Engineering topics

Wang, Pi-Huan

Publications and source records attributed to Wang, Pi-Huan.

17 records

NASA NTRS2001

Cloud Structure Anomalies Over the Tropical Pacific During the 1997/98 El Nino

Satellite measurements of both cloud vertical structure and cloud-radiative forcing have been used to show that during the strong 1997/98 El Nino there was a substantial change in cloud vertical structure over the tropical Pacific Ocean. Relative to normal years, cloud altitudes were lower in the western portion of the Pacific and higher in the eastern portion. The reason for these redistributions was a collapse of the Walker circulation and enhanced large-scale upward motion over the eastern Pacific, both caused by the lack of a zonal sea surface temperature gradient during El Nino. It is proposed that these cloud structure changes, which significantly impact satellite measurements of the tropical Pacific's radiation budget, would serve as one useful means of testing cloud-climate interactions in climate models.

Cess, Robert D.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Seasonal Ozone Variations in the Isentropic Layer between 330 and 380 K as Observed by SAGE 2: Implications of Extratropical Cross-Tropopause Transport

To provide observational evidence on the extratropical cross-tropopause transport between the stratosphere and the troposphere via quasi-isentropic processes in the middleworld (the part of the atmosphere in which the isentropic surfaces intersect the tropopause), this report presents an analysis of the seasonal variations of the ozone latitudinal distribution in the isentropic layer between 330 K and 380 K based on the measurements from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II. The results from SAGE II data analysis are consistent with (1) the buildup of ozone-rich air in the extratropical middleworld through the large-scale descending mass circulation during winter, (2) the spread of ozone-rich air in the isentropic layer from midlatitudes to subtropics via quasi-isentropic transport during spring, (3) significant photochemical ozone removal and the absence of an ozone-rich supply of air to the layer during summer, and (4) air mass exchange between the subtropics and the extratropics during the summer monsoon period. Thus the SAGE II observed ozone seasonal variations in the middleworld are consistent with the existing model calculated annual cycle of the diabatic circulation as well as the conceptual role of the eddy quasi-adiabatic transport in the stratosphere-troposphere exchange reported in the literature.

Wang, Pi-Huan↗

NASA NTRS1998

A Study of the Vertical Structure of Tropical (20 deg S-20 deg N) Optically Thin Clouds from SAGE II Observations

The tropical cloud data obtained by the satellite instrument of the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II from October 1984 to May 1991 have been used to study cloud vertical distribution, including thickness and multilayer structure, and to estimate cloud optical depth. The results indicate that the SAGE-II-observed clouds are generally optically thin clouds, corresponding to a range of optical depth between approximately 8 x 10(exp -4) and 3 x 10(exp -1) with a mean of about 0.035. Two-thirds are classified as subvisual cirrus and one-third thin cirrus. Clouds between 2- to 3-km thick occur most frequently. Approximately 30% of the SAGE II cloud measurements are isolated single-layer clouds, while 65% are high clouds contiguous with an underlying opaque cloud that terminates the SAGE II profile. Thin clouds above detached opaque clouds at altitudes greater than 6.5 km occur less often. Only about 3% of the SAGE II single-layer clouds are located above the tropopause, while 58% of the cloud layers never reach the tropopause. More than one-third of the clouds appear at the tropopause. This study also shows that clouds occur more frequently and extend higher above the tropopause over the western Pacific than than over the eastern Pacific, especially during northern winter. The uncertainty of the derived results due to the SAGE II sampling constraints, data processing, and cloud characteristics is discussed.

Wang, Pi-Huan↗

NASA NTRS1995

Extinction coefficient (1 micrometer) properties of high-altitude clouds from solar occultation measurements (1985-1990): Evidence of volcanic aerosol effect

