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Monaldo, F. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Monaldo, F. M..

11 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

A comparison of SIR-B directional ocean wave spectra with aircraft scanning radar spectra

Directional ocean wave spectra derived from Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) L-band imagery collected off the coast of Southern Chile on 11 and 12 October 1984 were compared with independent spectral estimates from two airborne scanning radars. In sea states with significant wave heights ranging from 3 to 5 meters, the SIR-B-derived sspectra at 18 deg and 25 deg off nadir yielded reasonable estimates of wavelengths, directions, and spectral shapes for all wave systems encountered, including a purely azimuth-traveling system. A SIR-B image intensity variance spectrum containing predominantly range-traveling waves closely resembles an independent aircraft estimate of the slope variance spectrum. The prediction of a U.S. Navy global spectral ocean wave model on 11 October 1984 exhibited no significant bias in dominant wave number but contained a directional bias of about 30 deg with respect to the mean of the aircraft and spacecraft estimates.

Beal, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Achieving improved frequency response of the rain structure from spaceborne radar altimeters by employing deconvolution methods

A technique is described for arriving at improved measurements of the rain structure near the earth's surface from satellite-borne radars. The method uses deconvolution and Fourier transform procedures and assumes a knowledge of the antenna beam pattern. As an example, the method is directed toward the application of future spaceborne radar altimeters that may contain additional range gates to permit the measurement of rain in the lower troposphere. Using a radar-measured rain reflectivity profile acquired at Wallops Island, VA, in a simulation example, it is specifically demonstrated that improved measurements of the spatial frequency spectrum of the rain structure may be deduced by means of deconvolution methods, as compared to the measured spectrum derived by beam averaging. Rain measurements are considered vital from the standpoint of providing a flag for altimeter data that may be corrupted by rain. Such measurement capabilities should also provide sorely needed data on rain over the oceans where few or no such data are available for the meteorologist or the communicator interested in space diversity communications.

Goldhirsh, J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Altimeter height measurement error introduced by the presence of variable cloud and rain attenuation

It has recently been recognized that spatially inhomogeneous clouds and rain can substantially affect the height precision obtainable from a spaceborne radar altimeter system. Through computer simulation, it has been found that typical levels of cloud and rain intensities and associated spatial variabilities may degrade altimeter precision at 13.5 GHz and, in particular, cause severe degradation at 35 GHz. This degradation in precision is a result of radar signature distortion caused by variable attenuation over the beam limited altimeter footprint. Because attenuation effects increase with frequency, imprecision caused by them will significantly impact on the frequency selection of future altimeters. In this paper the degradation of altimeter precision introduced by idealized cloud and rain configurations as well as for a realistic rain configuration as measured with a ground based radar is examined.

Monaldo, F. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Spatial variations of ocean wave directional spectra from the Seasat synthetic aperture radar

Seasat synthetic aperture radar ocean wave spectra for a 900-km pass are analyzed and interpreted in the context of both their probable generation sources and their surface current and bathymetric modifiers. Systematic vector wavenumber variations of several times the standard error of determination (about 1.5 percent in magnitude and 0.9 deg in direction) occur along the entire 900-km pass. The large-scale spatial variation of a 200-m swell system can be accurately accounted for as a result of dispersion from a distant storm. The more local variations are qualitatively well correlated in position with known currents and bathymetry but show systematic biases that appear partly due to an environmentally dependent instrument transfer function in the regions of high current and highest sea state. There is also substantial evidence that a large angular deviation in the center of the pass is the result of a mesoscale eddy just to the east.

Beal, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Rain and cloud effects on a satellite dual-frequency radar altimeter system operating at 13.5 and 35 GHz

The influence of clouds and rain on the return waveform signatures from satellite borne radar altimeters operating at 13.5 and 35 GHz are examined. It is specifically demonstrated that spatial nonuniformity in the cloud liquid water content or variations of the rain rate may result in significant distortions of the altimeter signature. The distorted signal is produced as a result of nonuniform attenuation occurring at the different range bins associated with the reflected signal. Determination of the mean sea height by employing tracking algorithms on these distorted echoes may result in gross errors. Although the influence of clouds on the altimeter signature and hence tracking precision is minimal at 13.5 GHz (e.g., less than 4 cm for a 1-s average), it may produce unacceptable mean sea level uncertainties at 35 GHz (e.g., 20 cm for a 1-s average) assuming a significant waveheight of 4 m. On the other hand, the signatures at both 13.5 GHz and 35 GHz become grossly distorted for rain rates of 10 mm/h and higher resulting in mean sea height errors of 46 and 65 cm, respectively, for significant wave heights of 2 m.

