Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “multiple scattering”

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 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Photoelectric lightcurves and rotation periods of the asteroids 46 Hestia and 115 Thyra

Results of photoelectric observations of the medium-sized minor planets 46 Hestia and 115 Thyra are presented. Thyra, with a rotational period of 7.241 plus or minus 0.001 hours, and a maxima and minima total amplitude of 0.20 mag, is classified as an S-type object. Hestia, with a rotation period of 21.04 plus or minus 0.01 hours, and an amplitude of 0.12 mag, has well-defined minima separated by long-duration flat maxima, and resemble an eclipsing binary system. Multiple scattering factors are found to be 0.054 plus or minus 0.003, and 0.058 plus or minus 0.002 for Hestia and Thyra, respectively. Results are compared with values found by Bowell and Lumme (1979), showing good agreement, although some discrepancy is found with Thyra's low value for the multiple-scattering factor.

Scaltriti, F.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Cloud and Aerosol Measurements from the GLAS Polar Orbiting Lidar: First Year Results

The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) launched in 2003 is the first polar orbiting satellite lidar. The instrument was designed for high performance observations of the distribution and optical scattering cross sections of clouds and aerosol. GLAS is approaching six months of on orbit data operation. These data from thousands of orbits illustrate the ability of space lidar to accurately and dramatically measure the height distribution of global cloud and aerosol to an unprecedented degree. There were many intended science applications of the GLAS data and significant results have already been realized. One application is the accurate height distribution and coverage of global cloud cover with one goal of defining the limitation and inaccuracies of passive retrievals. Comparison to MODIS cloud retrievals shows notable discrepancies. Initial comparisons to NOAA 14&15 satellite cloud retrievals show basic similarity in overall cloud coverage, but important differences in height distribution. Because of the especially poor performance of passive cloud retrievals in polar regions, and partly because of high orbit track densities, the GLAS measurements are by far the most accurate measurement of Arctic and Antarctica cloud cover from space to date. Global aerosol height profiling is a fundamentally new measurement from space with multiple applications. A most important aerosol application is providing input to global aerosol generation and transport models. Another is improved measurement of aerosol optical depth. Oceanic surface energy flux derivation from PBL and LCL height measurements is another application of GLAS data that is being pursued. A special area of work for GLAS data is the correction and application of multiple scattering effects. Stretching of surface return pulses in excess of 40 m from cloud propagation effects and other interesting multiple scattering phenomena have been observed. As an EOS project instrument, GLAS data products are openly available to the science community. First year results from GLAS are summarized.

Spinhirne, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Effective Tree Scattering at L-Band

For routine microwave Soil Moisture (SM) retrieval through vegetation, the tau-omega [1] model [zero-order Radiative Transfer (RT) solution] is attractive due to its simplicity and eases of inversion and implementation. It is the model used in baseline retrieval algorithms for several planned microwave space missions, such as ESA's Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission (launched November 2009) and NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission (to be launched 2014/2015) [2 and 3]. These approaches are adapted for vegetated landscapes with effective vegetation parameters tau and omega by fitting experimental data or simulation outputs of a multiple scattering model [4-7]. The model has been validated over grasslands, agricultural crops, and generally light to moderate vegetation. As the density of vegetation increases, sensitivity to the underlying SM begins to degrade significantly and errors in the retrieved SM increase accordingly. The zero-order model also loses its validity when dense vegetation (i.e. forest, mature corn, etc.) includes scatterers, such as branches and trunks (or stalks in the case of corn), which are large with respect to the wavelength. The tau-omega model (when applied over moderately to densely vegetated landscapes) will need modification (in terms of form or effective parameterization) to enable accurate characterization of vegetation parameters with respect to specific tree types, anisotropic canopy structure, presence of leaves and/or understory. More scattering terms (at least up to first-order at L-band) should be included in the RT solutions for forest canopies [8]. Although not really suitable to forests, a zero-order tau-omega model might be applied to such vegetation canopies with large scatterers, but that equivalent or effective parameters would have to be used [4]. This requires that the effective values (vegetation opacity and single scattering albedo) need to be evaluated (compared) with theoretical definitions of these parameters. In a recent study [9], effective vegetation opacity of coniferous trees was compared with two independent estimates of the same parameter. First, a zero-order RT model was fitted to multiangular microwave emissivity data in a least-square sense to provide effective vegetation optical depth as done in spaceborne retrieval algorithms. Second, a ratio between radar backscatter measurements with a corner reflector under trees and in an open area was calculated to obtain measured tree propagation characteristics. Finally, the theoretical propagation constant was determined by forward scattering theorem using detailed measurements of size/angle distributions and dielectric constants of the tree constituents (trunk, branches, and needles). Results indicated that the effective attenuation values are smaller than but of similar magnitude to both the theoretical and measured values. This study will complement the previous work [9] and will focus on characterization of effective scattering albedo by assuming that effective vegetation opacity is same as theoretical opacity. The resultant effective albedo will not be the albedo of single forest canopy element anymore, but it becomes a global parameter, which depends on all the processes taking place within the canopy including multiple scattering as described.

