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At least 181 records · Page 10

Short-range precipitation forecasts using assimilation of simulated satellite water vapor profiles and column cloud liquid water amounts

These observing system simulation experiments investigate the assimilation of satellite-observed water vapor and cloud liquid water data in the initialization of a limited-area primitive equations model with the goal of improving short-range precipitation forecasts. The assimilation procedure presented includes two aspects: specification of an initial cloud liquid water vertical distribution and diabatic initialization. The satellite data is simulated for the next generation of polar-orbiting satellite instruments, the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) and the High-Resolution Infrared Sounder (HIRS), which are scheduled to be launched on the NOAA-K satellite in the mid-1990s. Based on cloud-top height and total column cloud liquid water amounts simulated for satellite data a diagnostic method is used to specify an initial cloud water vertical distribution and to modify the initial moisture distribution in cloudy areas. Using a diabatic initialization procedure, the associated latent heating profiles are directly assimilated into the numerical model. The initial heating is estimated by time averaging the latent heat release from convective and large-scale condensation during the early forecast stage after insertion of satellite-observed temperature, water vapor, and cloud water formation. The assimilation of satellite-observed moisture and cloud water, together withy three-mode diabatic initialization, significantly alleviates the model precipitation spinup problem, especially in the first 3 h of the forecast. Experimental forecasts indicate that the impact of satellite-observed temperature and water vapor profiles and cloud water alone in the initialization procedure shortens the spinup time for precipitation rates by 1-2 h and for regeneration of the areal coverage by 3 h. The diabatic initialization further reduces the precipitation spinup time (compared to adiabatic initialization) by 1 h.

Wu, Xiaohua↗

Correlation among Cirrus Ice Content, Water Vapor and Temperature in the TTL as Observed by CALIPSO and Aura-MLS

Water vapor in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) has a local radiative cooling effect. As a source for ice in cirrus clouds, however, it can also indirectly produce infrared heating. Using NASA A-Train satellite measurements of CALIPSO and Aura/MLS we calculated the correlation of water vapor, ice water content and temperature in the TTL. We find that temperature strongly controls water vapor (correlation r =0.94) and cirrus clouds at 100 hPa (r = −0.91). Moreover we observe that the cirrus seasonal cycle is highly (r =−0.9) anticorrelated with the water vapor variation in the TTL, showing higher cloud occurrence during December-January-February. We further investigate the anticorrelation on a regional scale and find that the strong anticorrelation occurs generally in the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone). The seasonal cycle of the cirrus ice water content is also highly anticorrelated to water vapor (r = −0.91) and our results support the hypothesis that the total water at 100 hPa is roughly constant. Temperature acts as a main regulator for balancing the partition between water vapor and cirrus clouds. Thus, to a large extent, the depleting water vapor in the TTL during DJF is a manifestation of cirrus formation.

Flury, T.↗

Lunar Base Heat Pump

The objective of this project was to investigate the feasibility of constructing a heat pump suitable for use as a heat rejection device in applications such as a lunar base. In this situation, direct heat rejection through the use of radiators is not possible at a temperature suitable for lde support systems. Initial analysis of a heat pump of this type called for a temperature lift of approximately 378 deg. K, which is considerably higher than is commonly called for in HVAC and refrigeration applications where heat pumps are most often employed. Also because of the variation of the rejection temperature (from 100 to 381 deg. K), extreme flexibility in the configuration and operation of the heat pump is required. A three-stage compression cycle using a refrigerant such as CFC-11 or HCFC-123 was formulated with operation possible with one, two or three stages of compression. Also, to meet the redundancy requirements, compression was divided up over multiple compressors in each stage. A control scheme was devised that allowed these multiple compressors to be operated as required so that the heat pump could perform with variable heat loads and rejection conditions. A prototype heat pump was designed and constructed to investigate the key elements of the high-lift heat pump concept. Control software was written and implemented in the prototype to allow fully automatic operation. The heat pump was capable of operation over a wide range of rejection temperatures and cooling loads, while maintaining cooling water temperature well within the required specification of 40 deg. C +/- 1.7 deg. C. This performance was verified through testing.

