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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 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

The Modulation of Gulf Stream Influence on the Troposphere by the Eddy-Driven Jet

This study suggests that the Gulf Stream influence on the wintertime North Atlantic troposphere is most pronounced when the eddy-driven jet (EDJ) is farthest south and better collocated with the Gulf Stream. Using the reanalysis dataset NCEP-CFSR for December–February 1979–2009, the daily EDJ latitude is separated into three regimes (northern, central, and southern). It is found that the average trajectory of atmospheric fronts covaries with EDJ latitude. In the southern EDJ regime (~19% of the time), the frequency of near-surface atmospheric fronts that pass across the Gulf Stream is maximized. Analysis suggests that this leads to significant strengthening in near-surface atmospheric frontal convergence resulting from strong air–sea sensible heat flux gradients (due to strong temperature gradients in the atmosphere and ocean). In recent studies, it was shown that the pronounced band of time-mean near-surface wind convergence across the Gulf Stream is set by atmospheric fronts. Here, it is shown that an even smaller subset of atmospheric fronts—those associated with a southern EDJ—primarily sets the time mean, due to enhanced Gulf Stream air–sea interaction. Furthermore, statistically significant anomalies in vertical velocity extending well above the boundary layer are identified in association with changes in EDJ latitude. These anomalies are particularly strong for a southern EDJ and are spatially consistent with increases in near-surface atmospheric frontal convergence over the Gulf Stream. These results imply that much of the Gulf Stream influence on the time-mean atmosphere is modulated on synoptic time scales, and enhanced when the EDJ is farthest south.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2005

Neutral Mass Spectrometry for Venus Atmosphere and Surface

The assignment is to make precise (better than 1 %) measurements of isotope ratios and accurate (5-10%) measurements of abundances of noble gas and to obtain vertical profiles of trace chemically active gases from above the clouds all the way down to the surface. Science measurement objectives are as follows: 1) Determine the composition of Venus atmosphere, including trace gas species and light stable isotopes; 2) Accurately measure noble-gas isotopic abundance in the atmosphere; 3) Provide descent, surface, and ascent meteorological data; 4) Measure zonal cloud-level winds over several Earth days; 5) Obtain near-IR descent images of the surface from 10-km altitude to the surface; 6) Accurately measure elemental abundances & mineralogy of a core from the surface; and 7) Evaluate the texture of surface materials to constrain weathering environment.

Mahaffy, Paul↗
NASA NTRS1991

Remote sensing of Earth's atmosphere and surface using a digital array scanned interferometer: A new type of imaging spectrometer

The capabilities of the digital array scanned interferometer (DASI) class of instruments for measuring terrestrial radiation fields over the visible to mid-infrared are evaluated. DASI's are capable of high throughput, sensitivity and spectral resolution and have the potential for field-of-view spatial discrimination (an imaging spectrometer). The simplicity of design and operation of DASI's make them particularly suitable for field and airborne platform based remote sensing. The long term objective is to produce a versatile field instrument which may be applied toward a variety of atmospheric and surface studies. The operation of DASI and its advantages over other spectrometers are discussed.

Hammer, Philip D.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Exploration of Venus' Deep Atmosphere and Surface Environment

Venus formed in the same part of our solar system as Earth, apparently from similar materials. Although both planets are about the same size, their differences are profound. Venus and Earth experienced vastly different evolutionary pathways resulting in unexplained differences in atmospheric composition and dynamics, as well as in geophysical processes of the planetary surfaces and interiors. Understanding when and why the evolutionary pathways of Venus and Earth diverged is key to understanding how terrestrial planets form and how their atmospheres and surfaces evolve. Measurements made in situ, within the near-surface or surface environment, are critical to addressing unanswered questions. We have made substantial progress modernizing and maturing pressure vessel technologies to enable science operations in the high temperature and pressure near-surface/surfaceenvironment of Venus.

Venus Atmosphere↗
NASA NTRS1972

Mass spectrometric analysis of organic compounds, water and volatile constituents in the atmosphere and surface of Mars - The Viking Mars Lander.

An experiment centering around a mass spectrometer is described, which is aimed at the identification of organic substances present in the top 10 cm of the surface of Mars and an analysis of the atmosphere for major and minor constituents as well as isotopic abundances. In addition, an indication of the abundance of water in the surface and some information concerning the mineralogy can be obtained by monitoring the gases produced upon heating the soil sample. The organic material will simply be expelled by heating to 150, 300, and 500 C into the carrier gas stream of a gas chromatograph interfaced to the mass spectrometer or by slowly heating the sample in direct communication with the spectrometer. It is planned to analyze a total of up to nine soil samples in order to study diurnal and seasonal variations. The system is designed to give useful data even for minor constituents if the total of organics should be as low as 5 ppm. The spectrometer covers the mass range of 12-200 with adequate resolution.

