Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Lidar Enhancement”

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 217 records · Page 12

Simulations of Infrared Radiances Over a Deep Convective Cloud System Observed During TC4- Potential for Enhancing Nocturnal Ice Cloud Retrievals

Retrievals of ice cloud properties using infrared measurements at 3.7, 6.7, 7.3, 8.5, 10.8, and 12.0 microns can provide consistent results regardless of solar illumination, but are limited to cloud optical thicknesses tau < approx.6. This paper investigates the variations in radiances at these wavelengths over a deep convective cloud system for their potential to extend retrievals of tau and ice particle size D(sub e) to optically thick clouds. Measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Airborne Simulator--ASTER, the Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder, the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL), and the Cloud Radar System (CRS) aboard the NASA ER-2 aircraft during the NASA TC4 (Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling) experiment flight during 5 August 2007, are used to examine the retrieval capabilities of infrared radiances over optically thick ice clouds. Simulations based on coincident in-situ measurements and combined cloud tau from CRS and CPL measurements are comparable to the observations. They reveal that brightness temperatures at these bands and their differences (BTD) are sensitive to tau up to approx.20 and that for ice clouds having tau > 20, the 3.7 - 10.8 microns and 3.7 - 6.7 microns BTDs are the most sensitive to D(sub e). Satellite imagery appears consistent with these results. Keywords: clouds; optical depth; particle size; satellite; TC4; multispectral thermal infrared

CRS and CPL↗

Using High-Resolution Airborne Remote Sensing to Study Aerosol Near Clouds

The horizontal space in between clear and cloudy air is very complex. This so-called twilight zone includes activated aerosols that are not quite clouds, thin cloud fragments that are not easily observable, and dying clouds that have not quite disappeared. This is a huge challenge for satellite remote sensing, specifically for retrieval of aerosol properties. Identifying what is cloud versus what is not cloud is critically important for attributing radiative effects and forcings to aerosols. At the same time, the radiative interactions between clouds and the surrounding media (molecules, surface and aerosols themselves) will contaminate retrieval of aerosol properties, even in clear skies. Most studies on aerosol cloud interactions are relevant to moderate resolution imagery (e.g. 500 m) from sensors such as MODIS. Since standard aerosol retrieval algorithms tend to keep a distance (e.g. 1 km) from the nearest detected cloud, it is impossible to evaluate what happens closer to the cloud. During Studies of Emissions, Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS), the NASA ER-2 flew with the enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator (eMAS), providing MODIS-like spectral observations at high (50 m) spatial resolution. We have applied MODIS-like aerosol retrieval for the eMAS data, providing new detail to characterization of aerosol near clouds. Interpretation and evaluation of these eMAS aerosol retrievals is aided by independent MODIS-like cloud retrievals, as well as profiles from the co-flying Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL). Understanding aerosolcloud retrieval at high resolution will lead to better characterization and interpretation of long-term, global products from lower resolution (e.g.MODIS) satellite retrievals.

aerosols near clouds↗

The TOLNet 2.0 Website: How an API Can Promote Open Science and FAIR Principles

The Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network (TOLNet) has generated over a decade of ozone vertical profile data products over North America. The science value of the TOLNet data has been demonstrated in numerous peer-reviewed publications on air quality and other ozone relevant research. To support the broad spectrum of data use, the TOLNet team launched a major effort to upgrade the web-based data repository aiming to enhance the data discoverability and to enable machine-to-machine data upload and download processes. Specifically, the TOLNet website included an application programming interface (API), which supports machine-to-machine data search and data download. The API also extracts selected variables from the files, which can be retrieved as JSON objects and used to create data displays without having to download or open the underlying files. The TOLNet science team members can also use the API for automated data upload, including a data file scanning feature to ensure data product integrity. To be presented will include a summary of key features of data repositories, an actual use case of machine-to-machine data access/use, as well as our journey to make TOLNet data more FAIR, i.e., more findable, accessible, interoperable, and (re)usable.

