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Prabhakara, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Prabhakara, C..

At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Remote sensing of the boundary layer

Limited information about the boundary layer stratification is obtained from remote infrared spectral measurements in the water vapor window region. A global map of the average strength of the water vapor spectral lines in the 9 micron window region derived from Nimbus 4 IRIS data is presented to indicate this boundary layer information. Presence of deep convective layer in the intertropical convergence zone and trade wind inversion over the subtropical oceanic high pressure systems are appropriately revealed in this map.

Prabhakara, C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Remote sensing of the surface emissivity at 9 microns over the globe

The infrared spectral measurements made by the Nimbus 4 infrared interferometer spectrometer (Iris) for a period of about 10 months are used to study the surface emissivity properties over the globe. It is found that the surface emissivity at 9 microns, as measured by Iris with a circular field of view of about 100-km diameter, is significantly less than unity over arid and semiarid areas. The spectral features in the 8-12-micron window observed over these lands reveal emissivity characteristics essentially due to quartz (SiO2). It is found that these emissivity features are significantly weakened by the presence of clay, clay horizons, or pedogenic horizons in the soil. Low emissivity is observed over sandy or sandy loam areas (psamments) with no clay or pedogenic horizons.

Prabhakara, C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Study of the lower stratospheric thermal structure and total ozone from Nimbus-4 IRIS

The global distribution of temperature in the stratosphere from 100 to 10 mbar and the total ozone in the atmosphere are remotely sensed from the Nimbus-4 IRIS measurements for a period of about one year. The temperature and ozone data are presented in the form of monthly mean global maps. The standard deviations of temperature and ozone with respect to zonal averages are calculated. The mean and the variable state of the stratosphere are discussed with the help of these observations. The lower stratosphere in the tropical regions reveals a significant wave number one pattern in the circulation. The Arctic and Antarctic stratospheric winter circulation regimes display a different behavior apparently due to the ocean and orographic differences.

Prabhakara, C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A simple method to incorporate water vapor absorption in the 15 microns remote temperature sounding

The water vapor absorption in the 15 micron CO2 band, which can affect the remotely sensed temperatures near the surface, are estimated with the help of an empirical method. This method is based on the differential absorption properties of the water vapor in the 11-13 micron window region and does not require a detailed knowledge of the water vapor profile. With this approach Nimbus 4 IRIS radiance measurements are inverted to obtain temperature profiles. These calculated profiles agree with radiosonde data within about 2 C.

Dallu, G.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Estimation of sea surface temperature from remote sensing in the 11to 13-micron window region

The Nimbus 3 and 4 Iris spectral data in the 11- to 13-micron water vapor window region are analyzed to determine the sea surface temperature (SST). The high spectral resolution data of Iris are averaged over approximately 1-micron-wide intervals to simulate channels of a radiometer to measure the SST. In the present exploratory study, three such channels in the 775- to 960-per cm (12.9-10.5 micron) region are utilized to measure the SST over cloud-free oceans. However, two of these channels are sufficient in routine SST determination. The differential absorption properties of water vapor in the two channels make it possible to determine the water vapor absorption correction without detailed knowledge of the vertical profiles of temperature and water vapor. The feasibility of determining the SST is demonstrated globally with Nimbus 3 data, where cloud-free areas can be selected with the help of albedo data from the medium-resolution infrared radiometer experiment on board the same satellite. The SST derived from this technique agrees with the measurements made by ships to about 1 C.-

Prabhakara, C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Nimbus 4 IRIS spectra in the 750-1250 wavelengths/cm atmospheric window region

Present operational schemes for infrared remote sounding measurements of surface temperature use the 899 wavelengths/cm atmospheric window region. Spectra from the Nimbus 4 IRIS in the 750 to 1250 wavelengths/cm region are analyzed. Comparison of the actual surface temperature and the observed brightness temperature at 10 wavelengths/cm resolution shows that the clearest windows were at 936 and 960 wavelengths/cm. Although there is a small amount of CO2 absorption in these regions, this is compensated for by a decrease in water vapor continuum absorption. Atmospheric absorption was 0.5 K less than experienced by the 899 wavelengths/cm window.

Kunde, V. G.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The Nimbus 4 infrared spectroscopy experiment. II - Comparison of observed and theoretical radiances from 425-1450 wavelengths/cm

The Nimbus 4 infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) measured the thermal emission of the earth's atmosphere and surface from 400-1600 wavelengths/cm with an apodized spectral resolution of 2.8 wavelengths/cm. A comparison of theoretical radiances, computed from in situ measurements and using a direct integration slant path atmospheric transmittance model, with the observed IRIS radiances has been made to verify the radiometric and spectral performance of the instrument and to assess the accuracy of the atmospheric transmittances. The radiance comparison has indicated a relatively constant difference of less than 5% in the water vapor continuum in the 425 to 550 wavelengths/cm and 750 to 1200 wavelengths/cm atmospheric 'window' regions, whereas in the 667 wavelengths/cm CO2 band the difference was 5-10%.