Anderson, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Diurnal variability of regional cloud radiative parameters from geostationary satellite data

In the discussed study, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite visible and infrared brightness measurements are used to infer regional cloud cover and several associated radiative parameters on an hourly basis. Several techniques are utilized to derive the parameters of interest. These parameters include the areal cloud fraction, cloud-atmosphere albedo, surface-atmosphere albedo, and equivalent blackbody surface and cloud-top temperatures. Attention is given to clear radiance temperature determinations, surface temperature modeling, the infrared threshold method, narrowband-broadband correlations, and albedo determination. Monthly mean values were computed for each parameter as a function of local time. Cloud amounts and temperatures are considered along with longwave emission and shortwave albedo, and composite results.

Minnis, P.↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Role of Atmospheric Noise in Decadal SST Variability

Abstract A substantial role for atmospheric noise in simulations of decadal internal variability of SST is demonstrated by a comparison of a multicentury climate model control and a corresponding interactive ensemble (IE) simulation. The IE is designed to reduce atmospheric noise in the heat flux, wind stress, and freshwater flux at the air–sea interface. This comparison suggests that nearly all SST variability on decadal time scales is forced by internal atmospheric variability. The results are examined to determine the relative roles of atmospheric surface heat flux noise and ocean dynamics in the decadal volume-averaged heat budget of the upper ocean. The regional heat budgets in two regions, the South Pacific and the midlatitude North Atlantic, show the net atmospheric surface heat flux to be approximately in equilibrium with the ocean dynamics forcing. The IE and control results are used in the equilibrium heat budget approximation to infer the atmospheric heat flux response to SST, as well as the time series of the control atmospheric noise surface heat flux and ocean dynamics forcings for several regions. The South Pacific region SST is found to be primarily forced by the atmospheric noise surface heat flux and the North Atlantic region SST is forced by the ocean dynamics. Similar strengths for the atmospheric heat flux noise and ocean dynamics forcing, with an interdecadal atmospheric heat flux noise time scale and a centennial ocean dynamics time scale, are found for an Atlantic multidecadal variability region SST.

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences↗
NASA NTRS1973

Exchange of water vapor between the atmosphere and surface of Mars.

A model for exchange of water from the atmosphere to condensing CO2 caps is developed. The rate of water condensation in the caps is assumed to be proportional to the meridional heat flux. It follows that the amount of water condensed in the caps varies inversely with the amount of CO2 condensed. The seasonal phase of the release of water from the caps is not consistent with observed variations in the abundance of atmospheric water. Seasonal variations of atmospheric water abundance are most consistent with vapor exchange between the atmosphere and permafrost in the subtropics.

Leovy, C. B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Remote sensing of atmospheric and surface temperatures with microwaves.

Solids, liquids, and gases emit at microwave wavelengths measurable amounts of black-body thermal radiation. Receiver sensitivities readily approach 0.01 K, and permit accurate measurements of land, sea, and atmospheric temperatures. Sea and land temperature measurements must be corrected for the effects of surface emissivity, but these effects can often be measured or estimated. Observations near the 5 mm wavelength 02 resonances can yield atmospheric temperature profiles with an approximate accuracy of 2 K for altitudes 0-80 km. Such measurements from balloons and aircraft suggest that the planned earth-orbital satellite experiments will yield data valuable for numerical weather prediction. Ground-based radio telescopes and planetary-probes have yielded similar information about the surfaces and atmospheres of other planets.

Staelin, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The surface and atmosphere of Pluto

A new spectrum of Pluto in the region 1.4 to 1.9 microns provides confirmation of the presence of solid methane on the planet's surface. Considerations of the vapor pressure of methane gas above the solid indicate the presence of a tenuous atmosphere of this gas, the surface partial pressure of which is variable from perihelion to aphelion. The implication of a high surface albedo, the newly derived mass of Pluto, and inferences as to the range of plausible bulk mean densities indicate that the radius of Pluto should lie in the range 1200 to 1800 km.

Cruikshank, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Atmospheric and surface properties of Mars obtained by infrared spectroscopy on Mariner 9

The infrared spectroscopy experiment on Mariner 9 obtained data over much of Mars. Interpretation of the thermal emission of Mars in terms of atmospheric temperatures, wind fields and dynamics, surface temperatures, surface pressure and topography, mineral composition, and minor atmospheric constituents including isotopic ratios, as well as a search for unexpected phenomena are reported.

Conrath, B.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Effects of Atmospheric and Surface Dust on the Sublimation Rates of CO2 on Mars

We present an overview of our modeling work dedicated to study the effects of atmospheric dust on the sublimation of CO2 on Mars. The purpose of this study is to better understand the extent to which dust storm activity can be a root cause for interannual variability in the planetary CO2 seasonal cycle, through modifying the springtime regression rates of the south polar cap. We obtain calculations of the sublimation fluxes for various types of polar surfaces and different amounts of atmospheric dust. These calculations have been compared qualitatively with the regression patterns observed by Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) in both visible and infrared wavelengths, for two years of very different dust histories (1999, and 2001).