Walsh, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Tracking ocean wave spectrum from SAR images

An end to end algorithm for recovery of ocean wave spectral peaks from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images is described. Current approaches allow precisions of 1 percent in wave number, and 0.6 deg in direction.

Goldfinger, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Altimeter height measurement errors introduced by the presence of variable cloud and rain attenuation

It has recently been recognized that spatially inhomogeneous clouds and rain can substantially affect the height precision obtainable from a spaceborne radar altimeter system. Through computer simulation, it has been found that typical levels of cloud and rain intensities and associated spatial variabilities may degrade altimeter precision at 13.5 GHz and, in particular, cause severe degradation at 35 GHz. This degradation in precision is a result of radar signature distortion caused by variable attenuation over the beam limited altimeter footprint. Because attenuation effects increase with frequency, imprecision caused by them will significantly impact on the frequency selection of future altimeters. In this paper the degradation of altimeter precision introduced by idealized cloud and rain configurations as well as for a realistic rain configuration as measured with a ground based radar is examined.

Monaldo, F. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Improved resolution rain measurements from spaceborne radar altimeters

Rain measurement of the type described here are considered vital from the standpoint of representing a flag for altimeter data that may be corrupted by rain. It also provides sorely needed rain data over the oceans where little or no such data is available. It is demonstrated that improved resolution measurements of precipitation may be obtained from satellite borne radars with antenna beams having relatively large surface footprints. The method employs deconvolution and Fourier transform procedures, and assumes a knowledge of the antenna beam pattern. As an example, the technique is specifically directed towards the application of future spaceborne radar altimeters which may contain additional range gates to enable the measurement of rain at altitude. It is demonstrated that because of the natural variability of rain in the lateral extent, the standard beam averaging over the footprint could easily produce erroneous interpretations of the intensity of rain and its extent. On the other hand, many of these ambiguities may be removed employing the deconvolution techniques described.

Goldhirsh, J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Large- and small-scale spatial evolution of digitally processed ocean wave spectra from Seasat synthetic aperture radar

The threshold behavior of the azimuth response falloff in Seasat SAR imagery and its implications with respect to existing wave imaging theories is examined. The large-scale spatial evolution of a set of eight SAR image spectra with adjacent spacing of about 100 km, spanning about 700 km along the satellite orbit is considered. The small-scale evolution of a sequence of 23 spectra with adjacent spacing of about 2.2 km, spanning only about 48 km but experiencing depth changes from 200 to 35 m as well as unknown currents in the vicinity of the continental shelf is studied. The large-scale spatial evolution of the spectrum is generally consistent with the location of wave-generating sources, even when multiple wave systems are present. On a more local scale, the nearshore wave number spectrum responds to local depth changes but is too noisy to respond reliably to local current changes.

Beal, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The influence of rain and clouds on a satellite dual frequency radar altimeter system operating at 13 and 35 GHz

The effects of inhomogeneous spatial attenuation resulting from clouds and rain on the altimeter estimate of the range to mean sea level are modelled. It is demonstrated that typical cloud and rain attenuation variability at commonly expected spatial scales can significantly degrade altimeter range precision. Rain cell and cloud scale sizes and attenuations are considered as factors. The model simulation of altimeter signature distortion is described, and the distortion of individual radar pulse waveforms by different spatial scales of attenuation is considered. Examples of range errors found for models of a single cloud, a rain cell, and cloud streets are discussed.

Walsh, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Daylight imagery of ocean surface waves for wave spectra

A simple second-order model is developed to describe the transformation between surface wave slope and radiance incident on an optical sensor. The model includes azimuth as well as elevation variations in the sky-radiance distribution and their effects on the imaging of wave slopes approaching the sensor azimuth from various directions. The model also includes upwelling radiance. Comparison between the exact transformation from wave slope to radiance and the second-order model suggests that they yield quantitatively similar results. The model is used in physical interpretations of how wave slopes are imaged and in indicating a way of optimizing the linearity and contrast of the transfer function relating wave slope to radiance for various sensor geometries, thereby minimizing sources of error. One-dimensional numerical simulations of the imaging of an analytically generated wave-slope profile demonstrate the utility of this technique in obtaining slope spectra.

Monaldo, F. M.↗