Crystal Gummo↗

Stratospheric aerosol mass and latitudinal distribution of the El Chichon eruption cloud for October 1982

The eruptions of El Chicon in Mexico during March and April, 1982, produced the largest enhancements in stratospheric aerosols, which were experienced in at least the last 20 years. An experimental survey flight was conducted in October-November 1982 to underfly El Chichon's eruption cloud and to map out its latitudinal distribution. A NASA aircraft was flown between 46 deg N latitude and 46 deg S latitude in a coordinated field campaign. The present investigation is concerned with the results of lidar stratospheric measurements taken over the entire mission. The employed airborne lidar system consists of a ruby laser, nominally emitting 1 joule/pulse at 0.5 pulse/sec during flight, and a 35.6-cm receiving Cassegrainian-configured telescope. The lidar data presented are described in two forms, taking into account the lidar backscattering ratio and the integrated aerosol backscattering function.

Mccormick, M. P.↗

Telerobotic Perception During Asteroid and Mars Regolith Operations Project

Current space telerobotic systems are constrained to only operating in bright light and dust-free conditions. This project will study the effects of difficult lighting and dust conditions on telerobotic perception systems to better assess and refine regolith operations on other neighboring celestial bodies. In partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Caterpillar, Inc., optical, LiDAR and RADAR sensing equipment will be used in performing the study. This project will create a known dust environment in the Swamp Works Granular Mechanics & Regolith Operations (GMRO) Laboratory regolith test bin to characterize the behavior of the sensing equipment in various calibrated lighting and dust conditions. It will also identify potential methods for mitigating the impacts of these undesirable conditions on the performance of the sensing equipment. Enhancing the capability of telerobotic perception systems will help improve life on earth for those working in dangerous, dusty mining conditions, as well as help advance the same technologies used for safer self-driving automobiles in various lighting and weather conditions. It will also prove to be a critical skill needed for advancing robotic and human exploration throughout our solar system, for activities such as mining on an asteroid or pioneering the first colony on Mars.

Technology Portfolio System↗

Southern Hemisphere Lidar Measurements of the Aerosol Clouds from Mt. Pinatubo and Mt. Hudson

On 19 Jul., 1991, during tests to determine the ability of the newly-modified CSIRO Ns:YAG lidar to measure signals from the stratosphere before the arrival of dust from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, a strongly scattering layer was detected at an altitude of 2 km. That evening, the spectacular sunset and twilight were typical of volcanically disturbed conditions. Lidar measurements at 532 nm were made between 1400 and 1500 EST (0400-0500 UT) on 19 Jul. through broken cloud. Approximately 3800 laser firings were averaged in 256 shot blocks. These and subsequent data have been analyzed to produce profiles of aerosol volume backscatter function and scattering ratio. Clouds again prevented a clear view of the twilights on the next two nights, although there was some evidence for an enhanced glow. The evidence suggested that the aerosol layer had disappeared. An explanation for this disappearance and the earlier than expected arrival of the layer over Melbourne was required. Nimbus 7 TOMS data for 23 Jun. showed that the SO2 from the eruption had extended at least 11000 km to the west and that the southern boundary of the cloud had reached 15 degrees S just 8 days after the climactic eruption. It can be assumed that this cloud also contained dust and sulphuric acid aerosol. It was proposed that a section had then been broken away from the main cloud and carried south by a large scale eddy between the low latitude easterlies and the strong mid-latitude westerlies which finally carried the aerosol cloud over southern Australia. Accompanying 30 mb wind data showed a counter clockwise circulation, responsible for the transport, located in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Young, Stuart A.↗