Kurum, Mehmet↗
NASA NTRS2008

Modeling the Diffuse Cloud-Top Optical Emissions from Ground and Cloud Flashes

A number of studies have indicated that the diffuse cloud-top optical emissions from intra-cloud (IC) lightning are brighter than that from normal negative cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning, and hence would be easier to detect from a space-based sensor. The primary reason provided to substantiate this claim has been that the IC is at a higher altitude within the cloud and therefore is less obscured by the cloud multiple scattering medium. CGs at lower altitudes embedded deep within the cloud are more obscured, so CG detection is thought to be more difficult. However, other authors claim that because the CG source current (and hence luminosity) is typically substantially larger than IC currents, the greater CG source luminosity is large enough to overcome the effects of multiple scattering. These investigators suggest that the diffuse cloud top emissions from CGs are brighter than from ICs, and hence are easier to detect from space. Still other investigators claim that the detection efficiency of CGs and ICs is about the same because modern detector sensitivity is good enough to "see" either flash type no matter which produces a brighter cloud top emission. To better assess which of these opinions should be accepted, we introduce an extension of a Boltzmann lightning radiative transfer model previously developed. It considers characteristics of the cloud (geometry, dimensions, scattering properties) and specific lightning channel properties (length, geometry, location, current, optical wave front propagation speed/direction). As such, it represents the most detailed modeling effort to date. At least in the few cases studied thus far, it was found that IC flashes appear brighter at cloud top than the lower altitude negative ground flashes, but additional model runs are to be examined before finalizing our general conclusions.

Solakiewicz, Richard↗
NASA NTRS1988

In-flight radiometric calibration of the airborne visible/infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS)

A reflectance-based method was used to provide an analysis of the in-flight radiometric performance of AVIRIS. Field spectral reflectance measurements of the surface and extinction measurements of the atmosphere using solar radiation were used as input to atmospheric radiative transfer calculations. Five separate codes were used in the analysis. Four include multiple scattering, and the computed radiances from these for flight conditions were in good agreement. Code-generated radiances were compared with AVIRIS-predicted radiances based on two laboratory calibrations for a uniform highly reflecting natural dry lake target. For one spectrometer, the pre- and post-season calibration factors were found to give identical results, and to be in agreement with the atmospheric models that include multiple scattering. Results for the other spectrometers were widely at variance with the models no matter which calibration factors were used. Potential causes of these discrepancies are discussed.

Conel, James E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

In-flight radiometric calibration of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS)

A reflectance-based method was used to provide an analysis of the in-flight radiometric performance of AVIRIS. Field spectral reflectance measurements of the surface and extinction measurements of the atmosphere using solar radiation were used as input to atmospheric radiative transfer calculations. Five separate codes were used in the analysis. Four include multiple scattering, and the computed radiances from these for flight conditions were in good agreement. Code-generated radiances were compared with AVIRIS-predicted radiances based on two laboratory calibrations (pre- and post-season of flight) for a uniform highly reflecting natural dry lake target. For one spectrometer (C), the pre- and post-season calibration factors were found to give identical results, and to be in agreement with the atmospheric models that include multiple scattering. This positive result validates the field and laboratory calibration technique. Results for the other spectrometers (A, B and D) were widely at variance with the models no matter which calibration factors were used. Potential causes of these discrepancies are discussed.

