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At least 271 records · Page 15

Matching Observations to Model Resolution for Future Weather and Climate Applications

High spatial resolution sounding observations will improve initialization and assimilation into the next generation forecast models and validation of the next generation of climate models. One such advanced sounder concept for low earth orbit is the Advanced Remote-sensing Imaging Emission Spectrometer (ARIES) which proposes to provide highvspatial hyperspectral resolution observations in the mid to longwave infrared. This paper explores the effects of spatial resolution on the errors expected from the combined use of models and observations for representing scene information. We calculate the frequency response of the instrument and model and determine the error at any given spatial frequency. The results show that it is vital to have observations match the spatial resolution of models to minimize the uncertainty in the representation of the scene contents.

spatial resolution↗

GIFTS SM EDU Level 1B Algorithms

The Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) SensorModule (SM) Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) is a high resolution spectral imager designed to measure infrared (IR) radiances using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The GIFTS instrument employs three focal plane arrays (FPAs), which gather measurements across the long-wave IR (LWIR), short/mid-wave IR (SMWIR), and visible spectral bands. The raw interferogram measurements are radiometrically and spectrally calibrated to produce radiance spectra, which are further processed to obtain atmospheric profiles via retrieval algorithms. This paper describes the GIFTS SM EDU Level 1B algorithms involved in the calibration. The GIFTS Level 1B calibration procedures can be subdivided into four blocks. In the first block, the measured raw interferograms are first corrected for the detector nonlinearity distortion, followed by the complex filtering and decimation procedure. In the second block, a phase correction algorithm is applied to the filtered and decimated complex interferograms. The resulting imaginary part of the spectrum contains only the noise component of the uncorrected spectrum. Additional random noise reduction can be accomplished by applying a spectral smoothing routine to the phase-corrected spectrum. The phase correction and spectral smoothing operations are performed on a set of interferogram scans for both ambient and hot blackbody references. To continue with the calibration, we compute the spectral responsivity based on the previous results, from which, the calibrated ambient blackbody (ABB), hot blackbody (HBB), and scene spectra can be obtained. We now can estimate the noise equivalent spectral radiance (NESR) from the calibrated ABB and HBB spectra. The correction schemes that compensate for the fore-optics offsets and off-axis effects are also implemented. In the third block, we developed an efficient method of generating pixel performance assessments. In addition, a random pixel selection scheme is designed based on the pixel performance evaluation. Finally, in the fourth block, the single pixel algorithms are applied to the entire FPA.

Tian, Jialin↗

The SOFIA/SAFIRE Far-Infrared Spectrometer: Highlighting Submillimeter Astrophysics and Technology

The Submillimeter and Far-InfraRed Experiment (SAFIRE) on the SOFIA airborne observatory is an imaging spectrometer for wavelengths between 28 microns and 440 microns. Our design is a dual-band long-slit grating spectrometer, which provides broadband (approx. 4000 km/s) observations in two lines simultaneously over a field of view roughly 10" wide by 320" long. The low backgrounds in spectroscopy require very sensitive detectors with noise equivalent powers of order 10(exp -18) W/square root of Hz. We are developing a kilopixel, filled detector array for SAFIRE in a 32 x 40 format. The detector consists of a transition edge sensor (TES) bolometer array, a per-pixel broadband absorbing backshort array, and a NIST SQUID multiplexer readout array. This general type of array has been used successfully in the GISMO instrument, so we extrapolate to the sensitivity needed for airborne spectroscopy. Much of the cryogenic, electronics, and software infrastructure for SAFIRE have been developed. I provide here an overview of the progress on SAFIRE.

