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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.

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At least 199 records · Page 11
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NASA NTRS1984

Recent advances in understanding stratospheric dynamics and transport processes - Application of satellite data to their interpretation

The present paper discusses the use of the transformed Eulerian (or 'residual') mean-flow formulation, the Eliassen-Palm flux, and Ertel's potential vorticity to provide an increased understanding of wave, mean-flow interactions, and constituent transport processes in the stratosphere. Temperature and ozone data retrieved from radiance profiles obtained by the LIMS instrument on the Nimbus 7 satellite are utilized in conjunction with these theoretical concepts for the interpretation of phenomena that occurred during the major and minor warmings of January-February 1979. The results illustrate the insight provided by these concepts and demonstrate that useful diagnostic quantities can be derived from global satellite temperature fields.

Grose, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Stratospheric H2O and HNO3 profiles derived from solar occultation measurements

Compact two-channel radiometers for solar occultation experiments have been constructed in order to measure stratospheric trace gases. The instruments can be used as filter- or correlation-type radiometers, depending on the trace gas under investigation. Within the LIMS correlative measurement program, balloon flights were performed with a payload of up to four of these two-channel radiometers. From the filter-type measurements, profiles of the trace gases H2O and HNO3 are inferred for the height region between the tropopause and the balloon float level. The data evaluation also includes a comprehensive analysis of the error sources and their effect on the accuracy of the trace gas profiles. The derived H2O and HNO3 profiles are assessed against the observations of other authors and are discussed in the light of the trace gas distributions calcualted from photochemical models.

Fischer, H.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Transport of ozone in the middle stratosphere - Evidence for planetary wave breaking

Data from the Nimbus 7 Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) for the period October 25, 1978-May 28, 1979 are used in a descriptive study of ozone variations in the middle stratosphere. It is shown that the ozone distribution is strongly influenced by irreversible deformation associated with large amplitude planetary-scale waves. This process, which has been described by McIntyre and Palmer as planetary wave breaking, takes place throughout the 3-30 mb layer, and poleward transport of ozone within this layer occurs in narrow tongues drawn on the tropics and subtropics in association with major and minor warming events. These events complement the zonal mean diabatic circulation in producing significant changes in the total column amount of ozone.

Leovy, C. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Detection of the response of ozone in the middle atmosphere to short-term solar ultraviolet variations

The response of ozone to solar UV variation is determined in the middle atmosphere between the heights of 10 and 0.2 mb. The definitive isolation of the smaller variations associated with short-term solar variability is accomplished only after removal of the larger changes of ozone related to temperature variations. Using this approach the correlation coefficients between detrended ozone (Nimbus 7 LIMS) and short-term 205 nm solar variation (Nimbus 7 SBUV) are found to be much higher (0.9) than achieved in previous studies. The theoretical response time and amplitude of response of ozone in the middle atmosphere to observed short-term solar UV variations is found to be in good agreement with observations, except near 0.2 mb. The corresponding long-term response over the solar cycle is also estimated.

Keating, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Proposed ozone reference models for the middle atmosphere

Since the publication of the last COSPAR International Reference Atmosphere (CIRA 72), large amounts of ozone data acquired from satellites have become available in addition to increasing quantities of rocketsonde, balloonsonde, Dobson, M83, and Umkehr measurements. From the available archived satellite data, models are developed for the new CIRA using 5 satellite experiments (Nimbus 7 SBUV and LIMS, AEM-2 SAGE, and SME IR and UVS) of the monthly latitudinal and altitudinal variations in the ozone mixing ratio in the middle atmosphere. Standard deviations and interannual variations are also quantified. The satellite models are shown to agree well with a previous reference model based on rocket and balloon measurements.

Keating, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Dynamical phenomena in the equatorial middle atmosphere during northern winter 1978-1979

Data from the Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere (LIMS) on the Nimbus-7 spacecraft were used to calculate the temperature and zonal wind structure of the equatorial stratosphere and lower mesosphere during the period October 25, 1978 to May 28, 1979. Interactions between the descending westerly shear zone of the semiannual oscillation and upward propagating Kelvin waves are described. Inertial instability may be influencing the zonal wind in midwinter.

Leovy, C. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Middle atmosphere tides

The recent direction of theoretical and observational research in middle atmosphere tides is reviewed. The diurnal tide has received considerable emphasis, including observations of evanescent components at high latitudes, numerical simulations of nonmigrating propagating components due to longitudinally varying water vapor insolation absorption in the troposphere, and implications and origins of unsteadiness in tidal oscillations over periods of days. Recent analyses of Nimbus 7 LIMS temperatures and partial reflection drift measurements of neutral winds in the tropical mesosphere have also emphasized the diurnal propagating tide. A description of the Atmospheric Tides Middle Atmosphere Program (ATMAP) and an overview of ATMAP campaign results are also presented.