Conel, James E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

MODTRAN3: An update and recent validations against airborne high resolution interferometer measurements

MODTRAN, the Moderate Resolution Atmospheric Radiance and Transmittance Model, encompasses all the capabilities of LOWTRAN 7, the widely used 20 cm(exp -1) resolution radiance code, but incorporates a much more sensitive molecular band model with 2 cm(exp -1) resolution. MODTRAN contains many important elements that other band model based radiative transfer codes do not incorporate. It shares with FASCODE: spherical geometry, single and multiple scattering default atmospheric profile descriptors (gases, aerosols, clouds, fogs, and rain), and molecular continua (H2O, CO2, O3, O2, N2). In addition, it can calculate the solar/lunar direct and scattered radiation. MODTRAN3 was released to the general public in November 1994. It has several important features that the previous version, MODTRAN2, does not have. Chloro-fluorocarbon (CFC) and related heavy molecules (whose spectroscopic properties first appear on the HITRAN92 data base as temperature-dependent cross sections) have been incorporated into pseudo-band models, with provision for using both default and user supplied profiles. The addition of SO2 and O2 in the UV, along with upgraded ozone Chappuis bands in the visible is also part of MODTRAN3. An improved multiple scattering algorithm, the DIScrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer (DISORT) has also been incorporated into MODTRAN3. MODTRAN is very fast: simple timing runs of MODTRAN3 vs. FASCOD3 show an improvement of more than a factor of 100 for a typical 500 cm(exp -1) spectral interval and comparable vertical layering. Speed is an important consideration in heating/cooling rates calculations, where a large number of radiative transfer calculations are needed. The MODTRAN3 used in this study is based on HITRAN92, but as mentioned, above, it will be upgraded to HITRAN94 upon its release at the end of 1994. MODTRAN has been adopted by: some researchers in the AVIRIS program as one radiative transfer code to derive surface reflectance from AVIRIS measurements. The accuracy of the code is very important because any errors in the radiative transfer calculation will directly translate into errors in the derived surface reflectance. In this paper, the new solar irradiance calculated by Kurucz, which is adopted in MODTRAN3, will be presented. Recent validations of MODTRAN3 with airborne high resolution interferometer measurements over ocean will be discussed. Good agreeement between model calculations and measurements was achieved.

Anderson, Gail P.↗
DOE OSTI2025

CuXASNet: Rapid and accurate prediction of copper L-edge x-ray absorption spectra using machine learning

In this work, we have developed CuXASNet, a dense neural network that predicts simulated Cu -edge x-ray absorption spectra (XAS) from atomic structures. Featurization of the Cu local environment is performed using a component of M3GNet, a graph neural network developed for predicting the potential energy surface. CuXASNet is trained on simulated spectra from FEFF9 at the multiple scattering level of theory, and can predict the and edges for Cu sites to quantitative accuracy. To validate our approach, we compare 14 experimental spectra extracted from the literature with the predictions of CuXASNet. The agreement of CuXASNet with experiments is shown by an average mean absolute error of 0.125 and an average Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.891, which is comparable to FEFF9's values of 0.131 and 0.898 for the same metrics. As such, CuXASNet can rapidly predict a large number of -edge XAS spectra at the same accuracy as FEFF9 simulations. This can be used as a drop-in replacement for multiple scattering codes for fast screening of candidate atomic structure models of a measured system. This model establishes a general framework for Cu XAS prediction, and can be extended to more computationally expensive levels of theory and to other transition metal edges.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2012

Evaluation of Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Snow Albedo Product (MCD43A) over Tundra

