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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 289 records · Page 16

The application of Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) thermal data to snow hydrology

The application of HCMM thermal infrared data to snow hydrology and the prediction of snowmelt runoff was evaluated. Data for the Salt Verde watershed in central Arizona and the southern Sierra Nevada in California were analyzed and compared to LANDSAT and NOAA satellite data, U-2 thermal data, and other correlative data. It was determined that HCMM thermal imagery provides data as accurate for snow mapping as does visible imagery, and that in comparison with the reslution of other satellite imagery, it may be the most useful. Data from the HCMM thermal channel, with careful calibration, provides useful snow surface temperature data for hydrological purposes. An approach to an automated method of analysis is presented.

Barnes, J. C.↗

Shock temperatures in anorthite glass

Shock-temperature data and the high-pressure thermal behavior of anorthite glass are examined. Temperatures of anorthite glass shocked to pressures between 48-117 GPa were measured in the temperature range 2500-5600 K using optical pyrometry techniques. The time dependence observed in the emitted light of the glass is analyzed in terms of temperature dependence, emissivity dependences, and the time dependence of absorption or scattering of an intervening layer. The three phase transitions at pressures of about 55, 85, and 100 GPa and with transition energies of about 0.5 MJ/kg are studied.

Boslough, M. B.↗

Coordinated study of the behavior of the middle atmosphere in winter: Monthly mean comparisons of satellite and radiosonde data and derived quantities

A series of workshops were conducted for intercomparison of middle atmosphere data from a variety of sounding systems. The purposes were several: intercomparison of temperature data from various sources: characterization of any observed differences with an attempt to understand those differences, and to provide guidance to users of the data as to the validity of derived quantitites.

Grose, W. L.↗

Transport processes in the middle atmosphere: Reflections after MAP

The Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP) has provided a focus for considerable research on atmospherical radiative, chemical, and dynamical processes and the mutual coupling among these processes. In particular, major advances have occurred in the understanding of constituent transport as a result of near-global measurements obtained during MAP from several satellite based instruments (e.g., LIMS, SAMS, SAGE, and SSU among others). Using selected portions of these data, the development is reviewed of progress in understanding transport processes with special emphasis on dynamically active periods. Examples are presented which demonstrate coupling between chemistry and dynamics. In addition to the constituent data, the use is reviewed of Ertel's potential vorticity, inferred from satellite temperature data, as a diagnostic for interpreting transport phenomena. Finally, the use is briefly illustrated of 3-D model simulations, in conjunction with the satellite data, for providing additional insight into fundamental transport mechanisms.

Grose, W. L.↗

A new method for estimating the turbulent heat flux at the bottom of the daily mixed layer

Temperature data in the mixed layer and net solar irradiance data at the sea surface are used to estimate the vertical turbulent heat flux at the bottom of the daily mixed layer. The method is applied to data obtained in the eastern tropical Pacific, where the daily cycle in the temperature field is confined to the upper 10-25 m. Equatorial turbulence measurements indicate that the turbulent heat flux is much greater during nighttime than daytime.

Imawaki, Shiro↗

Collaboration on Development and Validation of the AMSR-E Snow Water Equivalent Algorithm

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has produced a global SMMR and SSM/I Level 3 Brightness Temperature data set in the Equal Area Scalable Earth (EASE) Grid for the period 1978 to 2000. Processing of current data is-ongoing. The EASE-Grid passive microwave data sets are appropriate for algorithm development and validation prior to the launch of AMSR-E. Having the lower frequency channels of SMMR (6.6 and 10.7 GHz) and the higher frequency channels of SSM/I (85.5 GHz) in the same format will facilitate the preliminary development of applications which could potentially make use of similar frequencies from AMSR-E (6.9, 10.7, 89.0 GHz).

Armstrong, Richard L.↗

Thin Sea-Ice Thickness as Inferred from Passive Microwave and In Situ Observations

Since microwave radiometric signals from sea-ice strongly reflect physical conditions of a layer near the ice surface, a relationship of brightness temperature with thickness is possible especially during the early stages of ice growth. Sea ice is most saline during formation stage and as the salinity decreases with time while at the same time the thickness of the sea ice increases, a corresponding change in the dielectric properties and hence the brightness temperature may occur. This study examines the extent to which the relationships of thickness with brightness temperature (and with emissivity) hold for thin sea-ice, approximately less than 0.2 -0.3 m, using near concurrent measurements of sea-ice thickness in the Sea of Okhotsk from a ship and passive microwave brightness temperature data from an over-flying aircraft. The results show that the brightness temperature and emissivity increase with ice thickness for the frequency range of 10-37 GHz. The relationship is more pronounced at lower frequencies and at the horizontal polarization. We also established an empirical relationship between ice thickness and salinity in the layer near the ice surface from a field experiment, which qualitatively support the idea that changes in the near-surface brine characteristics contribute to the observed thickness-brightness temperature/emissivity relationship. Our results suggest that for thin ice, passive microwave radiometric signals contain, ice thickness information which can be utilized in polar process studies.

Naoki, Kazuhiro↗

Determination of the Darcy permeability of porous media including sintered metal plugs

Sintered-metal porous plugs with a normal size of the order of 1-10 microns are used to evaluate the Darcy permeability of laminar flow at very small velocities in laminar fluids. Porous media experiment results and data adduced from the literature are noted to support the Darcy law analog for normal fluid convection in the laminar regime. Low temperature results suggest the importance of collecting room temperature data prior to runs at liquid He(4) temperatures. The characteristic length diagram gives a useful picture of the tolerance range encountered with a particular class of porous media.