Forbes, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Demonstration of new PCSD capabilities

The new, more flexible and more friendly graphics capabilities to be available in later releases of the Pilot Climate Data System were demonstrated. The LIMS-LAMAT data set was chosen to illustrate these new capabilities. Pseudocolor and animation were used to represent the third and fourth dimensions, expanding the analytical capabilities available through the traditional two-dimensional x-y plot. In the new version, variables for the axes are chosen by scrolling through viable selections. This scrolling feature is a function of the new user interface customization. The new graphics are extremely user friendly and should free the scientist to look at data and converse with it, without doing any programming. The system is designed to rapidly plot any variable versus any other variable and animate by any variable. Any one plot in itself is not extraordinary; however, the fact that a user can generate the plots instead of a programmer distinguishes the graphics capabilities of the PCDS from other software packages. In addition, with the new CDF design, the system will become more generic, and the new graphics will become much more rigorous in the area of correlative studies.

Gough, M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Concentrations and uncertainties of stratospheric trace species inferred from limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere data. I - Methodology and application to OH and HO2. II - Monthly averaged OH, HO2, H2O2, and HO2NO2

Difficulties arise in connection with the verification of multidimensional chemical models of the stratosphere. The present study shows that LIMS data, together with a photochemical equilibrium model, may be used to infer concentrations of a variety of zonally averaged trace Ox, OHx, and NOx species over much of the stratosphere. In the lower stratosphere, where the photochemical equilibrium assumption for HOx species breaks down, inferred concentrations should still be accurate to about a factor of 2 for OH and 2.5 for HO2. The algebraic nature of the considered model makes it possible to see easily to the first order the effect of variation of any model input parameter or its uncertainty on the inferred concontration of the HOx species and their uncertainties.

Kaye, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Stratospheric photochemical studies using Nimbus 7 data. I - Ozone photochemistry. II - Development of inferred trace specie distributions

The present investigation has the objective to make use of the limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere (LIMS) data set in conducting stratospheric photochemical studies. A description of the data is provided. The data are utilized in a zero-dimensional model incorporating the relevant chemistry. The chemical reaction scheme considered is a subset of the scheme used in the Langley one-dimensional model discussed by Callis et al. (1983). Attention is given to a comparison of model results and data, a model uncertainty analysis, model response to modifications in rate data, the ozone-temperature relationship, and the diurnal variation in the upper stratospheric ozone.

Natarajan, M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Observations of the diurnal variation of nitrogen dioxide in the stratosphere

Observations of NO2 from the limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere (LIMS) experiment in high-latitude summer are presented. Appropriate selection of latitude and days during the month of May yields NO2 observations obtained during the afternoon and evening at solar zenith angles ranging from about 35-110 deg. These data show that the NO2 abundances in the stratosphere become strongly dependent on the solar zenith angle for angles exceeding about 80 deg. Model calculations and other observations suggest that from about 80-95 deg this dependence probably reflects variations in the propagation of the visible radiation that photodissociates NO2. The data obtained at zenith angles greater than about 95 deg provide clear evidence for the night decay of NO2 to form N2O5, and the observed decay rate is shown to be consistent with present theory.

Solomon, S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

On the atmospheric photochemistry of nitric acid

Measurements of the temporal and spatial variations in HNO3, particularly those from the Nimbus 7 limb IR monitor of the stratosphere (LIMS) satellite experiment, are compared to both a two-dimensional chemical/dynamical model and to chemistry/parcel trajectory analyses. Significant discrepancies are found between the observed and modeled variations in the winter season, especially in the polar night region. The study of the evolution of HNO3 suggests that an important source exists for this species in the high-latitude winter stratosphere that is not included in presently accepted photochemical schemes. Possible reactions to account for this discrepancy are explored.

Austin, J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Detection of stratospheric HNO3 and NO2 response to short-term solar ultraviolet variability

It is pointed out that variations in the solar ultraviolet irradiance with a period equal to or approximately one-half of the rotation period of the sun are currently observed by satellite monitoring. Information regarding the response of stratospheric species to solar ultraviolet variability is indispensable for an understanding of the photochemical behavior of the middle atmosphere. Relations are considered between LIMS (limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere) measurements of HNO3 and NO2, and the SBUV (solar backscatter ultraviolet) measurements of short-term variations in 205-nm radiation. It is found that the response of HNO3 is much stronger than, but in the opposite sense to the ozone response, while the NO2 response is in the opposite sense to the HNO3 response. Model calculations predict large variations in HNO3 over the 11-yr solar cycle.

