The ionosphere at 640 kilometers on quiet and disturbed days
Tiros VII electrostatic probe measurements of ionospheric electron density on quiet and disturbed days
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Tiros VII electrostatic probe measurements of ionospheric electron density on quiet and disturbed days
Synoptic world weather analysis of Tiros VII RADIATION data
Fluid thermal actuator for temperature control of ITOS /Improved Tiros Operational System/ meteorological satellite, discussing design and performance
Relationships between meso-beta scale systems and thunderstorm formation were examined as part of the NASA atmospheric variability experiment/severe environmental storms and mesoscale experiment 1979. The McIdas program was employed for meso-beta scale analyses of atmospheric structure and dynamics in kinematic computations of the Abilene Triangle on a grid mesh of 100 km for station spacing of 275 km. Mesoscale short wave systems were detected imbedded and propagating cyclonically around upper-level vortex circulation and creating environmental conditions conducive to thunderstorm development. TIROS-N and GOES satellite data served to connect the systems with two convective storms which developed. The necessity to use spaceborne instrumentation carried on the Shuttle or on free-flying satellites for enhancing the data-base on storm development is noted.
Experiments have been conducted to assess the summer and winter forecast impact of the FGGE system, and of its main observing components: temperature sounding data derived from the TIROS-N polar orbiting satellite, cloud track winds determined from geostationary satellite observations and drifting buoy data which were collected by satellite during FGGE. The Analysis/Forecast System used has a number of improvements upon the system utilized by Halen et al. (1982) for the FGGE Special Observing Period-1 (SOP-1). Several modifications were made in the analysis scheme, the most important being the interpolation of the analysis minus 6 h forecast deviations rather than of the analyzed fields themselves. The forecast model is still the 4 deg lat, 5 deg lon and 9 vertical levels GLAS Fourth Order GCM with several minor corrections implemented in the physics and numerics. The improved vertical interpolation in the analysis resulted in better assimilation of rawinsonde data, which has more vertical structure than satellite data. As a result, there was an improvement of the forecasts derived from conventional data only, and, consequently, a small reduction of the positive impact of satellite data from that obtained by Halem et al. (1982).
TIROS VIII operational definitive attitude data
Climate study by the proposed earth radiation budget satellite system (ERBSS) is discussed. The system would use TIROS-N and ERBS-A/AEM satellites. The objectives are (1) to determine, for a minimum of one to two years, the monthly average radiation budget on regional, zonal, and global scales; (2) to determine the equator-to-pole energy transport gradient; and (3) to determine the average diurnal variation in the radiation budget on a regional and monthly scale. Date interpretation, data analysis, sampling analysis, ERBSS capabilities and instrumentation are considered.
This Technical Publication (TP) represents an extension of previous work concerning the tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic basin during the weather satellite era, 1960-2014, in particular, that of an article published in The Journal of the Alabama Academy of Science. With the launch of the TIROS-1 polar-orbiting satellite in April 1960, a new era of global weather observation and monitoring began. Prior to this, the conditions of the North Atlantic basin were determined only from ship reports, island reports, and long-range aircraft reconnaissance. Consequently, storms that formed far from land, away from shipping lanes, and beyond the reach of aircraft possibly could be missed altogether, thereby leading to an underestimate of the true number of tropical cyclones forming in the basin. Additionally, new analysis techniques have come into use which sometimes has led to the inclusion of one or more storms at the end of a nominal hurricane season that otherwise would not have been included. In this TP, examined are the yearly (or seasonal) and 10-year moving average (10-year moving average) values of the (1) first storm day (FSD), last storm day (LSD), and length of season (LOS); (2) frequencies of tropical cyclones (by class); (3) average peak 1-minute sustained wind speed ( ) and average lowest pressure ( ); (4) average genesis location in terms of north latitudinal ( ) and west longitudinal ( ) positions; (5) sum and average power dissipation index ( ); (6) sum and average accumulated cyclone energy ( ); (7) sum and average number of storm days ( ); (8) sum of the number of hurricane days (NHD) and number of major hurricane days (NMHD); (9) net tropical cyclone activity index (NTCA); (10) largest individual storm (LIS) PWS, LP, PDI, ACE, NSD, NHD, NMHD; and (11) number of category 4 and 5 hurricanes (N4/5). Also examined are the December-May (D-M) and June-November (J-N) averages and 10-year moving average values of several climatic factors, including the (1) oceanic Nino index ( ); (2) Atlantic multi-decadal oscillation ( ) index; (3) Atlantic meridional mode ( ) index; (4) global land-ocean temperature index ( ); and (5) quasi-biennial oscillation ( ) index. Lastly, the associational aspects (using both linear and nonparametric statistical tests) between selected tropical cyclone parameters and the climatic factors are examined based on their 10-year moving average trend values.