Multi-beam range imager for autonomous operations

For space operations from the Space Station Freedom the real time range imager will be very valuable in terms of refuelling, docking as well as space exploration operations. For these applications as well as many other robotics and remote ranging applications, a small potable, power efficient, robust range imager capable of a few tens of km ranging with 10 cm accuracy is needed. The system developed is based on a well known pseudo-random modulation technique applied to a laser transmitter combined with a novel range resolution enhancement technique. In this technique, the transmitter is modulated by a relatively low frequency of an order of a few MHz to enhance the signal to noise ratio and to ease the stringent systems engineering requirements while accomplishing a very high resolution. The desired resolution cannot easily be attained by other conventional approaches. The engineering model of the system is being designed to obtain better than 10 cm range accuracy simply by implementing a high precision clock circuit. In this paper we present the principle of the pseudo-random noise (PN) lidar system and the results of the proof of experiment.

Marzwell, Neville I.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-11308-DND

The Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) system has operated on the NASA ER-2, P-3, and DC-8 aircraft during the past 16 years and participated in 13 field experiments. This system provides vertical profiles of water vapor mixing ratio and aerosol and cloud backscattering. A brief overview is presented on the upgrade of LASE that included refurbishment of laser diode seeding, control and data system, and zenith receiver system. These developments have enhanced the operational reliability of the system and improved its performance. The LASE system was deployed on the NASA DC-8 aircraft recently for the NASA GRIP (Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes) field experiment, which was conducted during August and September 2010 from operational bases in Fort Lauderdale, FL and St. Croix, VI. Initial measurements from this field experiment are presented including distributions of water vapor, aerosol, and clouds. Temperature profiles from DC-8 dropsondes and nearby radiosondes are used to derive relative humidity profiles from the LASE water vapor mixing ratio profiles. Comparisons of LASE water vapor mixing ratio profiles with those measured by the new AVAPS-II dropsondes from the NASA DC-8 are also presented.

Susan A Kooi↗

A Review of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology in Power Line Inspection

The electric power industry is one of the heaviest adopters of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) technology, utilizing their versatility to enhance power line maintenance programs. For reliable power grids, routine maintenance operations and rapid repair operations are required across substantial geographical distances. Both maintenance and repair decisions are driven by assessment operations, such as inspections of mechanical structures with visible-band sensors, inspections for the presence of high voltage coronas and hot spots with multispectral sensors, and surveying of equipment and adjacent features (particularly vegetation) with photogrammetric and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors. Assessment was historically accomplished with manned helicopter flights or foot patrols. Recently, this critical economic segment harnessed advances in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)technology to accomplish assessment tasks with faster results, lower cost, and higher levels of safety than historical methods. Adoption of UAVs in high-voltage electric power transmission activities is well underway. Adoption of UAVs for low voltage distribution activities is still emerging, with the important exception of post-storm damage assessment following major hurricanes (Harvey and Maria in 2017 and Michael in 2018). This report reviews the broad UAS adoption in high-voltage electric power transmission operations and early attempts at adoption in distribution operations. The ability to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) may increase the advantages of UAV inspection over former options, and in the United States, regulators have approved two pilot projects to demonstrate BVLOS methods and their benefits in operating and maintaining the power grid.

UAV↗

Recent lidar technology developments and their influence on measurements of tropospheric water vapor

In this paper the influences of recent technology developments in the areas of lasers, detectors, andoptical filters of a differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system on the measurenent of tropospheric water vapor (H2O) profiles are discussed. The lidar parameters selected are based upon a diode-seeded Ti:sapphire laser that is locked to an H2O line in the 820- or 930-nm band of H2O. To assess the influence of the mode of deployment on the measurement of tropospheric H2O, DIAL performance is evaluated for operation from a medium-altitude (12 km) aircraft, the ground, and space-based systems. It is found that incorporation of these developments could greatly enhance DIAL measurement capability.

