Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Morris, Charles S.

Publications and source records attributed to Morris, Charles S..

11 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Overview of the TOPEX/Poseidon Platform Harvest Verification Experiment

An overview is given of the in situ measurement system installed on Texaco's Platform Harvest for verification of the sea level measurement from the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite. The prelaunch error budget suggested that the total root mean square (RMS) error due to measurements made at this verification site would be less than 4 cm. The actual error budget for the verification site is within these original specifications. However, evaluation of the sea level data from three measurement systems at the platform has resulted in unexpectedly large differences between the systems. Comparison of the sea level measurements from the different tide gauge systems has led to a better understanding of the problems of measuring sea level in relatively deep ocean. As of May 1994, the Platform Harvest verification site has successfully supported 60 TOPEX/Poseidon overflights.

Morris, Charles S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Evaluation of the TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter system over the Great Lakes

The TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter measurment system is evaluated for the first 46 repeat cycles (September 23, 1992-December 23, 1992) using tracks over the Great Lakes. The temporal variations in lake level are removed from the altimeter measurements using in-situ lake level measurements, thus permitting the performance of the altimeter system to be assessed. For the NASA altimeter, the root-mean-square (RMS) scatter of the residuals is 3.95 cm using all the tracks over the lakes. However, some of the scatter in this result is probably due to lake tides or seiche, which can amount to a few centimeters amplitude near the ends of the lakes. When the seven best tracks are used, which cross the center of the lakes where tides/seiche effects are minimal, the RMS error is included to either 2.9 or 3.0 cm, depending on whether the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) or NASA orbit is used. This places an upper limit on the error budget of the altimeter system, excluding ocean tides and inverse barometer effect. There are several short-period variations in the residuals. The most pronounced is a 55-day period, with a 1-cm amplitude, which we believe is (at least in part) due to orbit error. When the model-derived wet tropospheric correction is substituted for the TOPEX microwave radiometer correction, the RMS error increases significantly, possibly resulting in an annual cycle of a few centimeters. Evaluation of the ionospheric correction indicates that the dual-frequency correction provides an average improvement of 0.85 cm over the Doppler orbitography and radiopositioning integrated by satellite (DORIS) correction. Although there are insufficient data to directly assess the CNES altimeter, the relative bias between the altimeters is estimated to be either -14.3 or -15.6 cm (NASA altimeter measuring short), depending on whether the DORIS or dual-frequency ionospheric correction is applied to the NASA altimeter.

Morris, Charles S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Comparison of TOPEX/POSEIDON sigma(sub 0) and significant wave height distributions to Geosat

Monthly Ku band sigma(sub 0) and significant wave height (SWH) histograms from the NASA altimeter on the TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite are preseneted for January through June 1993 for three latitude bands between +/- 60 degrees. The data are compared to distributions from the Geosat mission for the same months in 1987-1989. Generally, the distributions agree quite well, although there are some seasonal/hemispherical differences. The sigma(sub 0) comparison reveals an overall bias between the two altimeters with the TOPEX sigma(sub 0) higher by about 0.7 dB, which is consistent with algorithm improvements for TOPEX. The SWH distributions show strong hemispherical/seasonal changes. The seasonal/hemispherical differences between TOPEX and Geosat are consistent for SWH and sigma(sub 0). The joint distribution of sigma(sub 0) and SWH is extremely stable friom month to month. The typical SWH is independent of sigma(sub 0) for sigma(sub 0) greater than 11.3 dB. The minimum SWH grows exponentially with wind speed. This joint distribution may be useful for understanding electromagnetic bias in altimeter measurements. Finally, altimeter data are compared to buoy values from 21 overflights of the NASA verification site near Pt. Conception, California. Wave heights agree well with an root mean square (RMS) difference of only 0.2 m. Altimeter sigma(sub 0) values are compared to buoy wind speeds. The results are consistent with the -0.7 dB sigma(sub 0) offset from the histogram comparisons.

