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Nagatani, R. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Nagatani, R. M..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1996

Validation of UARS Microwave Limb Sounder Temperature and Pressure Measurements

The accuracy and precision of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) atmospheric temperature and tangent-point pressure measurements are described. Temperatures and tangent- point pressure (atmospheric pressure at the tangent height of the field of view boresight) are retrieved from a 15-channel 63-GHz radiometer measuring O2 microwave emissions from the stratosphere and mesosphere. The Version 3 data (first public release) contains scientifically useful temperatures from 22 to 0.46 hPa. Accuracy estimates are based on instrument performance, spectroscopic uncertainty and retrieval numerics, and range from 2.1 K at 22 hPa to 4.8 K at 0.46 hPa for temperature and from 200 m (equivalent log pressure) at 10 hPa to 300 m at 0.1 hPa. Temperature accuracy is limited mainly by uncertainty in instrument characterization, and tangent-point pressure accuracy is limited mainly by the accuracy of spectroscopic parameters. Precisions are around 1 K and 100 m. Comparisons are presented among temperatures from MLS, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) stratospheric analysis and lidar stations at Table Mountain, California, Observatory of Haute Provence (OHP), France, and Goddard Spaceflight Center, Maryland. MLS temperatures tend to be 1-2 K lower than NMC and lidar, but MLS is often 5 - 10 K lower than NMC in the winter at high latitudes, especially within the northern hemisphere vortex. Winter MLS and OHP (44 deg N) lidar temperatures generally agree and tend to be lower than NMC. Problems with Version 3 MLS temperatures and tangent-point pressures are identified, but the high precision of MLS radiances will allow improvements with better algorithms planned for the future.

Fishbein, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Interannual Variability of the North Polar Vortex in the Lower Stratosphere During the UARS Mission

Northern winters since the 1991 launch of UARS are compared to earlier years (1978 -1991) with respect to the potential for formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds and for isolation of the north polar vortex. Daily NMC temperature minima at 465 K late in the winter of 1993-94 and again in December 1994 were the lowest values experienced during these times of the year (since 1978). Northern PV gradients were unusually strong in 1991-92 prior to late January and throughout the winter in both 1992-93 and 1994-95. Of all northern winters since 1978, 1994-95 with its early extended cold spell and persistently strong PV gradients most resembled the Antarctic winter lower stratosphere. Even so, temperatures was never as low, nor was the polar vortex as large, as during a typical southern winter. Judged by daily temperature minima and PV gradients at 465 K, meteorological conditions in the Arctic winter lower stratosphere during the UARS period were more conducive to vortex ozone loss by heterogeneous chemistry than in most previous winters since 1978-79.

Zurek, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Validation of UARS Microwave Limb Sounder Temperature and Pressure Measurements

The accuracy and precision of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) atmospheric temperature and tangent-point pressure measurements are described. Temperatures and tangent-point pressure are retrieved from a 15-channel 63-GHz radiometer measuring O 2 microwave emissions from the stratosphere and mesosphere.

atmospheric↗
NASA NTRS1994

Accuracy of total ozone retrieval from NOAA SBUV/2 measurements: Impact of instrument performance

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NOAA/NESDIS) has been collecting and evaluating the solar backscattered ultraviolet (SBUV/2) instrument data from NOAA 9 and NOAA 11 spacecraft since March 1985. Over 5 years (March 1985 to October 1990) of NOAA 9 (version 5.0) and over 4 years (January 1989 to June 1993) of NOAA 11 (version 6.0) reprocessed data are now available to the scientific community to study geophysical phenomena involving ozone. This paper examines the impact of the instrument performance on total ozone retrieval from the two instruments. We estimate that at the end of October 1990 the total postlaunch error for NOAA 9 due to instrument alone is -2.2%. A significant fraction of this error (-1.9%) is due to diffuser degradation which is not accounted for in the version 5 reprocessing. The estimate for NOAA 11 total postlaunch instrument error, at the end of June 1993, is -0.4%.

Ahmad, Z.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Comparisons of observed ozone and temperature trends in the lower stratosphere

One result of the ozone assessment (WMO, 1989) is that there is a significant negative ozone trend in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere from 1970 through 1986. The relationship of this trend in ozone to that of temperature in the same altitude region is examined utilizing a 62-station set of rawinsonde data, and the results are compared to the changes in temperature determined from a radiative equilibrium model calculation. The calculated and observed trends in lower stratospheric temperature indicate substantial agreement in the shape and magnitude of the vertical profiles.