Walker, D.↗

Remote-sensing studies of hydrologic environments in the lower Raritan River System, New Jersey

A series of remote sensing experiments were conducted in January and November 1968. The airborne multisensor missions included photographic and thermal-infrared sensors operated over a single site at a time when streamflow and water temperature observations were being made on the ground. Remote sensing data show: (1) effect of thermal waste water discharges on stream temperatures, (2) cross-channel variations in thermal characteristics due to waste water discharge, channel characteristics, and tidal currents, (3) influence of flow rates on dispersion, (4) patterns and distribution of ice cover, and (5) movement of sediment loads.

Anderson, P. W.↗

Evidence for organic synthesis in high temperature aqueous media - facts and prognosis

Hydrothermal systems are common along the active tectonic areas of the earth. Potential sites being studied for organic matter alteration and possible organic synthesis are spreading ridges, off-axis systems, back-arc activity, hot spots, volcanism, and subduction. Organic matter alteration, primarily reductive and generally from immature organic detritus, occurs in these high temperature and rapid fluid flow hydrothermal regimes. Hot circulating water (temperature range - warm to greater than 400 C) is responsible for these molecular alterations, expulsion and migration. Compounds that are obviously synthesized are minor components because they are generally masked by the pyrolysis products formed from contemporary natural organic precursors. The reactivity of organic compounds in hot water (200-350 C) has been studied in autoclaves, and supercritical water as a medium for chemistry has also been evaluated. This high temperature aqueous organic chemistry and the strong reducing conditions of the natural systems suggest this as an important route to produce organic compounds on the primitive earth. Thus a better understanding of the potential syntheses of organic compounds in hydrothermal systems will require investigations of the chemistry of condensation, autocatalysis, catalysis and hydrolysis reactions in aqueous mineral buffered systems over a range of temperatures from warm to greater than 400 C.

Simoneit, Bernd R. T.↗

PyroCbs from Australia Fires and its Impact Using Satellite Observations from CrIS and TROPOMI and Reanalysis Data

Pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) clouds are thunder clouds created by intense heat from the Earth’s surface. They are formed similarly to cumulonimbus clouds, but the intense heat that results in the vigorous updraft comes from fire, either large wildfires or volcanic eruptions. Australia’s unprecedented fire disasters at the end of 2019 to early 2020 emitted huge amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) and fire aerosol particles to the atmosphere, particularly during the pyroCb outbreak that occurred in southeast Australia between 29 December 2019 and 4 January 2020. It was estimated that at least 18 pyroCbs were generated during this episode, and some of them injected ice, smoke, and biomass burning gases above the local tropopause. An unprecedented abundance of H2O and CO in the stratosphere, and the displacement of background ozone (O3) and N2O from rapid ascent of air from the troposphere and lower stratosphere were found from satellite observations. Some other studies also found that the fire emissions and their long-range transport resulted in stratospheric aerosol, temperature, and O3 anomalies after the 2020 Australian bushfires and altered the Antarctic ozone and vortex, posing great impact to local air quality and climate change. Further study on the atmospheric thermodynamic status of atmosphere associated with these pyroCbs, and the change of the cloud properties and trace gases during this unprecedented Australia fires will be made using a new single Field of View (SFOV) Sounder Atmospheric Products (SiFSAP). SiFSAP was developed by NASA using the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) onboard SNPP and JPSS-1, and will soon be available to the public at NASA DAAC. Since this product has a spatial resolution of 15 km at nadir, which is better than most global weather and climate models and other current operational sounding products, a process-oriented analysis of the dynamic transport of CO and fire plumes during this unprecedented fire disasters will be made in this study. Based on a Principal Component Radiative Transfer Model (PCRTM) and an optimized estimation retrieval algorithm, a simultaneously retrieval is made using the whole spectral information measured by CrIS, and the derived SiFSAP include temperature, water vapor, trace gases (such as O3, CO2, CO, CH4 and N2O), cloud properties and surface properties. Use of ATMS together with CrIS allows SiFSAP to get accurate retrieval products under thick pyroCb conditions, and an algorithm to detect pyroCb based on the hyperspectral infrared sounder spectrum from CrIS will be developed and verified. In addition to SiFSAP sounding products, other products like CO, O3, NO2 from TROPOMI, O3 from OMPS will be used for retrospective analysis. The wind fields from the NASA’s Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications Version-2 (MERRA-2) and ERA5 will be used to characterize the transport, and the SiFSAP temperature and water vapor profiles within and around pyroCbs will be compared with MERRA-2 and ERA5 products.

