be used to calculate wind speed, ocean circulation and variability in wind, waves, and tides. A number of recommendations for improving the accuracy of radar altimeter data are given which may be incorporated in the design of the GEOSAT and TOPEX research satellites.

Mooers, C. N. K.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A survey of oceanographic satellite altimetric missions

Consideration is given to the potential benefits of satellite altimetry measurements for oceanographic studies. The technical specifications and instrument payloads of past and future satellite altimetric satellite missions are described in a table. The missions include SKYLAB (1973); GEOS-3 (1975); and SEASAT (1978). Consideration is also given to the NROSS (1988); GEOSAT-4 (1984); and POSEIDON (1987-88) satellite missions.

Born, G. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Seasat measurement system evaluation - Achievements and limitations

The Seasat project, which demonstrated the feasibility of microwave oceanographic remote sensing, was sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The evaluation of the measurement system (elements of the satellite, the sensors, the data handling, and data processing subsystems) was a key activity of the Seasat project. This paper summarizes the primary achievements and highlights the generic limitations of the evaluation process. Other papers in this issue present details of the geophysical evaluation process carried out under the auspices of the Seasat project.

Lame, D. B.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Seasat data utilization project

During the three months of orbital operations, the satellite returned data from the world's oceans. Dozens of tropical storms, hurricanes and typhoons were observed, and two planned major intensive surface truth experiments were conducted. The utility of the Seasat-A microwave sensors as oceanographic tools was determined. Sensor and geophysical evaluations are discussed, including surface observations, and evaluation summaries of an altimeter, a scatterometer, a scanning multichannel microwave radiometer, a synthetic aperture radar, and a visible and infrared radiometer.

Born, G. H.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A survey of the goals and accomplishments of the Seasat mission

The objectives of the Seasat mission, which was dedicated to establishing the utility of microwave sensors for the remote sensing of the earth's oceans, and data collected during some three months of orbital operations are briefly reviewed. In particular, consideration is given to the Seasat sensors and measurement goals, surface and in situ observations, evaluation organization, and current status of geophysical evaluation for each sensor (altimeter, Seasat-A scatterometer system, scanning multichannel microwave radiometer, visible and infrared radiometer, and synthetic aperture radar). Finally, future plans related to the Seasat project are discussed.

Born, G. H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Seasat performance evaluation - The first two steps

Seasat, the satellite dedicated to the study of the oceans using microwave sensors, collected a data set containing information on sea surface winds, sea surface temperatures, wave heights, wave directions, internal waves, currents, tides, the marine geoid, and atmospheric water content. The first two steps of the performance evaluation of the satellite have been completed: (1) the engineering assessment and (2) the sensor evaluation. The results are encouraging for the performance of the instruments and the first level of data processing algorithms.

Lame, D. B.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Seasat mission overview

The microwave oceanographic satellite Seasat is described, and the main characteristics of its five sensors, including a radar altimeter, the Seasat-A scatterometer system, a synthetic aperture radar, a visual and infrared radiometer, and a scanning multichannel microwave radiometer, are discussed. Experimental programs undertaken by the satellite are briefly summarized.

Born, G. H.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Seasat low-rate data system

The Seasat low-rate data system, an end-to-end data-processing and data-distribution system for the four low-rate sensors (radar altimeter, Seasat-A scatterometer system, scanning multichannel microwave radiometer, and visible and infrared radiometer) carried aboard the satellite, is discussed. The function of the distributed, nonreal-time, magnetic-tape system is to apply necessary calibrations, corrections, and conversions to yield geophysically meaningful products from raw telemetry data. The algorithms developed for processing data from the different sensors are described, together with the data catalogs compiled.

Brown, J. W.↗