Ismail, Syed↗

Evidence of seasonally dependent stratosphere-troposphere exchange and purging of lower stratospheric aerosol from a multiyear lidar data set

Tropospheric and lower stratospheric aerosol backscatter data obtained from a calibrated backscatter lidar at Pasadena, California (34 deg N latitude) over the 1984-1993 period clearly indicate tightly coupled aerosol optical properties in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere in the winter and early spring, due to the active midlatitude stratospheric-tropospheric (ST) exchange processes occurring at this time of year. Lidar data indicate that during pre-Pinaturbo background conditions, the subsequent purging of the aerosol in the upper troposphere caused a significant reduction in the aerosol content throughout the 8 - 18 km altitude region in the early spring period. The post-Pinatubo evidence of intense exchange in the winter and early spring is a significant increase in the upper tropospheric aerosol content, such that the backscatter levels reach values nearly equivalent to the enhanced backscatter levels existing in the lower stratosphere. The calculated stratospheric mass extrusion rate is consistent with a 45-day lifetime of lower stratospheric aerosol during this part of the year, which implies that midlatitude ST exchange is a significant sink for stratospheric aerosol.

Menzies, Robert T.↗

Revisiting GloSSAC Using Space Based Measurements

We revisit Global Space-based stratospheric aerosol climatology (GloSSAC) and extend the dataset through 2021 in the latest version (version 2.2). Several space-based measurements have been used to construct GloSSAC. For version 2.2, important changes include implementation of a revised aerosol/cloud categorization for The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE III/ISS). SAGE III/ISS began its mission in June 2017. While SAGEIII/ISS makes reliable and robust solar occultation measurements in stratosphere—similar to its predecessors, interpreting aerosol extinction measurements in the vicinity of tropopause and in the troposphere have been a challenge for all SAGE measurements. Here, we study the challenges associated with the discrimination of aerosols and clouds from the extinction measurements. Here, we describe the methods implemented to categorize Clouds and aerosols using available SAGEIII/ISS aerosol measurements. We use version 5.2 of SAGE III/ISS extinction coefficients for the analysis. The current algorithm now classifies standard (background) and non-standard (enhanced) aerosols in the stratosphere and identify enhanced aerosols and aerosol/cloud mixture in the tropopause region. Extinction coefficient measurements from SAGE series of observations make an important contribution in the GloSSAC data base and therefore, the impact of cloud-filtered aerosol extinction coefficient measurements on the latest version of GloSSAC (version 2.2) is also discussed. Additionally, we discuss minor version changes occurred in other space-based measurements that include Optical Spectrograph and InfraRed Imaging System(OSIRIS) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation(CALIPSO). We also plan on evaluating and using aerosol extinction profiles from other satellite data sets such as Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite (OMPS) in a future version.

stratospheric aerosol↗

Processes Influencing Ozone Levels in Alaskan Forest Fires Plumes during Long-Range Transport over the North Atlantic

A case of long-range transport of a biomass burning plume from Alaska to Europe is analyzed using a Lagrangian approach. This plume was sampled several times in the free troposphere over North America, the North Atlantic and Europe by 3 different aircraft during the IGAC Lagrangian 2K4 experiment which was part of the ICARTT/ITOP measurement intensive in summer 2004. Measurements in the plume showed enhanced values of CO, VOCs and NOy, mainly in form of PAN. Observed O3 levels increased by 17 ppbv over 5 days. A photochemical trajectory model, CiTTyCAT, is used to examine processes responsible for the chemical evolution of the plume. The model was initialized with upwind data, and compared with downwind measurements. The influence of high aerosol loading on photolysis rates in the plume is investigated using in-situ aerosol measurements in the plume and lidar retrievals of optical depth as input into a photolysis code (Fast-J), run in the model. Significant impacts on photochemistry are found with a decrease of 18 percent in O3 production and 24 percent in O3 destruction over 5 days when including aerosols. The plume is found to be chemically active with large O3 increases attributed primarily to PAN decomposition during descent of the plume towards Europe. The predicted O3 changes are very dependent on temperature changes during transport, and also, on water vapor levels in the lower troposphere which can lead to O3 destruction. Simulation of mixing/dilution was necessary to reproduce observed pollutants level in the plume. Mixing was simulated using background concentrations from measurements in air masses in close proximity to the plume, and mixing timescales (averaging 6.25 days) were derived from CO changes. Observed and simulated O3/CO correlations in the plume are also compared in order to evaluate the photochemistry in the model. Observed slopes changed from negative to positive over 5 days. This change, which can be attributed largely to photochemistry, is well reproduced by multiple model runs even if slope values are slightly underestimated suggesting small underestimation of photochemical processes. The possible impact of this biomass burning plume on O3 levels in the Europe boundary layer is also examined by running the model for a further 5 days, and comparing with data collected at surface sites, such as Jungfraujoch, which showed small O3 increases and elevated CO levels. The model predicts significant changes in O3 over this 10 days due to photochemistry but the signal is largely lost due to the effects of dilution. However, measurement in several others BB plumes over Europe show that O3 impact of Alaskan fires can be punctually significant over Europe.