The properties of the 1-micrometer volume extinction coefficient of two geographically different high-altitude cloud systems have been examined for the posteruption period (1985-1990) of the April 1982 El Chichon volcanic event with emphasis on the effect of volcanic aerosols on clouds. These two high-altitude cloud systems are the tropical clouds in the tropopause region observed by the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) 2 and the polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) sighted by the Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (SAM) 2. The results indicate that volcanic aerosols alter the frequency distributions of these high-altitude clouds in such a manner that the occurrence of clouds having high extinction coefficients (6 x 10(exp -3) - 2 x 10(exp -2)/km) is suppressed, while that of clouds having low extinction coefficients (2 x 10(exp -3) - 6 x 10(exp -2)/km) is enhanced. This influence of the volcanic aerosols appears to be opposite to the increase in the extinction coefficient of optically thick clouds observed by the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) during the initial posteruption period of the June 1991 Pinatubo eruption. A plausible explanation of this difference, based on the Mie theory, is presented. As a consequence of the Mie theory, the effective radius of most, if not all, of the high-altitude clouds, measured by the SAGE series of satellite instruments must be less than about 0.8 micrometers. This mean cloud particle size implied by the satellite extinction-coefficient data at a single wavelength (1 micrometer) is further substantiated by the particle size analysis based on cloud extinction coefficient at two wavelengths (0.525 and 1.02 micrometers) obtained by the SAGE 2 observations. Most of the radiation measured by ERBE is reflected by cloud systems comprised of particles having effective radii much greater than 1 micrometer. A reduction in the effective radius of these clouds due to volcanic aerosols is expected to increase their extinction-coefficient values, opposite the effect observed by SAGE 2 and SAM 2. This work further illustrates the capability of the solar occultation satellite sensor to provide particulate extinction-coefficient measurements important to the study of the aerosol-cloud interactions. It is important to examine the variations of the extinction coefficient of these two high-altitude cloud systems for the posteruption years of the Pinatubo volcanic event for further evidence of the impact of volcanic aerosols on high-altitude clouds.

Wang, Pi-Huan↗

NASA NTRS1995

A method for estimating vertical distibution of the SAGE II opaque cloud frequency

A method is developed to infer the vertical distribution of the occurrence frequency of clouds that are opaque to the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II instrument. An application of the method to the 1986 SAGE II observations is included in this paper. The 1986 SAGE II results are compared with the 1952-1981 cloud climatology of Warren et al. (1986, 1988)

Wang, Pi-Huan↗

NASA NTRS1994

SAGE II observations of a previously unreported stratospheric volcanic aerosol cloud in the northern polar summer of 1990

Analysis of aerosol extinction profiles obtained by the spaceborne SAGE II sensor reveals that there was an anomalous increase of aerosol extinction below 18.5 km at latitudes poleward of 50 deg N from July 28 to September 9, 1990. This widespread increase of aerosol extinction in the lower stratosphere was apparently due to a remote high-latitude volcanic eruption that has not been reported to date. The increase in stratospheric optical depth in the northern polar region was about 50% in August and had diminished by October 1990. This eruption caused an increase in stratospheric aerosol mass of about 0.33 x 10(exp 5) tons, assuming the aerosol was composed of sulfuric acid and water.

Yue, Glenn K.↗

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 NTRS1990

Comparison of stratospheric ozone profiles and their seasonal variations as measured by lidar and Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment during 1988

A ground-based, high power, laser remote sensing system for measurements of stratospheric ozone concentration profiles has been in operation at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Table Mountain Facility located in southern California, since January 1988. The seasonal variations observed in the ozone profiles, during 1988 and as a function of altitude, are described here. These profiles are compared with those from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment satellite instrument made within a radius of 1000 km from the lidar and also with the zonal mean measurements made in the band 34.4 +/- 5 deg. Comparison with the proposed new CIRA ozone reference model has also been carried out. The seasonal variations, between 25 and 50 km, observed by the two instruments and indicated by the reference model are in good agreement.

Mcdermid, I. Stuart↗

NASA NTRS1990

SAM II and lidar aerosol profile comparisons during AASE

The NASA Langley Research Center aerosol lidar system was one of several instruments that flew aboard a DC-8 during the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition. Several of the Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement II (SAM II) altitude profiles of aerosol extinction were close enough in time and space to allow for intercomparison with the lidar measurements of aerosol backscatter. Comparisons between three SAM II 1.0 micron aerosol extinction profiles and analogous profiles inferred from nearly simultaneous airborne lidar measurements are discussed. The other two comparisons show the first near-simultaneous SAM II/lidar measurements of a polar stratospheric cloud (PSC). The comparison made well within the edge of a relatively homogeneous PSC layer was also good, especially using an extinction-to-backscatter model derived from in situ PSC particle size measurements.

