Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “ATMOSPHERIC CONDITION EFFECT”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11

Impacts of Aerosol and Cloud Variability on Satellite-Derived All-skies Direct Aerosol Radiative Effects (DARE) over the North and Southeast Atlantic

The Top-of-Atmosphere (TOA) Shortwave (SW) Direct Aerosol Radiative Effect (DARE) in all-sky conditions (i.e., aerosols in clear skies and aerosols above and below all types of clouds) is the global change in upwelling radiative flux due to aerosols. It is one of the strongest indicators of global climate change due to aerosols. SW DARE at TOA depends on the Earth’s surface albedo, cloud fraction, cloud optical properties, and aerosol optical properties, which are all challenging to accurately characterize from space. The overarching goals of our project are to provide state-of-the-art observational all-sky TOA SW DARE, along with guidance on which aerosol and/or cloud properties are the most important to measure, and at which spatio-temporal scales, for accurate DARE observations. We compute all-sky DARE based on state-of-the-art cloud and aerosol retrieval algorithms from CALIOP (Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) and MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging spectroradiometer) satellite sensors, as well as aerosol intensive properties from MERRA-2 (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2) simulations over three specific regions of the Atlantic Ocean from 2012 to 2016. In this symposium, we present a characterization of the cloud and aerosol optical and physical properties and the observational TOA SW DARE along three individual satellite tracks in the Southeast Atlantic region -- on September 18 and 20, 2016 and August 13, 2017. We then quantify the impact of assuming homogeneous cloud or aerosol fields in space-based TOA SW DARE calculations. And, finally, the resulting space-based all-skies aerosol vertical distribution and DARE calculations are evaluated using remote sensing observations from coincident suborbital flights from the NASA ORACLES (the ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS, ORACLES field campaign) field campaign. The NASA Atmospheric Observing System (AOS) mission addresses the NASA Aerosol, Cloud, Convection and Precipitation (ACCP) designated observables and proposes, as one of its aerosol objectives, to reduce uncertainties in estimates of global mean all-sky SW DARE at TOA. Well characterizing clouds, aerosol vertical distributions, aerosol types and associated all-skies DARE over the Atlantic Ocean will inform the AOS community on where, when, how, and how often the satellite retrievals should be performed to estimate DARE and reduce all-skies DARE uncertainties most accurately. These comprehensive characterizations will also identify the key regions and times when the AOS (or other ACCP-related) suborbital missions should be conducted to evaluate and improve the AOS space-based observations and retrievals.

aerosol↗

Airborne imaging spectrometer-2 - Radiometric spectral characteristics and comparison of ways to compensate for the atmosphere

The reduction of AIS data to spectral radiance utilizing the detector responsivity equations developed by a laboratory calibration of the instrument with a BaSO4-coated integrating sphere is described. Estimates of the signal-to-noise ratio for laboratory and flight conditions are obtained. In addition, the effective in-flight instrumental spectral sampling interval is estimated by using atmospheric CO2 absorption lines generated from LOWTRAN simulations.

Conel, James E.↗

High-Resolution Regional Atmosphere–Ocean–Wave Coupled Simulations of Hurricane Henri (2021)

To explore the integrated effects of ocean and ocean surface wave related physical processes on TC simulations, a set of three model simulations is performed. * In experiment 'A', the event is modeled using the Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model alone with prescribed Sea Surface Temperature (SST) at 6-hour intervals. * In experiment ‘AO,’ WRF is coupled with the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM), enabling variable exchange between atmosphere and ocean, but without considering ocean surface wave-related physical processes. * In experiment ‘AOW’, WRF, FVCOM, and Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) exchange variables with each other every hour through the OASIS3-MCT Coupler to allow direct and indirect atmosphere-ocean-wave interactions. * Observational data are also included in this dataset (Dropsonde, HRD-Radar, NDBC_wave). All simulations are initialized at 18:00 UTC on August 19, 2021, within a domain encompassing the western North Atlantic Ocean. The atmospheric domain features a horizontal resolution of 3 km. The ocean domain, which covers a substantial portion of the WRF ocean domain, employs an unstructured triangular grid with resolutions ranging from 3 km near the coast to 9 km in the open ocean, effectively resolving the complex coastline of the U.S. Northeast Coast. Initial and boundary conditions for the atmosphere model are obtained from the 6-hourly 0.25° NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) Global Forecast System (GFS; NCEP, 2015) data.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

High-Resolution Regional Atmosphere–Ocean–Wave Coupled Simulations of Hurricane Henri (2021)