Callahan, Philip S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Variation of Great Lakes Water Levels Derived from Geosat Altimetry

A technique for using satellite radar altimetry data to estimate the temporal variation of the water level in moderate to large lakes and enclosed seas is described. Great Lakes data from the first 2 years of the U.S. Navy's Geosat Exact Repeat Mission (November 1986 to November 1988), for which there is an improved orbit, are used to demonstrate the technique. The Geosat results are compared to the lake level data collected by the Great Lakes Section, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and are found to reproduce the temporal variations of the five major lakes with Root-Mean-Square error (RMS) ranging from 9.4 to 13.8 cm and a combined average of 11.1 cm. Geosat data are also analyzed for Lake St. Clair, representing a moderate-sized lake, with a resulting rms of 17.0 cm. During this study period, the water level in the Great Lakes varied in a typical annual cycle of about 0.2 m (0.5 in for Lake Ontario) superimposed on a general decline of approximately 0.5 m. The altimeter data reproduced the general decline reasonably well for all the lakes, but the annual cycle was obscured in some lakes due to systematic errors in the altimeter data. Current and future altimetry missions will have markedly improved accuracy which will permit many moderate (25 km diameter) or larger lakes or enclosed seas to be routinely monitored.

Morris, Charles S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The Light Curve of Periodic Comet Wirtanen

Teh light curve of Periodic Comet Wirtanen has been analyzed for the 1986 and 1991 apparitions, the only two monitored by visual observers.

Wirtanen comet light curve periodic comets apparit↗
NASA NTRS1993

The infrared light curve of Periodic Comet Halley 1986 III and its relationship to the visual light curve, C2, and water production rates

The near-IR light curve of Periodic Comet Halley 1986 III is analyzed and compared with C2 production, water production, and the visual light curve. This is the most complete IR light curve compiled to date for any comet. The scattering phase function at small sun-comet-earth angles is shown to affect the slope of near-IR light curve significantly. P/Halley's dust production, as inferred from the IR light curve showed an increased production rate near perihelion which appears to be correlated with the onset of significant jet activity. The near-IR light curve, visual light curve, C2, and water production rates displayed different heliocentric variations, suggesting that one parameter cannot be accurately estimated from another. This is particularly true of the early preperihelion visual light curve. A peak of 0.3-0.5 magnitude in the visual magnitude, representing the integrated brightness of the comet's visible coma, lagged the other parameters by about a day. The near-IR color, J-H, was less red during periods of strong dust activity.

Morris, Charles S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Observational factors affecting studies of Comet P/Halley's visual light curve

Over 5000 visual magnitude estimates of comet Halley were used as a data base for studying the factors which affect the distribution of visually estimated total magnitudes of comets. Observations made on eight selected days were studied. It is concluded that scatter in the magnitude data is a function of (in order of importance) observer experience, comet morphology, and instrumentation used. Experienced observers generally report the brightest magnitude estimates.

Edberg, Stephen J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The visual brightness behavior of P/Halley during 1981-1986

The behavior of the total visual coma brightness of P/Halley during 1981 to 1986 is discussed. Observations used include 75 published V magnitudes obtained with large telescopes (usually with CCDs) prior to July 1985 and 650 total magnitudes estimated visually with smaller telescopes during the period July 1985 to Aug 1986. The macroscopic light curve is discussed, and least-square fits to the traditional power-law formula are provided. Further work is needed to apply physically-meaningful formulae, based on models describing dust and gas-production rates, to the observed light curve of P/Halley. Brightness variations on smaller timescales (hours, days) are reviewed.

Green, Daniel W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The ICQ photometric archive for P/Halley and other comets

The International Comet Quarterly (ICQ) archive is introduced. There is still no electronic (e.g., photoelectric photometers, CCDs) means for readily obtaining total visual magnitudes of comets when the coma diameters are greater than 20 arcsec and visual estimates of the total brightness are still the most abundant type of data for comets during the past 100 yr besides astrometric data. The ICQ published greater than 18,000 visual observations of comets made by 600 observers since 1940. What is available, what is accomplished thus far, and potentials and limitations inherent in the ICQ photometric data archive are discussed.

Green, Daniel W.↗