Osborn, M. T.↗

NASA NTRS1989

SAGE II aerosol correlative observations - Profile measurements

Profiles of the aerosol extinction measurements from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II are compared with profiles from five correlative experiments between November 1984 and July 1986. The correlative profiles were derived from six-channel dustsonde measurements and two-wavelength lidar backscatter data. The correlation between the dustsonde- and lidar-derived measurements and the SAGE II data is good, validating the SAGE II lower stratospheric aerosol extinction measurements.

Osborn, M. T.↗

NASA NTRS1989

SAGE II aerosol data validation based on retrieved aerosol model size distribution from SAGE II aerosol measurements

Consideration is given to aerosol correlative measurements experiments for the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II, conducted between November 1984 and July 1986. The correlative measurements were taken with an impactor/laser probe, a dustsonde, and an airborne 36-cm lidar system. The primary aerosol quantities measured by the ground-based instruments are compared with those calculated from the aerosol size distributions from SAGE II aerosol extinction measurements. Good agreement is found between the two sets of measurements.

Wang, Pi-Huan↗

NASA NTRS1989

Inference of stratospheric aerosol composition and size distribution from SAGE II satellite measurements

A method for inferring stratospheric aerosol composition and size distribution from the water vapor concentration and aerosol extinction measurements obtained in the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II and the associated temperature from the NMC. The aerosols are assumed to be sulfuric acid-water droplets. A modified Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm is used to determine model size distribution parameters based on the SAGE II multiwavelength aerosol extinctions. It is found that the best aerosol size information is contained in the aerosol radius range between about 0.25 and 0.80 micron.

Wang, Pi-Huan↗

NASA NTRS1989

Aerosol backscatter profile derived from SAGE II and lidar observations

This paper examines the stratospheric aerosol measurements made on September 16, 1986 by the SAGE II satellite instrument and the 48-inch lidar system of the NASA/Langley Research Center at Hampton, Virginia. The results of the analysis show an excellent agreement between the aerosol backscatter profile calculated from the SAGE II multiwavelength aerosol extinctions and the 48-inch lidar observations in the lower stratosphere between altitudes 17 km - 29 km.

Wang, Pi-Huan↗

NASA NTRS1989

Time-periodic variations in stratospheric ozone from satellite observations

The time-periodic variations in stratospheric zonal mean ozone number density are examined with emphasis on annual and semi-annual oscillations. The data base for this analysis is the ozone observation from the SAGE II satellite instrument. A multiple linear regression method is adopted for the analysis. The results show that the amplitudes and phases of the time-periodic ozone variations are functions of altitude and latitude.

Wang, Pi-Huan↗

NASA NTRS1989

Radiative relaxation in the polar stratosphere - The role of ozone

Radiative relaxation processes of the thermal disturbances associated with planetary waves in the Antarctic stratospheric polar region have been studied by using satellite ozone measurements of the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II) and the associated temperature data from the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Wang, Pi-Huan↗

NASA NTRS1987

Background stratospheric aerosol reference model

Nearly global SAGE I satellite observations in the nonvolcanic period from March 1979 to February 1980 are used to produce a reference background stratospheric aerosol optical model. Zonally average profiles of the 1.0-micron aerosol extinction for the tropics, midlatitudes, and high latitudes for both hemispheres are given in graphical and tabulated form for the different seasons. A third order polynomial fit to the vertical profile data set is used to derive analytic expressions for the seasonal global means and the yearly global mean. The results have application to the simulation of atmospheric radiative transfer and radiance calculations in atmospheric remote sensing.

Mccormick, M. P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The investigation of advanced remote sensing, radiative transfer and inversion techniques for the measurement of atmospheric constituents

The research program is documented for developing space and ground-based remote sensing techniques performed during the period from December 15, 1977 to March 15, 1985. The program involved the application of sophisticated radiative transfer codes and inversion methods to various advanced remote sensing concepts for determining atmospheric constituents, particularly aerosols. It covers detailed discussions of the solar aureole technique for monitoring columnar aerosol size distribution, and the multispectral limb scattered radiance and limb attenuated radiance (solar occultation) techniques, as well as the upwelling scattered solar radiance method for determining the aerosol and gaseous characteristics. In addition, analytical models of aerosol size distribution and simulation studies of the limb solar aureole radiance technique and the variability of ozone at high altitudes during satellite sunrise/sunset events are also described in detail.

Deepak, Adarsh↗