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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 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
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.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Measurement of total electron content of midlatitude ionosphere and protonosphere via Faraday rotation and group relay techniques using transmission from geostationary satellites ATS-3 and ATS-6

Measurement of integrated columnar electron content and total electron content for the local ionosphere and the overlying protonosphere via Faraday rotation and group delay techniques has proven very useful. A field station was established having the geographic location of 31.5 deg N latitude and 91.06 deg W longitude to accomplish these objectives. A polarimeter receiving system was set up in the beginning to measure the Faraday rotation of 137.35 MHz radio signal from geostationary satellite ATS 3 to yield the integrated columnar electron content of the local ionosphere. The measurement was continued regularly, and the analysis of the data thus collected provided a synopsis of the statistical variation of the ionosphere along with the transient variations that occurred during the periods of geomagnetic and other disturbances.

Paul, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Differential spacecraft charging on the geostationary operational environmental satellites

Subsystems aboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites 4 and 5 showed instances of anomalous changes in state corresponding to false commands. Evidence linking the anomalous changes to geomagnetic activity, and presumably static discharges generated by spacecraft differential charging induced by substorm particle injection events is presented. The anomalies are shown to be correlated with individual substorms as monitored by stations of the North American Magnetometer Chain. The relative frequency of the anomalies is shown to be a function of geomagnetic activity. Finally a least squares fit to the time delay between substorm initiation and spacecraft anomaly as a function of spacecraft local time is shown to be consistent with injected electron populations with energy in the range 10 keV to 15 keV, in agreement with present understanding of the spacecraft charging mechanism. The spacecraft elements responsible for the differential charging were not satisfactorily identified. That question is currently under investigation.

Farthing, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Visible infrared spin-scan radiometers (VISSR) for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) B and C application

Two visible infrared spin scan radiometer (VISSR) instruments provided for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite B and C (GOES B and C) spacecrafts are described. The instruments are identical to those supplied previously are summarized. A significant number of changes primarily involving corrections of drawing errors and omissions were also performed. All electrical changes were breadboarded (where complexity required this), were incorporated into the test module, and subjected to verification of proper operation throughout fall instrument temperature range. Evaluation of the changes also included design operating safety margins to account for component variations and life.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1981

Dynamics of the outer radiation belts in relation to polar substorms and hot plasma injections at geostationary altitude

Geostationary satellite and ground measurements of dynamic variations of the outer radiation belts and their relations with the development of auroral structures during magnetospheric substorms are analyzed. A comparison of measurements of the H or X geomagnetic field components made by seven auroral stations with ATS-6 low-energy and high-energy particle measurements during the multiple-onset substorm of Aug. 16, 1974 is presented which demonstrates that while the decrease in energetic particle fluxed ends only at the time of a strong substorm onset, rapid motions of the outer radiation belts may occur during the flux decrease. All-sky photographs of auroral phenomena taken at Fort Yukon and College, Alaska are then compared with ATS-1 energetic particle flux measurements in order to demonstrate the relation between flux decreases and increases and distinct substorm phases. Results support the hypothesis of a magnetospheric substorm precursor which appears to be an instability growing at the inner boundary of the plasma layer and approaching the earth, and underline the importance of current and magnetic field variations in charged particle dynamics.

Sauvaud, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Geostationary operational environmental satellite /GOES/ - A multifunctional satellite

The GOES satellites are multifunctional satellites whose primary function is to provide continuous measurements of the earth's surface and atmosphere from two geostationary orbit locations: 75 deg W and 135 deg W. This objective is accomplished with the visible infrared spin scan radiometer Atmospheric Sounder (VAS), and the Space Environment Monitor (SEM), which includes three instruments: a magnetometer, solar X-ray sensor, and an energetic particle sensor, which monitor the near earth space environment. The satellite's communication system provides several user oriented functions, including: (1) Transmission of VAS data; (2) Transmission of SEM data; (3) Transponder capabilities for stretched VAS (SVAS) data, weather facsimile (WEFAX) data, and trilateration signals; (4) transponder capabilities for data collection platform interrogation and data collection platform reply.

Mallette, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Comments on satellite meteorology from geostationary satellites

Examples of the use of geostationary satellites in meteorology are given. Studies of the rate of change of cumulus clouds and cloud systems and wind parameter determination from cloud motions are reviewed. Computer processed imagery products are also discussed.

Vonderhaar, T. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Specifying heights and velocities of cloud motion from geostationary sounding data

Data from the geostationary Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer (VISSR) Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) for assigning simultaneous heights and velocities of cloud motion winds were processed. The following two techniques are discussed: The technique which delivers qualitative height assignments from imagery; and which uses the radiometric information contained in the VAS data to calculate quantitative heights.

Menzel, P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A method for diagnosing surface parameters using geostationary satellite imagery and a boundary-layer model

A method for diagnosing surface parameters on a regional scale via geosynchronous satellite imagery is presented. Moisture availability, thermal inertia, atmospheric heat flux, and total evaporation are determined from three infrared images obtained from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). Three GOES images (early morning, midafternoon, and night) are obtained from computer tape. Two temperature-difference images are then created. The boundary-layer model is run, and its output is inverted via cubic regression equations. The satellite imagery is efficiently converted into output-variable fields. All computations are executed on a PDP 11/34 minicomputer. Output fields can be produced within one hour of the availability of aligned satellite subimages of a target area.

Polansky, A. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Methodologies for initialization experiments with NWP mesoscale model and geostationary satellite data

An algorithm is developed for the initialization of a mesoscale NWP model with geostationary satellite data and conventional data. The algorithm is a blend of the four-dimensional assimilation technique (Charney, Jastrow and Halem, 1969) for large-scale NWP models and the variational techniques used in cloud models (Gal-Chen, 1978) and large-scale models (Sasaki, 1969). The model's generated winds are combined with rawinsonde measurements.

