Engineering topics

Russell, James M., III

Publications and source records attributed to Russell, James M., III.

46 records · Page 3

NASA NTRS1993

Calibration, testing and orbital performance of the halogen occultation experiment (HALOE) on the upper atmosphere research satellite

HALOE is an occultation viewing radiometer that requires part per million signal precision and characterization. Gas correlation radiometry is used to infer HF HCl, CH4 and NO concentrations, while broad band radiometry is used for temperature, pressure, O3, H2O and NO2. Validated results verify that goals have been met or exceeded in all channels. This was achieved through a comprehensive instrument analysis and calibration process on the ground and in orbit. Components and systems were put through a battery of tests in the lab. In orbit, a variety of exoatmospheric solar disk measurements are used for precise real time inferral of critical calibration parameters. In the end, technical success was based on the close interaction of scientist, engineer and data analysts. The accuracy and precision of HALOE species profiles are equal to any ever achieved from orbiting sensors.

Gordley, Larry L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

An overview of the halogen occultation experiment (HALOE)

The HALOE experiment will fly on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) in the last quarter of 1991. The experiment uses the solar occultation limb sounding approach, in combination with gas filter and broadband radiometry to provide measurements of temperature profiles and key gases in the ClO(y), NO(y), and HO(y) chemical families of the middle atmosphere. The instrument has been characterized in great detail to determine gains, spectral response, noise, crosstalk, field-of-view, and thermal drift characteristics. A final end-to-end test using a gas cell to simulate the atmosphere demonstrated measurement repeatability to about 1 percent and agreement between measured and calculated signals to within about 1 percent to 3 percent. This latter agreement provides confidence in knowledge of both the hardware as well as the software.

Russell, James M., III↗

NASA NTRS1991

An overview of the spectroscopy of the atmosphere using far infrared emission experiment (SAFIRE)

The SAFIRE experiment was conceived to satisfy a long-standing need for simultaneous middle atmosphere observations of ozone and important O(y), HO(y), NO(y), ClO(y), and BrO(y) gases, coupled with dynamics data. This will be accomplished using interferometry and broadband radiometry to sound the Earth limb in the far IR and mid IR, respectively. The experiment will employ the latest developments in detector and cryogenic cooling technology in order to achieve the measurement objectives. Detailed instrument and simulated atmospheric retrieval studies show that important gases such as OH, HO2, H2O2, HDO, N2O5, and HOCl can be observed with good accuracy.

Russell, James M., III↗

NASA NTRS1990

Estimation of synoptic fields of middle atmosphere parameters from Nimbus-7 LIMS profile data

The most widely used version of the Nimbus-7 middle atmosphere dataset is the set of high quality, daily, and zonal Fourier coefficients that resolve information out to six wavenumbers at 12 UTC. A Kalman filter algorithm was applied to the original profile data in order to generate those fields for the data archive or LAMAT product. The characteristics and implementation of the algorithm are described in some detail, along with examples of the output for each of the LIMS parameters.

Remsberg, Ellis E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Far infrared balloon-based limb emission measurements of HO(sub x) gases in the middle atmosphere

The aim of the measurements is to obtain vertical mixing of profiles of hydrogen and halogen trace gases and to study the related processes of diurnal change, OH/HO2 ratio, and HO sub x total budget involved in stratospheric ozone. The species to be measured in the first planned 1990 flight of this new series include OH, H2O2, HO2, HOCl, HBr, HCl, HF, H2O, HDO, O3, and isotopic O3. Recent analyses have been completed for the retrieval of the OH concentration profile and the first measurement of the HBr column concentration.

Russell, James M., III↗

NASA NTRS1990

Analysis of observations of the middle atmosphere from satellites

Satellite data are being used to investigate problems in middle atmosphere chemistry and dynamics. Efforts have been focused primarily on studies to determine the quality of observed distributions of trace species and derived dynamical quantities. Those data have been used as diagnostics for model-derived constituent profiles and fields and for improving our understanding of some of the fundamental processes occurring in the middle atmosphere. Temperatures and derived winds from Nimbus 7 Limb Infrared Monitoring of the Stratosphere (LIMS) data were compared with long-time series of rawinsonde data at Invercargill, New Zealand, and Berlin, West Germany, and the results are excellent for both quantities. It was also demonstrated that more highly-derived dynamical quantities can be obtained reliably from those LIMS fields. Furthermore, both the diabatic and residual-mean circulations derived using LIMS data agree qualitatively with changes in the distribution of trace species determined independently with the Nimbus 7 SAMS and LIMS experiments. Subsequently, an examination of LIMS data at mid to high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere has revealed a synoptic-scale, upper stratospheric instability during late autumn that is associated with the development of the stratospheric polar jet. Investigation of this phenomenon continues with Stratospheric Sounding Unit (SSU) data sets.

Remsberg, Ellis E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Description of data on the Nimbus 7 LIMS map archive tape: Water vapor and nitrogen dioxide

Described is the process by which the analysis of the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) experiment data were used to produce estimates of synoptic maps of water vapor and nitrogen dioxide. In addition to a detailed description of the analysis procedure, also discussed are several interesting features in the data which are used to demonstrate how the analysis procedure produced the final maps and how one can estimate the uncertainties in the maps. In addition, features in the analysis are noted that would influence how one might use, or interpret, the results. These include subjects such as smoothing and the interpretation of wave components.

Haggard, Kenneth V.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The Nimbus 7 LIMS (Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere) water vapor measurements

Earth orbital instruments, designed to measure the vertical and spatial distribution of atmospheric water vapor is discussed. Specifically, the operation of the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) experiment is examined. The LIMS is a six channel limb scanning radiometer that was launched aboard Nimbus 7 in 1978. Profiles of stratospheric and mesospheric temperature, water vapor, and various other constituents were obtained by inverting the LIMS radiance measurements. This same technique was used in 1981 to analyze the data returned from another limb scanning radiometer aboard the Solar Mesosphere Explorer.

Remsberg, Ellis E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Gas filter correlation radiometry: Report of panel

To measure the concentration of a gas in the troposphere, the gas filter radiometer correlates the pattern of the spectral lines of a sample of gas contained within the instrument with the pattern of the spectral lines in the upwelling radiation. A schematic diagram of a generalized gas filter radiometer is shown. Three instruments (the Gas Filter Radiometer, GFR; the Halogen Occultation Experiment, HALOE; and the Gas Filter Correlation Spectrometer, GASCOFIL) that have application to remotely measuring tropospheric constituents are described. A set of preliminary calculations to determine the feasibility of performing a multiple-layer, tropospheric carbon monoxide measurement experiment was performed. It can be seen that a three-layer measurement in the troposphere is possible.

Reichle, Henry G., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Middle Atmosphere Program. Handbook for MAP, volume 22

A series of plots are presented that describe the state of the stratosphere and to some degree, the mesosphere as revealed by satellite observations. The pertinent instrument features, spatial and temporal coverage, and details of accuracy and precision for the experiments providing the data are described. The main features of zonal mean cross sections and polar stereographic projections are noted and intercomparisons are discussed where a parameter was measured by more than one experiment. It was not the attempt to be exhaustive in this or to present detailed results of scientific investigations. The main purpose was to collect the available data in one place and provide enough information on limitations or cautions about the data so that they could be used in model comparisons and science studies. Without a doubt, when these are used, numerous questions will arise that were not addressed here. In such cases, the reader is encouraged to contact the experimenters for proper clarification.

Russell, James M., III↗