Miller, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

SAGE II stratospheric density and temperature retrieval experiment

This paper describes a stratospheric density and temperature retrieval experiment based on the solar occultation measurement of the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II). The entire retrieval analysis involves two inversion steps: the vertical structure inversion, which derives the profile of local atmospheric extinction from SAGE II limb optical depth data, and the species inversion, which inverts the concentration of air molecules, aerosols, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide from the derived atmospheric extinction at five SAGE II short wavelengths (0.385, 0.448, 0.453, 0.525, and 0.600 microns). The derived density profile is then used to infer the temperature distribution, assuming that the atmosphere is in hydrostatic equilibrium and obeys the ideal gas law. The temperature profiles retrieved from the SAGE II observations are compared with near-coincident, in both time and space, French Rayleigh lidar and NASA Wallops Flight Facility rocket datasonde soundings as well as the National Meteorological Center (NMC) data analyses. The results indicate that the mean SAGE II temperature agrees with the mean lidar measurements to within 2 C at altitudes from 30.5 to 52.5 km. The SAGE II and datasonde observations agree to within about 4 C in approximately the same altitude region.

Wang, Pi-Huan↗
NASA NTRS1992

Ozone and temperature trends in the lower stratosphere

It is shown that the pattern of temperature trend with height in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere is consistent with that calculated from a model incorporating the observed ozone changes. The magnitude of the observed temperature decrease is less than that determined from the numerical model. It is found that the obverse ozone-temperature relationship does not hold. If the temperature at 20 km decreases, this by itself would result in an increase in the ozone values through the inverse temperature sensitivity of the chemical reactions. In the lower stratosphere a positive correlation between ozone and temperature tends to exist through the dynamics. Ozone-rich air moving downward undergoes an increase in temperature through adiabatic compression and vice-versa. That the temperature trends indicate no apparent variation with latitude suggests a nondynamic cause.

Miller, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Stratospheric temperature-ozone relationships 1978-1986

Global stratospheric temperature and geopotential height at eight pressure levels (70, 50, 30, 10, 5, 2, 1, and 0.4 hPa) were derived at NMC daily since October 1978. These fields are based on NOAA operational satellite sounder information. Comparable daily global fields of stratospheric ozone (30 to 0.4 hPa and total ozone) were derived from the SBUV instrument on Nimbus 7 and are now derived from the operational NOAA SBUV/2 instrument. The ozone and meteorological fields are verified against ground based measurements (Umkehr, balloon, rocket, lidar) to determine fields of temperature and ozone was assembled. Some of the interesting features of correlation between the synoptic patterns of the two data sets as well as their change with time are discussed. Seasonal as well as interannual variations in the patterns of correlation are compared in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere polar regions. Other outstanding features in both the temperature and ozone fields are highlighted.

Gelman, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Computations of ozone transport using Nimbus 7 solar backscatter ultraviolet and NOAA/National Meteorological Center data

The ozone fluxes and flux convergences within the region between 30 and 0.4 mbar for the Northern Hemisphere are investigated for the period January 1 to March 31, 1979, using Nimbus 7 solar backscatter ultraviolet ozone profiles and the meteorological data derived from NOAA satellites. The results indicate that large contributions to the ozone transport and the transport convergence are due to mean vertical advection and horizontal eddy processes. The contribution from the vertical eddies is insignificant. The transport of ozone into the polar latitudes during winter and early spring is mainly accomplished by the large-scale horizontal eddies. The results also show that more ozone is transported into the polar region by the large-scale eddies on disturbed days than on quiet days.

Wu, M.-F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A comparison of SAGE I data during the stratospheric warming of February-March, 1979

The fine scale vertical structure of SAGE I ozone and aerosol data during a stratospheric warming is investigated using meteorological and SBUV ozone data. By stratifying the ozone and aerosol data for a limited time period, a comparison of the structure of profiles becomes possible under different meteorological conditions. For example, the cold air region shows more laminated structures than the other regions. In addition, vertical motions calculated at the same locations as the SAGE profiles show that they are consistent with variances found in the ozone and aerosol data.

Nagatani, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Monthly mean distribution of ozone and temperature

Global monthly mean charts for both hemispheres are given for four mid-season months, and for the pressure levels 30, 10, 1, and 0.1 mbar for temperature and 0.4 mbar for ozone. Charts of total ozone are provided separately. This set of charts shows clearly the very close coupling between the temperature and ozone distributions and demonstrates the influence of the large-scale planetary waves which give rise to very large longitudinal variations. The regular and interannual variability of temperature and ozone are discussed.