Real, E.↗

9+ Years of CALIPSO PSC Observations: An Evolving Climatology

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) play a crucial role in the springtime chemical depletion of ozone at high latitudes. PSC particles (primarily supercooled ternary solution, or STS droplets) provide sites for heterogeneous chemical reactions that transform stable chlorine and bromine reservoir species into highly reactive ozone-destructive forms. Furthermore, large nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) PSC particles can irreversibly redistribute odd nitrogen through gravitational sedimentation (a process commonly known as denitrification), which prolongs the ozone depletion process by slowing the reformation of the stable chlorine reservoirs. Spaceborne observations from the CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) lidar on the CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) satellite are providing a rich new dataset for studying PSCs. CALIPSO is an excellent platform for studying polar processes with CALIOP acquiring, on average, over 300,000 backscatter profiles daily at latitudes between 55o and 82o in both hemispheres. PSCs are detected in the CALIOP backscatter profiles using a successive horizontal averaging scheme that enables detection of strongly scattering PSCs (e.g., ice) at the finest possible spatial resolution (5 km), while enhancing the detection of very tenuous PSCs (e.g., low number density NAT) at larger spatial scales (up to 135 km). CALIOP PSCs are separated into composition classes (STS; liquid/NAT mixtures; and ice) based on the ensemble 532-nm scattering ratio (the ratio of total-to-molecular backscatter) and 532-nm particulate depolarization ratio (which is sensitive to the presence of non-spherical, i.e. NAT and ice particles). In this paper, we will provide an overview of the CALIOP PSC detection and composition classification algorithm and then examine the vertical and spatial distribution of PSCs in the Arctic and Antarctic on vortex-wide scales for entire PSC seasons over the more than nine-year data record from 2006- 2015.

Pitts, Michael C.↗

CALIPSO Polar Stratospheric Cloud Observations from 2006-2015

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) play a crucial role in the springtime chemical depletion of ozone at high latitudes. PSC particles (primarily supercooled ternary solution, or STS droplets) provide sites for heterogeneous chemical reactions that transform stable chlorine and bromine reservoir species into highly reactive ozone-destructive forms. Furthermore, large nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) PSC particles can irreversibly redistribute odd nitrogen through gravitational sedimentation (a process commonly known as denitrification), which prolongs the ozone depletion process by slowing the reformation of the stable chlorine reservoirs. Spaceborne observations from the CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) lidar on the CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) satellite are providing a rich new dataset for studying PSCs. CALIPSO is an excellent platform for studying polar processes with CALIOP acquiring, on average, over 300,000 backscatter profiles daily at latitudes between 55o and 82o in both hemispheres. PSCs are detected in the CALIOP backscatter profiles using a successive horizontal averaging scheme that enables detection of strongly scattering PSCs (e.g., ice) at the finest possible spatial resolution (5 km), while enhancing the detection of very tenuous PSCs (e.g., low number density NAT) at larger spatial scales (up to 135 km). CALIOP PSCs are separated into composition classes (STS; liquid/NAT mixtures; and ice) based on the ensemble 532-nm scattering ratio (the ratio of total-to-molecular backscatter) and 532-nm particulate depolarization ratio (which is sensitive to the presence of non-spherical, i.e. NAT and ice particles). In this paper, we will provide an overview of the CALIOP PSC detection and composition classification algorithm and then examine the vertical and spatial distribution of PSCs in the Arctic and Antarctic on vortex-wide scales for entire PSC seasons over the more than nine-year data record from 2006- 2015.