Xiaozhen (Shawn) Xiong↗

Geostar – a ‘Shovel Ready’ Geostationary Microwave Sounder

A geostationary microwave sounder, capable of providing temperature, water vapor, clouds, precipitation, and wind in the presence of clouds, convection and precipitation, will add tremendously to our ability to observe dynamic atmospheric phenomena, such as hurricanes and severe storms, monsoonal moisture flow, atmospheric rivers, etc. Such a sensor is now feasible, enabled by technology that has been developed under NASA’s Instrument Incubator Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The Geostationary Synthetic Thinned Aperture Radiometer (GeoSTAR) is essentially an “AMSU in GEO”, i.e. it has similar capabilities as AMSU would have if it were operating on a geostationary satellite, but with similar spatial resolution. GEO orbits are almost 50 times higher than the LEO orbits that current AMSUs operate from, and the corresponding scaling of aperture size required to maintain spatial resolution has stymied the development of such a sensor for many decades. The aperture synthesis approach implemented with GeoSTAR finally overcomes that obstacle, and the large number of microwave receivers and associated electronics required is made possible with new technology that has now been developed. A low-cost mission operating as a hosted payload on a commercial communications satellite has been designed and is “shovel-ready”. The objectives of such a mission could be to advance our understanding and modeling of storm processes that control rapid or explosive intensification of hurricanes, mesoscale convective systems, and extratropical cyclones, or it could be to support operational weather forecasting and nowcasting. Retrieval of temperature and water vapor profiles is possible even in the presence of moderate precipitation, and with the ability to derive horizontal wind vectors by tracking water vapor features, a rich set of parameters measuring the thermodynamics, dynamics and convection and sampled every 15 minutes, will enable significant progress in storm science and forecasting.

Lambrigtsen, Bjorn H↗

Thermal death of a hydrocarbon bacterium in a nonaqueous fluid

A hydrocarbon-utilizing Brevibacterium which grew into the oil phase of an oil-water system was tested for survival at elevated temperature. Cells suspended in oil and cells that had been resuspended in aqueous solution were tested by placing 1-ml samples of the cell suspension in small test tubes immersed in a controlled-temperature water bath. The resultant survival curves in oil consisted of two parts, a flat shoulder obtained in the first half of the heating period, followed by a break indicating rapid die-off. The break in the curves occurred after 50% of the cells were killed. This occurred at exposures of 25, 15, and 8 min for 78, 88.6, and 96.2 C, respectively. The survival curve for 63.5 C in the aqueous solution was a rapid, exponential die-off. The actual increase in survival of the organism in oil is reflected by the length of the shoulder portion. The shoulder occurs only in an oil medium and is increased by decreasing temperature and increasing age of the culture.

Severance, M. M.↗

Extensive summer upwelling on Lake Michigan during 1973 observed by NOAA-2 and ERTS-1 satellites

Two studies are presented that utilize data from the NOAA-2 and ERTS-1 satellites. The studies are concentrated on two summer upwelling episodes in Lake Michigan when considerable contrast was observed in both surface water temperature as observed by NOAA-2 and surface water color as observed by ERTS-1. Physical, biological and chemical processes support the hypothesis that much of the observed 'whitening' is calcium carbonate precipitating as an immediate result of the upwelling.

Strong, A. E.↗

Habitability of the Shallow Subsurface on Mars: Clues from the Meteorites

The properties that define habitability are commonly understood to include the following: - Presence of water. - Temperature range allowing some or all of the water to be liquid. - A suitable physical volume or space permitting metabolism and growth. - Presence of organic compounds or the building blocks to make them. - Presence of an energy source suitable for utilization by living organisms. Interpretations of Mars Viking, Surveyor, and Odyssey orbital images have built a strong case that Mars had surface water during its past geological history. Neutron spectrometer data from Mars Odyssey show that poleward of about 60 degrees North and 60 degrees south, significant hydrogen, likely as ice or permafrost, is present in at least the upper meter or so of the Martian regolith and crust and that similar high hydrogen areas exist, even near the equator. Here we present a summary of independent data from the Mars meteorites showing that liquid water was present for at least some of the time in the upper few meters or tens of meters as early as 3.9 billion years (Ga), and was present at intervals and at various locations throughout most of Mars history.