Benford, Dominic J.↗

Nested Dust Shells Around the Wolf–Rayet Binary WR 140 Observed With JWST

Massive colliding-wind binaries that host a Wolf–Rayet (WR) star present a potentially important source of dust and chemical enrichment in the interstellar medium. However, the chemical composition and survival of dust formed from such systems is not well understood. The carbon-rich Wolf–Rayet binary WR 140 presents an ideal astrophysical laboratory for investigating these questions, given its well-defined orbital period and predictable dust-formation episodes every 7.93 years around periastron passage. We present observations from our Early Release Science programme (ERS 1349) with the James Webb Space Telescope Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) Medium-Resolution Spectrometer and Imager that reveal the spectral and spatial signatures of nested circumstellar dust shells around WR 140. MIRI medium-resolution spectroscopy of the second dust shell and Imager detections of over 17 shells formed throughout approximately the past 130 years confirm the survival of carbonaceous dust grains from WR 140 that are probably carriers of ‘unidentified infrared’-band features at 6.4 and 7.7 μm. The observations indicate that dust-forming carbon-rich Wolf–Rayet binaries can enrich the interstellar medium with organic compounds and carbonaceous dust.

massive stars↗

GIFTS SM EDU Radiometric and Spectral Calibrations

The Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) Sensor Module (SM) Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) is a high resolution spectral imager designed to measure infrared (IR) radiance using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The GIFTS instrument gathers measurements across the long-wave IR (LWIR), short/mid-wave IR (SMWIR), and visible spectral bands. The raw interferogram measurements are radiometrically and spectrally calibrated to produce radiance spectra, which are further processed to obtain atmospheric profiles via retrieval algorithms. This paper describes the processing algorithms involved in the calibration. The calibration procedures can be subdivided into three categories: the pre-calibration stage, the calibration stage, and finally, the post-calibration stage. Detailed derivations for each stage are presented in this paper.

Tian, J.↗

GIFTS SM EDU Data Processing and Algorithms

The Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) Sensor Module (SM) Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) is a high resolution spectral imager designed to measure infrared (IR) radiances using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The GIFTS instrument employs three Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs), which gather measurements across the long-wave IR (LWIR), short/mid-wave IR (SMWIR), and visible spectral bands. The raw interferogram measurements are radiometrically and spectrally calibrated to produce radiance spectra, which are further processed to obtain atmospheric profiles via retrieval algorithms. This paper describes the processing algorithms involved in the calibration stage. The calibration procedures can be subdivided into three stages. In the pre-calibration stage, a phase correction algorithm is applied to the decimated and filtered complex interferogram. The resulting imaginary part of the spectrum contains only the noise component of the uncorrected spectrum. Additional random noise reduction can be accomplished by applying a spectral smoothing routine to the phase-corrected blackbody reference spectra. In the radiometric calibration stage, we first compute the spectral responsivity based on the previous results, from which, the calibrated ambient blackbody (ABB), hot blackbody (HBB), and scene spectra can be obtained. During the post-processing stage, we estimate the noise equivalent spectral radiance (NESR) from the calibrated ABB and HBB spectra. We then implement a correction scheme that compensates for the effect of fore-optics offsets. Finally, for off-axis pixels, the FPA off-axis effects correction is performed. To estimate the performance of the entire FPA, we developed an efficient method of generating pixel performance assessments. In addition, a random pixel selection scheme is designed based on the pixel performance evaluation.

Tian, Jialin↗

Digital Signal Processing Techniques for the GIFTS SM EDU

The Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) Sensor Module (SM) Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) is a high resolution spectral imager designed to measure infrared (IR) radiance using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). The GIFTS instrument employs three Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs), which gather measurements across the long-wave IR (LWIR), short/mid-wave IR (SMWIR), and visible spectral bands. The raw interferogram measurements are radiometrically and spectrally calibrated to produce radiance spectra, which are further processed to obtain atmospheric profiles via retrieval algorithms. This paper describes several digital signal processing (DSP) techniques involved in the development of the calibration model. In the first stage, the measured raw interferograms must undergo a series of processing steps that include filtering, decimation, and detector nonlinearity correction. The digital filtering is achieved by employing a linear-phase even-length FIR complex filter that is designed based on the optimum equiripple criteria. Next, the detector nonlinearity effect is compensated for using a set of pre-determined detector response characteristics. In the next stage, a phase correction algorithm is applied to the decimated interferograms. This is accomplished by first estimating the phase function from the spectral phase response of the windowed interferogram, and then correcting the entire interferogram based on the estimated phase function. In the calibration stage, we first compute the spectral responsivity based on the previous results and the ideal Planck blackbody spectra at the given temperatures, from which, the calibrated ambient blackbody (ABB), hot blackbody (HBB), and scene spectra can be obtained. In the post-calibration stage, we estimate the Noise Equivalent Spectral Radiance (NESR) from the calibrated ABB and HBB spectra. The NESR is generally considered as a measure of the instrument noise performance, and can be estimated as the standard deviation of calibrated radiance spectra from multiple scans. To obtain an estimate of the FPA performance, we developed an efficient method of generating pixel performance assessments. In addition, a random pixel selection scheme is developed based on the pixel performance evaluation. This would allow us to perform the calibration procedures on a random pixel population that is a good statistical representation of the entire FPA. The design and implementation of each individual component will be discussed in details.