This study assesses the MODIS standard Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF)/Albedo product, and the daily Direct Broadcast BRDF/Albedo algorithm at tundra locations under large solar zenith angles and high anisotropic diffuse illumination and multiple scattering conditions. These products generally agree with ground-based albedo measurements during the snow cover period when the Solar Zenith Angle (SZA) is less than 70deg. An integrated validation strategy, including analysis of the representativeness of the surface heterogeneity, is performed to decide whether direct comparisons between field measurements and 500- m satellite products were appropriate or if the scaling of finer spatial resolution airborne or spaceborne data was necessary. Results indicate that the Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) are less than 0.047 during the snow covered periods for all MCD43 albedo products at several Alaskan tundra areas. The MCD43 1- day daily albedo product is particularly well suited to capture the rapidly changing surface conditions during the spring snow melt. Results also show that a full expression of the blue sky albedo is necessary at these large SZA snow covered areas because of the effects of anisotropic diffuse illumination and multiple scattering. In tundra locations with dark residue as a result of fire, the MODIS albedo values are lower than those at the unburned site from the start of snowmelt.

Wang, Zhuosen↗
DOE OSTI2025

Combining geometric-optical and spectral invariants theories for modeling canopy fluorescence anisotropy

The spectral invariants theory ( p -theory) has received much attention in the field of quantitative remote sensing over the past few decades and has been adopted for modeling of canopy solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF). However, the spectral invariant properties (SIP) in simple analytical formulae have not been applied for modeling canopy fluorescence anisotropy primarily because they are parameterized in terms of leaf total scattering, which precludes the differentiation between forward and backward leaf SIF emissions. In this study, we have developed the canopy-SIP SIF model by combining geometric-optical (GO) theory to account for asymmetric leaf SIF forward and backward emissions at the first-order scattering and by modeling multiple scattering based on the p-theory, thus avoiding the dependence on radiative transfer models. The applicability of the model simulations especially over 3D heterogeneous canopies was improved by incorporating canopy structure through multi-angular clumping index, and by modeling single scattering from the four components of the scene in view according to the GO approach. The results show good consistency with both the state-of-the-art SIF models and multi-angular field SIF observations over grass and chickpea canopies. Further, the coefficient of determination (R²) between the simulated SIF and field measurements was 0.75 (red) and 0.74 (far-red) for chickpea, and 0.65 (both red and far-red) for grass. The average relative error was approximately 3% for 1D homogeneous scenes when comparing the canopy-SIP SIF model simulations to the SCOPE model simulations, and around 4% for the 3D heterogeneous scene when comparing to the LESS model simulations. The results indicate that the proposed approach for separating asymmetric leaf SIF emissions is a robust way to keep a balance between satisfactory simulation accuracy and efficiency. Model simulations suggest that neglecting the leaf SIF asymmetry can lead to an underestimation of canopy red SIF by 6.3% to 42.6% for various leaf biochemical and canopy structural parameters. This study presents a simple but efficient analytical approach for canopy fluorescence modeling, with potential for large-scale canopy fluorescence simulations.

3D heterogeneous structure↗
NASA NTRS1972

Bremsstrahlung in the atmosphere.

Results of calculations concerning the emission of bremsstrahlung by electrons in the upper atmosphere and the penetration of this radiation to atmospheric depths of 3 to 10 g/sq cm, where it can be measured by balloon-borne detectors. The calculations take into account the multiple scattering and slowing down of electrons, and the multiple Compton scattering and photoelectric absorption of bremsstrahlung photons. Numerical data have been generated for electron beams incident onto the atmosphere with energies between 20 keV and 2 MeV, assuming wide-area precipitation and an incident angular distribution isotropic over the downward hemisphere. The results relate the number and energy spectrum of the incident electrons to the bremsstrahlung flux spectrum at balloon heights. The interpretation of some observed bremsstrahlung flux spectra is attempted.