David S McKay↗

A Radiometric Consistent Spectral Fingerprinting Algorithm for Continuity Products of Hyperspectral Sounders

A radiometric consistent climate fingerprinting methodology has been developed to derive long-term temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature anomaly time series from the hyper-spectral sounder measurements of multiple platforms. The spectral fingerprinting methodology requires the use of radiative kernels that are radiometrically consistent with observations. Radiative kernels are built using space-time averaged Jacobians that are physically retrieved from observations under all sky conditions. The physical retrieval algorithm uses the Principal Component based Radiative Transfer Model (PCRTM) for the forward simulation. The incorporation of multiple scattering simulation in PCRTM allows the direct radiative relationship between single field-of-view (FOV) radiance observations and corresponding thermal dynamic variables including cloud properties to be established. Therefore, radiance ?closure? can be achieved under all-sky conditions by the fingerprinting scheme. This methodology has been used to derive climate anomalies from the space-time averaged spectra of AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS. The use of a consistent fingerprinting scheme provides an effective mean of generating continuity product by merging observations from different platforms and therefore facilitating the long-term climate trend study.

Wan Wu↗

A New, Efficient, and Consistent Method for Generating Climate Data Record from Operational Hyperspectral Sounder Instruments on AQUA, S-NPP and NOAA 20

Operational IR sounders such AIRS on NASA Aqua, CrIS on S-NPP and on NOAA 20 satellites provide high quality hyperspectral measurements for weather and climate applications. Climate products are typically derived by performing spatial and temporal averaging of level-2 products. It is a time-consuming process to generate level-2 data products since modern hyperspectral satellite sensors have millions of observations each day with thousands of spectral channels for each observation. Additionally, differences in level-2 retrieval algorithms for different satellite sensors can lead to errors in the climate products. We have developed a Climate Fingerprinting Sounder Product (ClimFiSP), which is derived from spatiotemporally averaged level-1 hyperspectral radiances directly. The ClimFiSP algorithm uses consistent radiative kernels and a robust spectral fingerprinting method. It can provide fast and accurate data fusion products from multiple satellite sensors. We have applied this method to both AIRS and CrIS (on SNPP and on NOAA 20) data and generated two decades climate data records for atmospheric temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature. The ClimFiSP are being transitioned to NASA data centers for routine generations level-3 products.

Xu Liu↗

Climate Data Record Derived from Hyperspectral Sounders on AQUA, S-NPP and NOAA 20

Climate products are typically derived by performing spatial and temporal averaging of level-2 products. It is a time-consuming process to generate level-2 data products since modern hyperspectral satellite sensors have millions of observations each day with thousands of spectral channels for each observation. Additionally, differences in level-2 retrieval algorithms for different satellite sensors can lead to errors in the climate products. We have developed a Climate Fingerprinting Sounder Product (ClimFiSP), which is derived from spatiotemporally averaged level-1 hyperspectral radiances directly. The ClimFiSP algorithm uses consistent radiative kernels and a robust spectral fingerprinting method. It provides accurate data climate data fusion products from multiple satellite sensors. It eliminates or reduces the errors due to inconsistent L2 algorithms. We have applied this method to both AIRS and CrIS (on SNPP and on NOAA 20) data and generated two decades climate data records for atmospheric temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature. The ClimFiSP are being transitioned to NASA data centers for routine generations level-3 products.

climate data record↗

Generating Essential Climate Variables from Multiple Satellite Hyperspectral Remote Sensors

Hyperspectral observations from satellite-based sensors provide high information content for the Earth’s atmospheric and surface properties. Traditionally, long-term climate products are derived by performing spatial and temporal averaging of level-2 satellite products. There are two shortcomings of this approach. First, it is a time-consuming process to generate level-2 data products since modern hyperspectral satellite sensors have millions of observations each day with thousands of spectral channels for each observation. Secondly, differences in level-2 retrieval algorithms can lead to errors in the fused multi-satellite data. We have developed a radiometrically consistent spectral fingerprinting method, which overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings, to derive climate change signals from multiple satellite sensors using spatiotemporally averaged level-1 data. We have applied this method to data collected from Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on Aqua satellite and Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) on SNPP and NOAA20 and generated decade-long climate data records for atmospheric temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature. A key component to this work is a set of observational-based radiative kernels produced from CrIS level-1 data using a single field of view (SFOV) optimal estimation retrieval algorithm. Only limited CrIS level-1 data (e.g., 1-2 years of data) are needed to the derive radiative kernels. Our Principal Component-based Radiative Model (PCRTM) enables us to perform SFOV retrievals under all sky conditions and provides radiative kernels (including those for clouds) needed by the spectral fingerprinting method. In this presentation, we will describe the basic methodology, the details of the algorithm, and results from NASA Aqua AIRS and Suomi-NPP CrIS data. The method can be applied to study future hyperspectral remote sensors such as CLARREO (Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory) Pathfinder (CPF), Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO), Surface Biology and Geology (SBG), Atmosphere Observing System (AOS).