Tian, Jialin↗

Monitoring Eruptive Activity at Mount St. Helens with TIR Image Data

Thermal infrared (TIR) data from the MASTER airborne imaging spectrometer were acquired over Mount St. Helens in Sept and Oct, 2004, before and after the onset of recent eruptive activity. Pre-eruption data showed no measurable increase in surface temperatures before the first phreatic eruption on Oct 1. MASTER data acquired during the initial eruptive episode on Oct 14 showed maximum temperatures of similar to approximately 330 C and TIR data acquired concurrently from a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera showed maximum temperatures similar to approximately 675 C, in narrow (approximately 1-m) fractures of molten rock on a new resurgent dome. MASTER and FLIR thermal flux calculations indicated a radiative cooling rate of approximately 714 J/m(exp 2)/s over the new dome, corresponding to a radiant power of approximately 24 MW. MASTER data indicated the new dome was dacitic in composition, and digital elevation data derived from LIDAR acquired concurrently with MASTER showed that the dome growth correlated with the areas of elevated temperatures. Low SO2 concentrations in the plume combined with sub-optimal viewing conditions prohibited quantitative measurement of plume SO2. The results demonstrate that airborne TIR data can provide information on the temperature of both the surface and plume and the composition of new lava during eruptive episodes. Given sufficient resources, the airborne instrumentation could be deployed rapidly to a newly-awakening volcano and provide a means for remote volcano monitoring.

thermal emissions↗

Airborne imaging spectrometer - A new tool for remote sensing

The first of a new class of remote sensing instruments is described. The Airborne Imaging Spectrometer represents the first use of two-dimensional integrated infrared area arrays in a scientific application. The instrument images 32 cross-track pixels simultaneously, each in 128 spectral bands in the 1.2- to 2.4-micron region. The IFOV of the instrument is 1.9 mrad/pixel and the spectral sampling interval is 9.6 nm. Plans include upgrading the detector from the current 32 x 32 element HgCdTe CCD array to a 64 x 64 element array in 1985. Science and engineering data are currently being actively gathered with the instrument.

Vane, G.↗

The Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer for Cassini

The Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) is a remote sensing instrument developed for the Cassini mission to Saturn by an international team representing the national space agencies of the United States, Italy, and France. A dual imaging spectrometer, VMS' unique design consists of two optical systems boresighted and operating in tandem, coordinated by a common electronics unit.

imaging↗

Requirements for a Moderate-Resolution Infrared Imaging Sounder (MIRIS)

The high cost of imaging and sounding from space warrants exploration of new methods for obtaining the required information, including changing the spectral band sets, employing new technologies and merging instruments. In some cases we must consider relaxation of the current capability. In others, we expect higher performance. In general our goal is to meet the VIIRS and CrIS requirements while providing the enhanced next generation capabilities: 1) Hyperspectral Imaging in the Vis/NIR bands, 2) High Spatial Resolution Sounding in the Infrared bands. The former will improve the accuracy of ocean color products, aerosols and water vapor, surface vegetation and geology. The latter will enable the high-impact achieved by the current suite of hyperspectral infrared sounders to be achieved by the next generation high resolution forecast models. We examine the spectral, spatial and radiometric requirements for a next generation system and technologies that can be applied from the available inventory within government and industry. A two-band grating spectrometer instrument called the Moderate-resolution Infrared Imaging Sounder (MIRIS) is conceived that, when used with the planned NASA PACE Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) will meet the vast majority of CrIS and VIIRS requirements in the all bands and provide the next generation capabilities desired. MIRIS resource requirements are modest and the Technology Readiness Level is high leading to the expectation that the cost and risk of MIRIS will be reasonable.

Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS)↗

Near-infrared detection of ammonium minerals at Ivanhoe Hot Springs, Nevada

Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data were collected over the fossil hot spring deposit at Ivanhoe, Nevada in order to determine the surface distribution of NH4-bearing minerals. Laboratory studies show that NH4-bearing minerals have characteristic absorption features in the near-infrared (NIR). Ammonium-bearing feldspars and alunites were observed at the surface of Ivanhoe using a hand-held radiometer. However, first look analysis of the AIS images showed that the line was about 500 m east of its intended mark, and the vegetation cover was sufficiently dense to inhibit preliminary attempts at making relative reflectance images for detection of ammonium minerals.

Krohn, M. D.↗

Discriminating Phytoplankton Functional Types (PFTs) in the Coastal Ocean Using the Inversion Algorithm Phydotax and Airborne Imaging Spectrometer Data

There is a need in the Biological Oceanography community to discriminate among phytoplankton groups within the bulk chlorophyll pool to understand energy flow through ecosystems, to track the fate of carbon in the ocean, and to detect and monitor-for harmful algal blooms (HABs). The ocean color community has responded to this demand with the development of phytoplankton functional type (PFT) discrimination algorithms. These PFT algorithms fall into one of three categories depending on the science application: size-based, biogeochemical function, and taxonomy. The new PFT algorithm Phytoplankton Detection with Optics (PHYDOTax) is an inversion algorithm that discriminates taxon-specific biomass to differentiate among six taxa found in the California Current System: diatoms, dinoflagellates, haptophytes, chlorophytes, cryptophytes, and cyanophytes. PHYDOTax was developed and validated in Monterey Bay, CA for the high resolution imaging spectrometer, Spectroscopic Aerial Mapping System with On-board Navigation (SAMSON - 3.5 nm resolution). PHYDOTax exploits the high spectral resolution of an imaging spectrometer and the improved spatial resolution that airborne data provides for coastal areas. The objective of this study was to apply PHYDOTax to a relatively lower resolution imaging spectrometer to test the algorithm's sensitivity to atmospheric correction, to evaluate capability with other sensors, and to determine if down-sampling spectral resolution would degrade its ability to discriminate among phytoplankton taxa. This study is a part of the larger Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) airborne simulation campaign which is collecting Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) imagery aboard NASA's ER-2 aircraft during three seasons in each of two years over terrestrial and marine targets in California. Our aquatic component seeks to develop and test algorithms to retrieve water quality properties (e.g. HABs and river plumes) in both marine and in-land water bodies. Results presented are from the 10 April 2013 overflight of the Monterey Bay region and focus primarily on the first objective - sensitivity to atmospheric correction. On-going and future work will continue to evaluate if PHYDOTax can be applied to historical (SeaWiFS and MERIS), existing (MODIS, VIIRS, and HICO), and future (PACE, GEO-CAPE, and HyspIRI) satellite sensors. Demonstration of cross-platform continuity may aid in calibration and validation efforts of these sensors.

Biological Oceanography↗

Hot Spots on Io: Correlation of Infrared Emission and Visible Reflectance

The Voyager 1 infrared spectrometer (IRIS) data and two recently compiled data sets (Voyager imaging mosaics and measurements of Io's thermal emission from the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility) are correlated. These data were used to refine the correlation between dark spot optical properties (albedo and color) and thermal emission, to examine this correspondence on a satellite-wide scale, and to identify additional hot spots not included in the IRIS inventory. The results suggest the hot spots are liquid sulfur lava lakes, for the following reasons: (1) the melting point of sulfur is 390 K, and the model hot spot temperatures range from approximately 200 to 450 K; (2) the albedos and color of the dark spots, measured from the global mosaics, are consistent with laboratory measurements for liquid sulfur; (3) high resolution images of the dark features show morphologies suggestive of lava lakes; and (4) this hypothesis provides a simple and direct explanation for why dark spots are hot on Io.