Keating, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Intercomparison of satellite ozone profile measurements

Ozone profile data are intercompared with those from the LIMS and SBUV flown on Nimbus 7, SAGE flown on Atmospheric Explorer Mission 2, and the Ultraviolet and Infrared Spectrometers flown on the SME. Ozone data were derived from the measurements with independently derived processing algorithms. The data cover different time periods and have different spatial and temporal resolutions. The similarities and differences between the individual data sets are determined with effort focused on directly comparing the spacecraft data sets in the form of individual profiles, zonal mean profiles and global analyses. Comparisons with ground data from balloons and Umkehr stations are made.

Fleig, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Tracer transport by the diabatic circulation deduced from satellite observations

Nimbus-7 sensor data were used to track the diabatic circulation in the stratosphere to study the advective transport of CH4 and N2O as tracer species. Advective transport by the mean circulation was found to be a function of the temperature field and associated deviations from radiative equilibrium. A photochemical model was applied to account for the disappearance of the tracer species from the stratosphere. Comparisons between the SAMS data and modeling on the basis of the chemical loss rates of the tracers and the LIMS circulation data showed that the model predictions underestimated the resident abundances, although the global distributions and circulations exhibited a good match.

Solomon, S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Diagnostic analysis of two-dimensional monthly average ozone balance with Chapman chemistry

Chapman chemistry has been used in a two-dimensional model to simulate ozone balance phenomenology. The similarity between regions of ozone production and loss calculated using Chapman chemistry and those computed using LIMS and SAMS data with a photochemical equilibrium model indicate that such simplified chemistry is useful in studying gross features in stratospheric ozone balance. Net ozone production or loss rates are brought about by departures from the photochemical equilibrium (PCE) condition. If transport drives ozone above its PCE condition, then photochemical loss dominates production. If transport drives ozone below its PCE condition, then photochemical production dominates loss. Gross features of ozone loss/production (L/P) inferred for the real atmosphere from data are also simulated using only eddy diffusion. This indicates that one must be careful in assigning a transport scheme for a two-dimensional model that mimics only behavior of the observed ozone L/P.

Stolarski, Richard S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Derivation of photochemical information near 1 mbar from ozone and temperature data

An analysis procedure has been developed for derivation of information about the photochemical behavior of ozone near 1 mbar by explicitly accounting for the dynamical transport terms in the continuity equation for perturbations from the zonal mean. The procedure is shown to be valid using data from a numerical transport model and is then applied to LIMS ozone and temperature data, using geostrophic winds to estimate the transport terms. The data study is restricted to March at 2, 1, and 0.7 mbar. Because the temperature deviations are dynamically produced, large temperature deviations are associated with significant ozone transport terms. The anticorrelation between the deviations of ozone and temperature disappears when the transport terms are small. The derived photochemical information is compared to photochemical theory. Although there is overall agreement in the magnitude as well as the latitude, altitude, and time dependencies, discrepancies are suggested which may be related to the long-standing failure of photochemical models to calculate ozone accurately near 1 mbar. The theory suggests that the addition of Cl(x) to the stratosphere will affect the relationship of ozone and temperature at 2 and 1 mbar. Comparison of the photochemical information derived from future ozone and temperature measurements with the results of the present analysis should provide a critical test of the photochemical scheme thought to describe the behavior of odd chlorine in the stratosphere.

Douglass, Anne R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Radiative heating and cooling rates in the middle atmosphere

One of the limitations to the accurate calculation of radiative heating and cooling rates in the stratosphere and mesosphere has been the lack of accurate data on the atmospheric temperature and composition. Data from the LIMS experiment on Nimbus-7 has been extended to the South Pole with the aid of other observations. The data have been used as input to codes developed by Ramanathan and Dickinson to calculate the individual components and the net radiative heating rates from 100-0.1 mb. Solar heating due to ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor and oxygen is shown to be nearly balanced by cooling in the thermal infrared spectral region due to carbon dioxide, ozone and water vapor. In the lower stratosphere, infrared transfer by ozone leads to heating that is sensitive to the distribution of tropospheric ozone, clouds and water vapor. The heating and cooling rates are adjusted slightly in order to satisfy the global mass balance. The results are in qualitative agreement with earlier calculations, but show additional detail. There is as strong temporal and vertical variation of cooling in the tropics. Radiative relaxation times are as short as 7 days or less at the stratopause.

Gille, John C.↗