Pitts, Michael C.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-20076-DND

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) play a crucial role in the springtime chemical depletion of ozone at high latitudes. PSC particles (primarily supercooled ternary solution, or STS droplets) provide sites for heterogeneous chemical reactions that transform stable chlorine and bromine reservoir species into highly reactive ozone-destructive forms. Furthermore, large nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) PSC particles can irreversibly redistribute odd nitrogen through gravitational sedimentation (a process commonly known as denitrification), which prolongs the ozone depletion process by slowing the reformation of the stable chlorine reservoirs. Spaceborne observations from the CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) lidar on the CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) satellite are providing a rich new dataset for studying PSCs. CALIPSO is an excellent platform for studying polar processes with CALIOP acquiring, on average, over 300,000 backscatter profiles daily at latitudes between 55o and 82o in both hemispheres. PSCs are detected in the CALIOP backscatter profiles using a successive horizontal averaging scheme that enables detection of strongly scattering PSCs (e.g., ice) at the finest possible spatial resolution (5 km), while enhancing the detection of very tenuous PSCs (e.g., low number density NAT) at larger spatial scales (up to 135 km). CALIOP PSCs are separated into composition classes (STS; liquid/NAT mixtures; and ice) based on the ensemble 532-nm scattering ratio (the ratio of total-to-molecular backscatter) and 532-nm particulate depolarization ratio (which is sensitive to the presence of non-spherical, i.e. NAT and ice particles). In this paper, we will provide an overview of the CALIOP PSC detection and composition classification algorithm and then examine the vertical and spatial distribution of PSCs in the Arctic and Antarctic on vortex-wide scales for entire PSC seasons over the more than eight-year data record.

Michael C Pitts↗

A Synopsis of the 8+ Year CALIOP Polar Stratospheric Cloud Data Record

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) play a crucial role in the springtime chemical depletion of ozone at high latitudes. PSC particles (primarily supercooled ternary solution, or STS droplets) provide sites for heterogeneous chemical reactions that transform stable chlorine and bromine reservoir species into highly reactive ozone-destructive forms. Furthermore, large nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) PSC particles can irreversibly redistribute odd nitrogen through gravitational sedimentation (a process commonly known as denitrification), which prolongs the ozone depletion process by slowing the reformation of the stable chlorine reservoirs. Spaceborne observations from the CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) lidar on the CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) satellite are providing a rich new dataset for studying PSCs. CALIPSO is an excellent platform for studying polar processes with CALIOP acquiring, on average, over 300,000 backscatter profiles daily at latitudes between 55o and 82o in both hemispheres. PSCs are detected in the CALIOP backscatter profiles using a successive horizontal averaging scheme that enables detection of strongly scattering PSCs (e.g., ice) at the finest possible spatial resolution (5 km), while enhancing the detection of very tenuous PSCs (e.g., low number density NAT) at larger spatial scales (up to 135 km). CALIOP PSCs are separated into composition classes (STS; liquid/NAT mixtures; and ice) based on the ensemble 532-nm scattering ratio (the ratio of total-to-molecular backscatter) and 532-nm particulate depolarization ratio (which is sensitive to the presence of non-spherical, i.e. NAT and ice particles). In this paper, we will provide an overview of the CALIOP PSC detection and composition classification algorithm and then examine the vertical and spatial distribution of PSCs in the Arctic and Antarctic on vortex-wide scales for entire PSC seasons over the more than eight-year data record.

Michael C Pitts↗