Characteristics are defined of the next generation direct readout meteorological satellite system with particular application to Tiros N. Both space and ground systems are included. The recommended space system is composed of four geosynchronous satellites and two low altitude satellites in sun-synchronous orbit. The goesynchronous satellites transmit to direct readout ground stations via a shared S-band link, relayed FOFAX satellite cloud cover pictures (visible and infrared) and weather charts (WEFAX). Basic sensor data is transmitted to regional Data Utilization Stations via the same S-band link. Basic sensor data consists of 0.5 n.m. sub-point resolution data in the 0.55 - 0.7 micron spectral region, and 4.0 n.m. resolution data in the 10.5 - 12.6 micron spectral region. The two low altitude satellites in sun-synchronous orbit provide data to direct readout ground stations via a 137 MHz link, a 400 Mhz link, and an S-band link.
The characteristics of satellite-derived temperature soundings that would significantly affect their use as input for numerical weather prediction models were examined. Independent evaluations of satellite soundings were emphasized to better define error characteristics. Results of a Nimbus-6 sounding study reveal an underestimation of the strength of synoptic scale troughs and ridges, and associated gradients in isobaric height and temperature fields. The most significant errors occurred near the Earth's surface and the tropopause. Soundings from the TIROS-N and NOAA-6 satellites were also evaluated. Results again showed an underestimation of upper level trough amplitudes leading to weaker thermal gradient depictions in satellite-only fields. These errors show a definite correlation to the synoptic flow patterns. In a satellite-only analysis used to initialize a numerical model forecast, it was found that these synoptically correlated errors were retained in the forecast sequence.
Preliminary results are reported from comparisons between two techniques for determining the cloud cover fraction within a satellite remote sensing scene. One method (PRM) quantifies cloud-free and cloud-filled areas on the bases of physical relationships between temperature, humidity, cloud optical properties and emitted radiation. The other approach (RSSM) derives the fractional cover from the spatial structure of radiances detected by the sensor. The HIRS (PRM) and the AVHRR (RSSM) instruments, tuned to IR wavelengths, on the TIROS-N polar-orbiting satellite furnished the trial data. Sample results are provided from scans at 15 and 11 microns over the Pacific Ocean.
Processing satellite data at Goddard Center noting Tiros IR data, cloud pictures and Imp measurements
The use of geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites to monitor and locate signals of the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIB) of general aviation aircraft and inspected marine vessels respectively is described. The joint U.S. Canada/France SARSAT demonstration program will require a minimum of four minutes of mutual visibility of distress transmitter, local user terminal and satellite to obtain a location by Doppler tracking. The program consisting of placing instrumentation on-board three of the Tiros-N series of NOAA operational satellites is attracting interest also from other countries including the USSR, Norway, Australia, and Japan.
The Earth Radiation Budget Satellite System (ERBSS) has been developed to provide radiation budget data. The current ERBSS studies have focused on a multiple satellite/multiple sensor system approach for determining earth radiation budget parameters at the top of the atmosphere on monthly and longer time scales for a number of area resolutions. The area resolutions include 250 by 250 km regions, 1000 by 1000 km regions in the tropics, 10 deg latitudinal zones, an equator to pole gradient net, and a global net. NOAA's near-polar sun-synchronous Tiros-N series of operational satellites are to be used together with a NASA 56-degree inclination satellite of the Applications Explorer Mission type. Each spacecraft will carry wide and medium field-of-view sensors, a sensor for measuring the solar constant, and a narrow field-of-view cross-track scanner.
Upper tropospheric temperature anomalies are detected in brightness temperature data from the Nimbus 6 Scanning Microwave Spectrometer (SCAMS). Brightness temperature anomalies are related to surface pressure anomalies through the radiative transfer and hydrostatic equation. Surface wind speeds at outer radii are then estimated using the gradient wind equation and a shearing parameter. The method is first tested using simulated satellite data constructed from temperature, pressure and height data recorded by aircraft reconnaissance of four hurricanes. Wind speeds in the 80-95 kPa region are estimated with 2-3 m/sec accuracy. Next, 55.45 GHz SCAMS data over eight typhoons during 1975 are used to estimate the radii of 15.4 m/sec (30 kt) and 27.5 m/sec (50 kt) winds. Accuracies of about + or - 80 and + or - 70 km, respectively, are found. It is suggested that the technique be further tested using data from the Microwave Sounding Unit on board the TIROS-N and NOAA 6 satellites.
Processing satellite data at Goddard Center noting Tiros IR data, cloud pictures and Imp measurements
The launch of NOAA E, an advanced TIROS N (ATN) environmental monitoring satellite, carrying special search and rescue instrumentation is announced. NOAA E carries instrumentation for a demonstration to search and rescue (SAR) mission agencies for evaluation of a satellite aided SAR system that may lead to the establishment of an operational capability. The ability of a spaceborne system to acquire, track and locate existing Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) that are being used aboard general aviation and other aircraft, and ships, and are operating on 121.5 and 243 Megahertz frequencies is demonstrated.
Some past, current, and future terrestrial physics research activities at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center are described. The uses of satellites and sensors, such as Tiros, Landsat, Nimbus, and SMMR, for terrestrial physics research are discussed. The spaceborne data are applicable for monitoring and studying vegetation, snow, and ice dynamics; geological features; soil moisture; water resources; the geoid of the earth; and the earth's magnetic field. Consideration is given to improvements in remote sensing systems and data records and the Earth Observing System sensor concepts.