Berger, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Bidirectional reflectance spectroscopy. I - Theory

An approximate analytic solution is derived for the radiative transfer equation describing particulate surface light scattering, taking into account multiple scattering and mutual shadowing. Analytical expressions for the following quantities are found: bidirectional reflectance, radiance coefficient and factor, the normal, Bond, hemispherical, and physical albedos, integral phase function and phase integral, and limb-darkening profile. Scattering functions for mixtures can be calculated, as well as corrections for comparisons of experimental transmission or reflection spectra with observational planetary spectra. The theory should be useful for the interpretation of reflectance spectroscopy of laboratory surfaces and the photometry of solar system objects.

Hapke, B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Stochastic treatment of electron multiplication without scattering in dielectrics

By treating the emission of optical phonons as a Markov process, a simple analytic method is developed for calculating the electronic ionization rate per unit length for dielectrics. The effects of scattering from acoustic and optical phonons are neglected. The treatment obtains universal functions in recursive form, the theory depending on only two dimensionless energy ratios. A comparison of the present work with other numerical approaches indicates that the effect of scattering becomes important only when the electric potential energy drop in a mean free path for optical-phonon emission is less than about 25% of the ionization potential. A comparison with Monte Carlo results is also given for Teflon.

Lin, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Scattering Models in the Microwave Regime

Scattering from an inhomogeneous layer with irregular boundaries was calculated to model natural terrain such as a layer of vegetation or sea ice. The inhomogeneities were modeled by spherical or disc-shaped discrete scatterers which were small compared with the incident wavelength and were in the far field of one another. It was found that the cross-polarized scattering was dominated by multiple scattering effects and was sensitive to the orientations and distributions of the scatterers. This model has been applied to interpret measurements from vegetation, snow and sea ice. The scattering model was extended to handle disc-shaped scatterers which are comparable to the incident wavelength. The model was used to investigate the relative merits between active versus passive sensing of soil moisture over vegetated terrain. Results indicate that scattering mesurements are more sensitive to soil moisture changes than emission measurements. This is because while both types of measurements lose sensitivity to soil moisture because of the vegetation layer, the loss is greater for passive than active measurements.

Fung, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Discrete Random Media Techniques for Microwave Modeling of Vegetated Terrain

Microwave modeling of vegetated terrain was investigated. The purpose was to: (1) use discrete scatter theory to model vegetation (crops and forested regions) in microwave region; (2) develop models for scatterers and ground; (3) multiple scattering analysis relate model parameters to average scattered power; and (4) develop inversion techniques to remotely determine model parameters.

Lang, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

An empirical model for polarized and cross-polarized scattering from a vegetation layer

An empirical model for scattering from a vegetation layer above an irregular ground surface is developed in terms of the first-order solution for like-polarized scattering and the second-order solution for cross-polarized scattering. The effects of multiple scattering within the layer and at the surface-volume boundary are compensated by using a correction factor based on the matrix doubling method. The major feature of this model is that all parameters in the model are physical parameters of the vegetation medium. There are no regression parameters. Comparisons of this empirical model with theoretical matrix-doubling method and radar measurements indicate good agreements in polarization, angular trends, and k sub a up to 4, where k is the wave number and a is the disk radius. The computational time is shortened by a factor of 8, relative to the theoretical model calculation.

Liu, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Polarization from scattering in blobs

We describe a Monte Carlo method for calculating polarization due to scattering in various geometries. We apply the method in this paper to the case of scattering in a spherical cloud illuminated by parallel rays. The polarization is largest in small optical depth blobs, where single scattering dominates. The polarization decreases as optical depth increases until a limit is reached where scattering occurs on the surface, and increasing optical depth has little effect on the results. For a given optical depth, decreasing the albedo leads to an increase of the degree of polarization of the scattered light because single scattering increases relative to multiple scattering. As the optical depth of the blob increases, the scattered flux becomes increasingly backward throwing. In the high albedo blobs, the maximum polarization becomes skewed towards the illuminated hemisphere at high optical depths. We discuss the applications to polarization in supergiants and R CrB stars, and scattering in a clumpy interstellar medium.

Code, Arthur D.↗