Xu Liu↗

Deriving Essential Climate Variable Data from Multiple Satellite Remote Sensors Using a Consistent Fingerprinting Method

Hyperspectral observations from satellite-based sensors provide high information content for the Earth’s atmospheric and surface properties. Traditionally, long-term climate products are derived by performing spatial and temporal averaging of level-2 satellite products. It is a time-consuming process to generate level-2 data products since modern hyperspectral satellite sensors have millions of observations each day with thousands of spectral channels for each observation. Additionally, differences in level-2 retrieval algorithms can lead to errors in the climate products when fusing data from different satellite sensors. We have developed a radiometrically consistent spectral fingerprinting method, which overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings, to derive climate change signals from multiple satellite sensors using spatiotemporally averaged level-1 data. We have applied this method to Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) data and generated decade-long climate data records for atmospheric temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature. A key component to this work is a set of observational-based radiative kernels produced from CrIS level-1 data using a single field of view (SFOV) optimal estimation retrieval algorithm. Only limited CrIS level-1 data (e.g., 1-2 years of data) are needed to the derive radiative kernels. Our Principal Component-based Radiative Model (PCRTM) enables us to perform SFOV retrievals under all sky conditions and provides radiative kernels (including those for clouds) needed by the spectral fingerprinting method. In this presentation, we will describe the basic methodology, the details of the algorithm, and results from NASA Aqua AIRS and Suomi-NPP CrIS data. The method can be applied to study future hyperspectral remote sensors such as CLARREO (Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory) Pathfinder (CPF), Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO), Surface Biology and Geology (SBG), Aerosol and Cloud, Convection and Precipitation (ACCP).

Xu Liu↗

A Spectral Fingerprinting Method for Deriving Consistent Climate Data Records from Multiple Satellite IR Sounders

Deriving Climate Data Records (CDRs) from multiple IR sounders such AIRS on Aqua, CrIS on S-NPP, NOAA20 and JPSS-2, IASI on Metop A, B, and C requires from current operational products are challenging due to different radiative transfer models and retireavl algorithms used for processing level 2 data. We developed a Climate Fingerprinting Sounder Product (ClimFiSP) algorithm, which uses a single set of radiative kernels a robust spectral fingerprinting method to performs retrievals using spatiotemporally averaged L1 hyperspectral radiances directly. The ClimFiSP algorithm provides accurate data fusion CDR products from multiple satellite sensors. We have applied this method to both AIRS and CrIS (on SNPP and on NOAA 20) data and generated two decades climate data records for atmospheric temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature. We plan to add IASI to the CDR data set in the future. The ClimFiSP is being transitioned to NASA GES DISC data center for public access.

Xu Liu↗

Water-Cooled Total-Temperature Probe

Water-cooled supersonic total-pressure, static-pressure, and total-temperature probes developed to study high-temperature jet plumes. Total-temperature probe tested up to 2,000 degrees F incorporates annular cooling system up to thermocouple lead. Lead extends into test chamber to sense temperature of supersonic external flow. Design novel and significant. Applicable in development of jet engines and in research on fast flows of hot gases.

Lagen, Nicholas T.↗

Wind shear and wet and dry thermodynamic indices as predictors of thunderstorm motion and severity and application to the AVE 4 experimental data

Two types of parameters are computed and mapped for use in assessing their individual merits as predictors of occurrence and severity of thunderstorms. The first group is comprised of equivalent potential temperature, potential temperature, water vapor mixing ratio, and wind speed. Equivalent potential temperature maxima and strong gradients of equivalent potential temperature at the surface correlate well with regions of thunderstorm activity. The second type, comprised of the energy index, shear index, and energy shear index, incorporates some model dynamics of thunderstorms, including nonthermodynamic forcing. The energy shear index is found to improve prediction of tornadic and high-wind situations slightly better than other indices. It is concluded that further development and refinement of nonthermodynamic aspects of predictive indices are definitely warranted.

Connell, J. R.↗