Labitzke, K.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Ozone-temperature relationships in the stratosphere

Utilizing independent estimates of ozone and temperature fields from the SBUV (Nimbus 7) and NOAA operational satellites, respectively, for the period 1978-1981, the coefficient of variation between the two parameters is determined. This coefficient is defined as A = Delta-O3 x (T)/Delta T x (O3) wehre Delta is an incremental change in either temperature or ozone and the bracket is a mean state. In practice, A is determined on a daily basis by regression of ozone mixing ratio versus temperature around a latitude circle during the winter season and the bracket value is the daily zonal average. This has the advantage of keeping the solar zenith angle fixed for a daily value while allowing it to change during the season. This is done at 30, 10, 5, 2, and 1 mb from 20 deg to 60 deg latitude in both hemispheres. The results are summarized and compared with those determined from a one-dimensional photochemical model applied to different latitudes.

Miller, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Stratospheric ozone changes during the first year of SBUV observations

Synoptic analyses of solar backscattered ultraviolet (SBUV) ozone data have been performed on a daily basis for the first year of Nimbus 7 operation, November 1978 through October 1979, at the standard pressure levels: 30, 10, 5, 2, 1, and 0.4 mbar. By combining these data with the daily NMC meteorological analyses of temperature and geostrophic wind at the same levels, elements of the ozone-temperature relationship as well as the horizontal eddy transports are examined. In particular, the existence of an upper stratospheric high-latitude ozone minimum in winter is discussed, and the eddy fluxes are found to play a significant role in this feature, mainly associated with stratospheric warming pulses. At the same time, monthly average quantities are examined, and standing eddy components are related.

Nagatani, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ozone climatology series. Volume 1: Atlas of total ozone, April 1970 - December 1976

Contours and gridded values are given for seven years of monthly mean total ozone data derived from observations with the Backscattered Ultraviolet instrument on Nimbus-4 for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The instrument, algorithm, uncertainties in derived ozone and systematic changes in the bias with respect to the international groundbased ozone network of Dobson instruments, are discussed.

Heath, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Total ozone variations 1970-74 using Backscattered Ultraviolet /BUV/ and ground-based observations

The most long-lived satellite set of ozone observations, to date, is that derived from the Backscatter Ultraviolet (BUV) ozone sensor on Nimbus 4 and extends from April 1970 through 1976. Unfortunately, this experiment suffered spacecraft power limitations which limited the spatial and temporal coverage and also appears to have suffered from long-term drifts which may be associated with changes in the instrument characteristics or the incident solar flux. Techniques have been developed to account for these problems, and this paper presents results of the BUV total ozone variations and compares them with those from ground-based observations, specifically the computations of Angell and Korshover (1978). After adjustments for the spatial gaps and comparison with concurrent Dobson ground-based observations, no significant trend was found in the BUV data over the years 1970-74. This finding is in contrast to a general decrease of about 2% during the same period appearing in the data of Angell and Korshover. The difference in these results is discussed in terms of the geographic sampling and the methods of hemispheric integration.

Miller, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Results and analyses of ground-based and satellite ozone observations A review

The ground-based network that has been in existence for several decades is described. Attention is given to two basic questions, namely the way in which monthly satellite analyses compare with those from the ground-based network and the way in which the trends from the satellite and ground-based data compare. Synoptic analyses of total ozone for December 1970 are compared with a subjective analysis of the ground-based network and an objective backscatter ultraviolet (BUV) analysis. It is found that the BUV analysis is the more consistent of the two. Considering monthly analyses for September 1970, satellite and ground-based data are found to agree quite well. In considering the question of trend determination by the ground-based versus the satellite systems, attention is given to the sources of error in the satellite system. The principal sources of error in BUV analysis are thought to be calibration drift with time and the fact that, over the lifetime of the satellite spacecraft, power limitations result in a decrease in the number of data points per month, possibly with significant gaps in the coverage.

Miller, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Utilization of 100 mb midlatitude height fields as an indicator of sampling effects on total ozone variations

Midlatitude 100-mb height fields are employed to determine the effects of ground based sampling locations on measurements of variations in the total ozone content of the atmosphere. The precision of the zonal average heights computed by the technique of Angell and Korshover (1978) from data over ozone sampling areas at 50 deg N is compared to the zonal average computed from the entire data set. Linear regressions of ozone contents determined by an analysis of backscatter UV satellite data with respect to 100 mb heights are utilized to transform zonal differences in height to ozone levels. The zonal average total ozone sampling error is found to be on the order of 2% for midlatitudes of the Northern hemisphere, indicating that the general shape of ozone trends determined by ground-based observations appears to be real and the increase of ozone from the mid-1960's to the early 1970's may be greater than previously suggested.

Miller, A. J.↗