Kunde, V. G.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Estimation of sea surface temperature from remote sensing in the 11-13 micron window region

The Nimbus 3 and 4 IRIS spectral data in the 11-13 micron water vapor window region are analyzed to determine the sea surface temperature (SST). The high spectral resolution data of IRIS are averaged over approximately 1 micron wide intervals to simulate channels of a radiometer to measure the SST. Three channels are utilized to measure SST over cloud-free oceans. However, two of these channels are sufficient in routine SST determination. The differential absorption properties of water vapor in the two channels enable one to determine the water vapor absorption correction without detailed knowledge of the vertical profiles of temperature and water vapor. The feasibility of determining the SST is demonstrated globally with Nimbus 3 data where cloud-free areas can be selected with the help of albedo data from the MRIR experiment on board the same satellite.

Prabhakara, C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Nuclear weapons tests and short-term effects on atmospheric ozone

Observations made when Nimbus 4 passed over a nuclear cloud about three hours after the bomb exploded are presented. Infrared and BUV measurements indicated that the atmospheric ozone level in the area of cloud was significantly less than in areas directly north and south of the cloud. It is noted, however, that it is not possible to state definitively that the ozone depletion was caused by nitrogen oxides released in the nuclear weapons test, and that further observations must be made to clarify the situation.

Miller, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A search for global and seasonal variation of methane from Nimbus 4 IRIS measurements

The Nimbus 4 infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) measurements in the region around wave number 1304 show absorption due to methane in the earth's atmosphere. From the laboratory measurements of the absorption coefficient and a selected vertical distribution corresponding to 1.13 atm cm of methane, a theoretical model for the transmittance at wave number 1304 is developed. The weighting function deduced from this model shows a maximum around 300 mb. Some weak absorption due to nitrous oxide in the atmosphere has been taken into account. The vertical temperature profile, derived from the 15 micron CO2 band in the IRIS spectrum, together with the methane weighting function have been used in a consistent way to compute the upwelling intensity at wave number 1304. The brightness temperature corresponding to the IRIS observed radiance at wave number 1304 has been compared with the brightness temperature deduced from the calculated upwelling intensity from 80 deg North to 80 deg South and for different periods of the year. This comparison shows that the two brightness temperatures agree with one another to within the accuracy of measurements about 2 K. From this result it was found that global or seasonal variability of methane is less than + or - 0.25 atm cm.

Prabhakara, C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Infrared spectroscopy experiment: An overview

A retrospective look at the operation and results of the experiment is presented. The design and performance of the infrared interferometer spectrometer are discussed along with the results obtained concerning the atmospheric and surface properties.

Hanel, R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The Nimbus 4 infrared spectroscopy experiment. 2: Comparison of observed and theoretical radiance from 425-1450 cm(minus 1)

The Nimbus 4 infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) measured the thermal emission of the earth's atmosphere and surface from 400-1600/cm with an apodized spectral resolution of 2.8/cm. A comparison of theoretical radiances, computed from in-situ measurements and using a direct integration slant path atmospheric transmittance model, with the observed IRIS radiances has been made to verify the radiometeric and spectral performance of the instrument and to assess the accuracy of the atmospheric transmittances. The radiance comparison has indicated a relatively constant difference of less than 5% in the water vapor continuum in the 425-550/cm and 750-1200/cm atmospheric window regions while in the 667/cm CO2 band the difference was 5-10%. The absolute accuracy was found to be approximately 5-10% for each of the parameters; measured radiances, in-situ measurements, and the atmospheric transmittances, thus it is not possible to uniquely specify the degree of error arising from each parameter in the total resultant difference.

Kunde, V. G.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Nimbus 4 IRIS spectra in the 750-1250/cm atmospheric window region

Several Nimbus 4 IRIS spectra are presented for the 700-1300/cm region as examples of free atmosphere spectra to illustrate problems encountered in interpreting window measurements. Several atmospheric windows near 936 and 960/cm appear significantly more transparent than the 899/cm window presently used in operational remote sensing systems.

Kunde, V. G.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A composite study of cloud, ozone and other data from recent satellite experiments

Pictorial data from the Image Dissector Camera System (IDCS) and Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer (THIR) experiments on Nimbus 4 satellite are analyzed along with: (a) global total ozone maps prepared from Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS) data and (b) total ozone and its vertical distribution as derived from Backscatter Ultraviolet (BUV) spectrometer data. A close relationship is generally observed between centers of high ozone and vortices in the IDCS and THIR montages. This is also confirmed by low centers in the 200 mb Northern Hemisphere charts. The vertical distribution of ozone indicates that the enhancement in ozone in these cases occurs in the lower stratosphere (and possibly to a minor extent in the troposphere) rather than in the upper stratosphere and mesosphere.

Rao, M. S. V.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Estimation of sea surface temperature from remote measurements in the 11-13 micron window region

The Nimbus-4 IRIS data was examined in the spectral region 775 to 1250/cm (8-13 microns) for useful information to determine the sea surface temperature. The high spectral resolution data of IRIS was degraded to low resolution by averaging to simulate a multi-channel radiometer in the window region. These simulated data show that within the region 775-975/cm (12.9-10.25 microns) the brightness temperatures are linearly related to the absorption parameters. Such a linear relationship is observed over cloudy as well as clear regions and over a wide range of latitudes. From this linear relationship it is feasible to correct for the atmospheric attenuation and get the sea surface temperature, accurate to within 1 K, in a cloud free field of view. The information about the cloud cover is taken from the TV pictures and BUV albedo measurements on board the Nimbus-4 satellite.

Prabhakara, C.↗