Gal-Chen, T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Equatorial long waves in geostationary satellite observations and in a multichannel sea surface temperature analysis

Geostationary satellite observations of a zonally oriented sea surface temperature front in the eastern equatorial Pacific were made between 1975 and 1981. Long waves appeared along the front mainly during the summer and fall, except during 1976, the year of an El Nino. The waves have averaged periods of 25 days and wavelengths of 1000 km. At the end of 1981, the long waves also were detected in a new sea surface temperature analysis based on multichannel infrared measurements from a polar-orbiting satellite. This quantitative analysis may improve the ability to resolve low-frequency equatorial wave motions from satellite observations.

Legeckis, R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Atmospheric soundings from a geostationary satellite

The accuracy of the soundings from a geostationary platform with the visible infrared spin-scan radiometer atmospheric sounder (VAS) on GOES-5 is evaluated. It is shown that the VAS radiances for the case under investigation are consistent with those obtained by the polar orbiting high resolution infrared radiation sounders. VAS temperature profile retrievals are found to agree well with those observed by radiosonde. An improved product can be obtained by initializing the retrieval process with ground-based Profiler data. It is found that time variations in the atmospheric state are readily discernible from VAS soundings at approximately 2 hr intervals. The results of this case study show that merging ground Profiler and satellite VAS observations can provide temperature soundings of comparable accuracy to those of the radiosonde, although the VAS-Profiler sounding can be achieved much more frequently.

Menzel, W. P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Comparison of winter-nocturnal geostationary satellite infrared-surface temperature with shelter-height temperature in Florida

Geostationary satellite surface temperatures derived from a Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) sensor (10.5 to 12.6 microns) were compared with 1.5-m air temperatures collected by a thermocouple on a traversing vehicle along rural highway transects in Florida, and with two fixed thermographs located in rural and agricultural areas. Statistical comparisons between satellite and 1.5-m observations yielded a mean correlation coefficient of 0.87 and an average sample standard deviation from regression of 1.57 C during clear nights for four winters (1978-1981). The satellite-temperature image of Lake Okeechobee was compared with its geographic outline for areal image registration. Manual overlays of temporal images were repeatable to within one pixel. Satellite-sensed water temperature of Lake Okeechobee was used as an indicator of satellite radiometer repeatability and stability.

Chen, E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Antenna tracking mechanism for geostationary satellites

The design and development of a continuous duty cycle antenna tracking mechanism (ATM) for geostationary communications satellites is described. The FACC requirements for an ATM and description of the development mechanism designed and built for the program are presented. The mechanism mechanical configuration and component performance is documented along with its launch and operational constraints. The proposed development tests and the results of computer simulations are discussed. The advantages of this mechanism are its simplicity with inherent reliability, low mass, high stiffness, and ability to accurately point a wide range of antenna sizes.

Francis, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Spectrum/orbit utilization program for geostationary satellites

Mutual interferences among geostationary satellite communication systems determine the permitted spacing between satellites and the limits on the capacity of the orbit/spectrum resources available. This paper describes the computer program for analyzing the mutual interferences among communication satellite systems. Capabilities of the program are described. Inputs, models used, program operations, and program outputs are given. To show application of the program, an example scenario is analyzed for fixed satellites providing domestic service to North America.

Miller, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Dynamical injections as the source of near geostationary quiet time particle spatial boundaries

The question whether the noon-dusk feature is a manifestation of the spatial structures that should arise from quasi-stationary convection is examined. The key consideration here is whether the energy dispersion of the feature can be explained. It is shown that the observed energy dispersion cannot be attributed to the standard stationary convection configurations, either perturbed or unperturbed. It is also demonstrated, using a detailed computer simulation, that the nighttime, double-spiral-shaped injection boundary (used previously to reproduce the fast changing nighttime features) is successful at reproducing the noon-dusk feature by allowing the particles to evolve for periods of 12 to 36 hours after the injection. It is stressed that the portion of the injection boundary responsible for the feature looks very different from the standard convection boundaries configuration. Conclusions are offered concerning the importance of quasi-stationary convection as the mechanism by which the near geostationary regions are populated.

Mauk, B. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Clear-sky radiative characteristics of South America derived from geostationary satellite data

Estimates of clear-sky albedo and equivalent blackbody temperatures derived from the Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite are presented. Regional clear-sky albedo over South America at noon ranged from 10 to 22 percent during November 1978 and February 1979, mean clear-sky albedo over the continent remained fairly constant at about 12.4 percent. A slight seasonal decrease in albedo found in a number of large river valleys is attributed to seasonal flooding. The average clear-sky albedo varied diurnally by factors of 2.0 and 2.3 from the value at noon over desert and vegetated areas, respectively. The mean regional clear-sky equivalent blackbody temperature ranged from 283 to 295 K.

Minnis, P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A 406 MHz geostationary satellite SARSAT experiment

A 406 MHz SARSAT experiment using the GOES system to demonstrate the utility of integrating a near-instantaneous distress alerting capability achievable by the geostationary satellites with the location capability of the low altitude, near-polar orbiting satellite system is described. Tests include the evaluation of technical performance of a variety of maritime, aviation, and land-based SARSAT beacons under operational environment conditions as well as a demonstration of system effectiveness in pseudo real distress incident situations. The technical performance tests parallel the CCIR coordinated trials program conducted at L-band frequencies using the INMARSAT satellites. Tests, including schedules, are outlined.

Friedman, M. L.↗