Mcewen, A. S.↗

Synergistic ground and orbital observations of iron oxides on Mt. Sharp and Vera Rubin ridge

Visible/short-wave infrared spectral data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) show absorptions attributed to hematite at Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), a topographic feature on northwest Mt. Sharp. The goals of this study are to determine why absorptions caused by ferric iron are strongly visible from orbit at VRR, and to improve interpretation of CRISM data throughout lower Mt. Sharp. These goals are achieved by analyzing coordinated CRISM and in situ spectral data along the Curiosity Mars rover’s traverse. VRR bedrock within areas that have the deepest ferric absorptions in CRISM data also have the deepest ferric absorptions measured in situ. This suggests strong ferric absorptions are visible from orbit at VRR because of the unique spectral properties of VRR bedrock. Dust and mixing with basaltic sand additionally inhibit the ability to measure ferric absorptions in bedrock stratigraphically below VRR from orbit. There are two implications of these findings: (1) Ferric absorptions in CRISM data initially dismissed as noise could be real, and ferric phases are more widespread in lower Mt. Sharp than previously reported, (2) Patches with the deepest ferric absorptions in CRISM data are, like VRR, reflective of deeper absorptions in the bedrock. One model to explain this spectral variability is late-stage diagenetic fluids that changed the grain size of ferric phases, deepening absorptions. Curiosity’s experience highlights the strengths of using CRISM data for spectral absorptions and associated mineral detections, and the caveats in using these data for geologic interpretations and strategic path planning tools.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

SSG SiC Optical Systems in Space

Silicon Carbide (SiC) materials provide a number of benefits for space based optical systems. SSG Precision Optronics has extensive experience in the areas of design, fabrication, integration, and test of SiC optical systems. This expertise has been applied to produce a number of SiC-based instruments, including the Miniature Infrared Camera and Spectrometer (MICAS) and Advanced Land Imager (ALI) optical systems which have flown as part of NASA's New Millennium program. Our presentation will provide an overview of SSG's experience in the development of these SiC flight systems.

Robichaud, Joseph↗

Feasibility of Sensing Tropospheric Ozone with MODIS 9.6 Micron Observations

With the infrared observations made by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) on board the EOS-Aqua satellite, which include the 9.73 micron channel, a method is developed to deduce horizontal patterns of tropospheric ozone in cloud free conditions on a scale of about 100 km. It is assumed that on such small scale, at a given instant, horizontal changes in stratospheric ozone are small compared to that in the troposphere. From theoretical simulations it is found that uncertainties in the land surface emissivity and the vertical thermal stratification in the troposphere can lead to significant errors in the inferred tropospheric ozone. Because of this reason in order to derive horizontal patterns of tropospheric ozone in a given geographic area a tuning of this method is necessary with the help of a few dependent cases. After tuning, this method is applied to independent cases of MODIS data taken over Los Angeles basin in cloud free conditions to derive horizontal distribution of ozone in the troposphere. Preliminary results indicate that the derived patterns of ozone resemble crudely the patterns of surface ozone reported by EPA.

Prabhakara, C.↗

Thermal Emission Variability of Zamama, Culann and Tupan on Io Using Galileo Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) Data

The Jovian satellite Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System. Previous analyses [e.g., 1-4] indicate the presence of high-temperature silicate volcanism on Io, similar to silicate volcanism occurring on Earth. Instruments onboard the Galileo spacecraft, especially the Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) and the Solid State Imager (SSI), provided much data of Io s active volcanoes throughout the duration of the Galileo mission (June 1996-September 2003). NIMS data is particularly sensitive to thermal emission from active and cooling lava over cooling times of seconds to a few years. The objective of this ongoing study of Io s volcanism is to determine the variability of thermal emission from volcanoes on Io s surface, in order to better understand the styles of eruption, and to constrain the volumes of material erupted. Ultimately, this will help to constrain the contribution of active volcanism to Io s thermal budget. Data have been analyzed for the volcano Zamama, located at 173 W, 21 N, and the power output of Zamama, the volumes of lava being erupted, and the eruption rate determined. Culann and Tupan have also been analysed in this way. This abstract primarily concentrates on Zamama.

Ennis, M. E.↗