To explore the integrated effects of ocean and ocean surface wave related physical processes on TC simulations, a set of three model simulations is performed. * In experiment 'A', the event is modeled using the Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model alone with prescribed Sea Surface Temperature (SST) at 6-hour intervals. * In experiment ‘AO,’ WRF is coupled with the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM), enabling variable exchange between atmosphere and ocean, but without considering ocean surface wave-related physical processes. * In experiment ‘AOW’, WRF, FVCOM, and Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) exchange variables with each other every hour through the OASIS3-MCT Coupler to allow direct and indirect atmosphere-ocean-wave interactions. * Observational data are also included in this dataset (Dropsonde, HRD-Radar, NDBC_wave). All simulations are initialized at 18:00 UTC on August 19, 2021, within a domain encompassing the western North Atlantic Ocean. The atmospheric domain features a horizontal resolution of 3 km. The ocean domain, which covers a substantial portion of the WRF ocean domain, employs an unstructured triangular grid with resolutions ranging from 3 km near the coast to 9 km in the open ocean, effectively resolving the complex coastline of the U.S. Northeast Coast. Initial and boundary conditions for the atmosphere model are obtained from the 6-hourly 0.25° NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) Global Forecast System (GFS; NCEP, 2015) data.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

High-Resolution Regional Atmosphere–Ocean–Wave Coupled Simulations of Hurricane Henri (2021)

To explore the integrated effects of ocean and ocean surface wave related physical processes on tropical cyclone simulations, a set of three model simulations is performed. * In experiment 'A', the event is modeled using the Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model alone with prescribed Sea Surface Temperature (SST) at 6-hour intervals. * In experiment ‘AO,’ WRF is coupled with the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM), enabling variable exchange between atmosphere and ocean, but without considering ocean surface wave-related physical processes. * In experiment ‘AOW’, WRF, FVCOM, and Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) exchange variables with each other every hour through the OASIS3-MCT Coupler to allow direct and indirect atmosphere-ocean-wave interactions. * Observational data are also included in this dataset (Dropsonde, HRD-Radar, NDBC_wave). All simulations are initialized at 18:00 UTC on August 19, 2021, within a domain encompassing the western North Atlantic Ocean. The atmospheric domain features a horizontal resolution of 3 km. The ocean domain, which covers a substantial portion of the WRF ocean domain, employs an unstructured triangular grid with resolutions ranging from 3 km near the coast to 9 km in the open ocean, effectively resolving the complex coastline of the U.S. Northeast Coast. Initial and boundary conditions for the atmosphere model are obtained from the 6-hourly 0.25° NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) Global Forecast System (GFS; NCEP, 2015) data. These CSV files are derived from the NetCDF files in the c0 dataset. Unlike the original format, where geographic coordinates were stored in a separate file, each CSV now embeds the corresponding latitude and longitude values alongside the measured or simulated variables.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Mean effective size and refractive index of transparent atmospheric particulates

It is demonstrated that the scattering ratio-principle originally restricted to exact forward and exact backward scattering, and to values of the size parameter and of the product (refractive index x size parameter) less than 0.8 has a much wider applicability. After relaxing these stringent conditions, it is also shown that this principle can be retained as the basis of an experimental technique for retrieving the mean effective size and refractive index of transparent atmospheric particulates.

Fymat, A. L.↗

Mars Radiator Characterization Experimental Program

Radiators are an enabling technology for the human exploration and development of the moon and Mars. As standard components of the heat rejection subsystem of space vehicles, radiators are used to reject waste heat to space and/or a planetary environment. They are typically large components of the thermal control system for a space vehicle or human habitation facility, and in some cases safety factors are used to oversize them when the operating environment cannot be fully characterized. Over-sizing can impose significant weight and size penalties that might be prohibitive for future missions. Radiator performance depends on the size of the radiator surface, its emittance and absorptance, the radiator temperature, the effective sky temperature surrounding the radiator, solar radiation and atmospheric irradiation levels, convection to or from the atmosphere (on Mars), and other conditions that could affect the nature of the radiator surface, such as dust accumulation. Most particularly, dust is expected to be a major contributor to the local environmental conditions on either the lunar or Martian surface. This conclusion regarding Mars is supported by measurements of dust accumulation on the Mars Sojourner Rover solar array during the Pathfinder mission. This Final Report describes a study of the effect of Martian dust accumulation on radiator performance. It is comprised of quantitative measurements of effective emittance for a range of dust accumulation levels on surfaces of known emittance under clean conditions. The test radiator coatings were Z-93P, NS-43G, and Silver Teflon (10 mil) film. The Martian dust simulant was Carbondale Red Clay. Results were obtained under vacuum conditions sufficient to reduce convection effects virtually to zero. The experiments required the development of a calorimetric apparatus that allows simultaneous measurements of the effective emittance for all the coatings at each set of experimental conditions. A method of adding dust to multiple radiator coupons was developed and shown to be capable of depositing dust on the surfaces with acceptable uniformity. In these experiments, the dust layer accumulates under earth gravity and in the presence of an earth atmosphere. An invention disclosure for the dust deposition apparatus is being filed through NASA and University of Houston.