Bonev, B. P.↗
NASA NTRS2008

High Vertically Resolved Atmospheric and Surface/Cloud Parameters Retrieved with Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI)

The Joint Airborne IASI Validation Experiment (JAIVEx) was conducted during April 2007 mainly for validation of the IASI on the MetOp satellite. IASI possesses an ultra-spectral resolution of 0.25/cm and a spectral coverage from 645 to 2760/cm. Ultra-spectral resolution infrared spectral radiance obtained from near nadir observations provide atmospheric, surface, and cloud property information. An advanced retrieval algorithm with a fast radiative transfer model, including cloud effects, is used for atmospheric profile and cloud parameter retrieval. This physical inversion scheme has been developed, dealing with cloudy as well as cloud-free radiance observed with ultraspectral infrared sounders, to simultaneously retrieve surface, atmospheric thermodynamic, and cloud microphysical parameters. A fast radiative transfer model, which applies to the cloud-free and/or clouded atmosphere, is used for atmospheric profile and cloud parameter retrieval. A one-dimensional (1-d) variational multi-variable inversion solution is used to improve an iterative background state defined by an eigenvector-regression-retrieval. The solution is iterated in order to account for non-linearity in the 1-d variational solution. It is shown that relatively accurate temperature and moisture retrievals are achieved below optically thin clouds. For optically thick clouds, accurate temperature and moisture profiles down to cloud top level are obtained. For both optically thin and thick cloud situations, the cloud top height can be retrieved with relatively high accuracy (i.e., error < 1 km). Preliminary retrievals of atmospheric soundings, surface properties, and cloud optical/microphysical properties with the IASI observations are obtained and presented. These retrievals will be further inter-compared with those obtained from airborne FTS system, such as the NPOESS Airborne Sounder Testbed - Interferometer (NAST-I), dedicated dropsondes, radiosondes, and ground based Raman Lidar. The capabilities of satellite ultra-spectral sounder such as the IASI are investigated indicating a high vertical structure of atmosphere is retrieved.

Zhou, Daniel K.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mars: Its atmosphere and surface

Spectral experiments on Mars Orbiter show that solar energy is absorbed by the planet and its atmosphere and eventually re-emitted in the infrared as thermal emission. The majority of the radiances at the north polar Mars area follows very closely the radiance from a black body of about 145 degrees kelvin, which indicates a frozen CO2 surface; the south polar region radiance indicates a temperature inversion in the atmosphere, and the emission of atmospheric dust as well as emissions from frozen CO2.

Hanel, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Retrieval of ocean surface and atmospheric parameters from multichannel microwave radiometric measurements

Methods for the retrieval of ocean surface temperature, surface wind speed, rain rate, cloud height, and the amounts of water vapor and nonprecipitated liquid water over the ocean from Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) data are presented. The sensitivity of retrieval algorithms for wind speed and sea surface temperature, in the absence of rain, to the undetected presence of rain, is discussed along with the accuracy of a more general method for the retrieval of rain rate in conjunction with other meteorological parameters. It is concluded that the inability to retrieve the average rain rate accurately at small rain angles is due to the inability of SMMR to distinguish between small raindrops and nonprecipitating droplets.

Chang, A. T. C.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Radioxenon Detection for Monitoring Subsurface Nuclear Explosion

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans the testing of nuclear weapons anywhere on the earth (atmospheric, surface, underwater and subsurface). Identification of nuclear explosions in the atmosphere, surface, and underwater is relatively straightforward considering a wide range of signatures resulting from such an event. However, for a subsurface explosion, most of the signatures traditionally associated with a nuclear explosion are not readily available. Therefore, the international community has increasingly relied on the atmospheric measurement of noble gases to identify subsurface nuclear weapon explosions. This chapter initially covers the basic principles of subsurface nuclear explosion identification and the importance of detecting radioxenon. This is followed by reviewing some of the early radioxenon detection systems that were developed by research groups around the world in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The detection media employed, results from laboratory and field testing, and some challenges/drawbacks for these systems are detailed. The next section of the chapter is dedicated to innovative detector concepts that have emerged in the past ten to fifteen years using novel detection material, algorithms, and signal readout techniques. The advances achieved in terms of energy resolution, coincidence detection efficiencies, system performance, and the minimum detectable concentration are covered. The final section goes over some of the potential improvements that can be incorporated in the design to enhance detector sensitivity and new detection material that can be explored in the field of radioxenon detection.

Gadey, Harish Reddy↗