Witte, Larry C.↗

On the lidar determination of atmospheric transmittance

A solution of the lidar equation is given with the aim of determining the attenuation coefficient of the atmosphere under conditions of the existence of a relation between it and the effective backscatter area. The errors of determining the attenuation coefficient from measurements of the echo signal power are analyzed. A proposed method of determining that coefficient by sounding with variable pulse lengths is examined.

Stepanenko, V. D.↗

The characteristics of the NACA M-12 airfoil section

The data obtained on the NACA M-12 airfoil, tested at twenty atmosphere density in the NACA variable density wind tunnel, have been extended by additional tests at one and at twenty atmospheres under improved conditions. The results of these tests are given. Considerable scale effect was found.

AIRFOILS - CLARK Y - CHAR & C P↗

Effect of Several Factors on the Cooling of a Radial Engine in Flight

Flight tests of a Grumman Scout (XSF-2) airplane fitted with a Pratt & Whitney 1535 supercharged engine were conducted to determine the effect of engine power, mass flow of the cooling air, and atmospheric temperature on cylinder temperature. The tests indicated that the difference in temperature between the cylinder wall and the cooling air varied as the 0.38 power of the brake horsepower for a constant mass flow of cooling air, cooling-air temperature, engine speed, and brake fuel consumption. The difference in temperature was also found to vary inversely as the 0.39 power of the mass flow for points on the head and the 0.35 power for points on the barrel, provided that engine power, engine speed, brake fuel consumption, and cooling-air temperature were kept constant. The results of the tests of the effect of atmospheric temperature on cylinder temperature were inconclusive owing to unfavorable weather conditions prevailing at the time of the tests. The method used for controlling the test conditions, however, was found to be feasible.

Schey, Oscar W↗

Free fall and evaporation of N-Octane droplets in the atmosphere as applied to the jettisoning of aviation gasoline at altitude

In connection with proposed rapid jettisoning of aviation gasoline at altitude, a theoretical study was made of the free fall and evaporation of N-octane droplets in the atmosphere ; N-octane was selected for study because of the expected similarity of over-all evaporation behavior of N-octane and gasoline. It was concluded that gasoline (or N-octane) droplets larger than 2000 microns in diameter would be unstable ; terminal speeds and Reynolds numbers were obtained for droplets not larger than 2000 microns at altitudes to 11,000 feet. The motion data were used in the calculation of N-octane evaporation rates under various conditions. It was found that a droplet having an original diameter of 2000 microns would fall about 4000 feet from 6000 feet under NACA standard atmosphere conditions before coming virtually to rest. Finally, it was concluded that temperature effects are of paramount importance; at highest air temperatures a 1000-foot ground clearance would probably be adequate to prevent ground contamination, whereas at lowest air temperatures only an atomizing spray arrangement would prevent ground contamination, irrespective of ground clearance.

FIRE HAZARDS↗

Carbon dioxide warming of the early Earth

Svante Arrhenius' research in atmospheric physics extended beyond the recent past and the near future states of the Earth, which today are at the center of sociopolitical attention. His plan encompassed all of the physical phenomena known at the time to relate to the formation and evolution of stars and planets. His two-volume textbook on cosmic physics is a comprehensive synopsis of the field. The inquiry into the possible cause of the ice ages and the theory of selective wavelength filter control led Arrhenius to consider the surface states of the other terrestrial planets, and of the ancient Earth before it had been modified by the emergence of life. The rapid escape of hydrogen and the equilibration with igneous rocks required that carbon in the early atmosphere prevailed mainly in oxidized form as carbon dioxide, together with other photoactive gases exerting a greenhouse effect orders of magnitude larger than in our present atmosphere. This effect, together with the ensuing chemical processes, would have set the conditions for life to evolve on our planet, seeded from spores spreading through an infinite Universe, and propelled, as Arrhenius thought, by stellar radiation pressure.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation: An Earth Science Imaging Spectroscopy Mission

The Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation, EMIT, is planned to operate from the International Space Station starting no earlier than the fall of 2021. EMIT will use visible to short wavelength infrared imaging spectroscopy to determine the mineral composition of the arid land dust source regions of the Earth to advance our knowledge of the radiative forcing effect of these aerosols. Mineral dust emitted into the atmosphere under high wind conditions is an element of the Earth system with many impacts to the Earth’s energy balance, atmosphere, surface, and oceans. The Earth’s mineral dust cycle with source, transport, and deposition phases are studied with advanced Earth System Models. Because the chemical composition, optical and surface properties of soil particles vary strongly with the mineral composition of the source, these models require knowledge of surface soil mineral dust source composition knowledge to accurately understand dust impacts on the Earth system now and in the future. At present, compositional knowledge of the Earth’s mineral dust source regions from existing data sets is uncertain as a result of limited measurements. EMIT will use spectroscopically derived surface mineral composition to update the prescribe boundary conditions for state-of-the-art Earth System Models. The EMIT-initialized models will be used to investigate the impact of direct radiative forcing in the Earth system that depends strongly on the composition of the mineral dust aerosols emitted into the atmosphere. These new measurements and related products will be used to address the EMIT science objectives and made available to the science community for additional investigations. An overview of the EMIT science, development, and mission is presented in this paper.

Green, Robert O.↗

Effect of sub-pixel sized cloud on vegetation assessment from satellite data

The visible and reflected infrared channels of the NOAA-7 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) are used for environmental monitoring, including agricultural crop assessment. An index consisting of a combination of digital data from these channels is used to screen the AVHRR data for cloud. The effects on spectral signature of sub-pixel sized cloud, which does not fill the entire IFOV of the instrument, are considered. It is shown that, for two different targets, for clear and turbid atmospheric conditions and for various scan angles, cloud which would not be detected during the screening process will cause substantial effects (up to a five-fold decrease) in the data.

Duggin, M. J.↗

Material Ignition and Suppression Test (MIST) in Space Exploration Atmospheres, Summary of Research

The Material Ignition and Suppression Test (MIST) project has had the objective of evaluating the ease of ignition and the fire suppression of materials used in spacecraft under environmental condition expected in a spacecraft. For this purpose, an experimental and theoretical research program is being conducted on the effect of space exploration atmospheres (SEA) on the piloted ignition of representative combustible materials, and on their fire suppression characteristics. The experimental apparatus and test methodology is derived from the Forced Ignition and Flame Spread Test (FIST), a well-developed bench scale test designed to extract material properties relevant to prediction of material flammability. In the FIST test, materials are exposed to an external radiant flux and the ignition delay and critical mass flux at ignition are determined as a function of the type of material and environmental conditions. In the original MIST design, a small-scale cylindrical flow duct with fuel samples attached to its inside wall was heated by a cylindrical heater located at the central axis of the cylinder. However, as the project evolved it was decided by NASA that it would be better to produce an experimental design that could accommodate other experiments with different experimental concepts. Based on those instructions and input from the requirements of other researchers that may share the hardware in an ISS/CIR experiment, a cylindrical design based on placing the sample at the center of an optically transparent tube with heaters equally spaced along the exterior of the cylinder was developed. Piloted ignition is attained by a hot wire igniter downstream of the fuel sample. Environment variables that can be studied via this experimental apparatus include: external radiant flux, oxidizer oxygen concentration, flow velocity, ambient pressure, and gravity level (if flown in the ISS/CIR). This constitutes the current experimental design, which maintains fairly good consistency with Dr Tien's and Dr Olson's project approaches. A further goal of the project has been to develop a combined solid/gas phase numerical model based on the MIST test methodology to predict the flammability behavior of practical materials in spacecraft.

flammability↗

Multidimensional Modeling of Atmospheric Effects and Surface Heterogeneities on Remote Sensing

A modeling capability that allows a quantitative determination of atmospheric effects on remote sensing including the effects of surface heterogeneities is established. The objectives include: (1) the adaptation of existing radiative transfer codes to remote sensing applications, (2) the implementation of a realistic atmospheric data base, (3) the definition and verification against field measurements of a coupled atmosphere/canopy model, and (4) the quantitative characterization of the effects of some biophysical canopy parameters and soil surface boundary conditions on satellite-sensed Multispectral Scanner System (MSS) data. Substantial progress was also made in quantifying the effects of varying atmospheric turbidity and different non-Lambertian and specular ground reflectances on MSS data and its transforms like greenness and brightness.

Gerstl, S. A.↗