Frederking, T. H. K.↗

Assessment of a 40-kilowatt stirling engine for underground mining applications

An assessment of alternative power souces for underground mining applications was performed. A 40-kW Stirling research engine was tested to evaluate its performance and emission characteristics when operated with helium working gas and diesel fuel. The engine, the test facility, and the test procedures are described. Performance and emission data for the engine operating with helium working gas and diesel fuel are reported and compared with data obtained with hydrogen working gas and unleaded gasoline fuel. Helium diesel test results are compared with the characteristics of current diesel engines and other Stirling engines. External surface temperature data are also presented. Emission and temperature results are compared with the Federal requirements for diesel underground mine engines. The durability potential of Stirling engines is discussed on the basis of the experience gaind during the engine tests.

Cairelli, J. E.↗

Mars 2020 Reconstructed Aerothermal Environments and Design Margins

The Mars 2020 aeroshell's thermal protection system was nearly identical to the Mars Science Laboratory system that successfully completed its mission for the Curiosity rover's landing in 2012. It was predicted that, like Mars Science Laboratory, the Mars 2020 heatshield would experience boundary layer transition and that the thermal protection system would provide sufficient material thickness margins against the aerothermal environments, even after adding radiative heating that was not included for Mars Science Laboratory. The Mars 2020 flight instrumentation suite included heatshield sensors similar to Mars Science Laboratory and new backshell measurements. A full set of surface pressure and in-depth temperature data were collected during atmospheric entry. This paper provides an initial analysis of the flight data and focuses on the reconstructed total surface heat flux inferred from the measured temperatures. Turbulent boundary layer conditions again were observed on the Mars 2020 heatshield, and the temperatures at all eleven heatshield and six backshell thermocouple in-depth sensor locations were well within system capabilities due to favorable entry conditions and conservative uncertainties. New computational fluid dynamics results on the reconstructed entry trajectory are compared to the measured surface pressures and reconstructed total heat fluxes. The predicted heatshield surface pressures at six locations match the data qualitatively and quantitatively well, as expected. Smooth-wall laminar heating predictions prior to boundary layer transition fall above the reconstructed heating on the heatshield. After the observed boundary layer transition time, total heat flux based on algebraic turbulence model calculations generally match the heat flux trends relative to one another. The convective heat flux was predicted to constitute the majority of the total heating. On the backshell, smooth-wall laminar total heat flux predictions generally exceed the reconstructed total heating at six locations. At each of these locations, it is estimated that radiative heating provided almost all of the total heating. The Mars 2020 as-flown aerothermal environments were well below the design levels for all measurement locations due to conservative design assumptions and a stressing design trajectory.

Mars 2020↗

Mars 2020 Reconstructed Aerothermal Environments and Design Margins

The Mars 2020 aeroshell's thermal protection system was nearly identical to the Mars Science Laboratory system that successfully completed its mission for the Curiosity rover's landing in 2012. It was predicted that, like Mars Science Laboratory, the Mars 2020 heatshield would experience boundary layer transition and that the thermal protection system would provide sufficient material thickness margins against the aerothermal environments, even after adding radiative heating that was not included for Mars Science Laboratory. The Mars 2020 flight instrumentation suite included heatshield sensors similar to Mars Science Laboratory and new backshell measurements. A full set of surface pressure and in-depth temperature data were collected during atmospheric entry. This paper provides an initial analysis of the flight data and focuses on the reconstructed total surface heat flux inferred from the measured temperatures. Turbulent boundary layer conditions again were observed on the Mars 2020 heatshield, and the temperatures at all eleven heatshield and six backshell thermocouple in-depth sensor locations were well within system capabilities due to favorable entry conditions and conservative uncertainties. New computational fluid dynamics results on the reconstructed entry trajectory are compared to the measured surface pressures and reconstructed total heat fluxes. The predicted heatshield surface pressures at six locations match the data qualitatively and quantitatively well, as expected. Smooth-wall laminar heating predictions prior to boundary layer transition fall above the reconstructed heating on the heatshield. After the observed boundary layer transition time, total heat flux based on algebraic turbulence model calculations generally match the heat flux trends relative to one another. The convective heat flux was predicted to constitute the majority of the total heating. On the backshell, smooth-wall laminar total heat flux predictions generally exceed the reconstructed total heating at six locations. At each of these locations, it is estimated that radiative heating provided almost all of the total heating. The Mars 2020 as-flown aerothermal environments were well below the design levels for all measurement locations due to conservative design assumptions and a stressing design trajectory.

Mars 2020↗

Use of global atmospheric data sets to test quasi-geostrophic eddy momentum flux convergence

The quasi-geostrophic relation between the fluxes of momentum, potential vorticity, and potential temperature is tested with global sets of atmospheric wind and temperature data by computing the convergence of momentum flux as a residual of the potential temperature and potential vorticity flux and comparing it to the momentum flux convergence computed directly. It is shown that in the troposphere between 18 N and 74 N the observed momentum flux convergence differs from the quasi-geostrophic convergence by 25%-60%, with the larger errors only occurring where the convergence is small. These results indicate that momentum flux convergence obtained from quasi-geostrophic theory is adequate for qualitative studies of the general circulation, and is comparable in accuracy to values obtained in general circulation models. For simple climate models and qualitative process studies, it can thus provide a useful approach.

Heck, W. J.↗

Electrically-Active Convection in Tropical Easterly Waves and Implications for Tropical Cyclogenesis in the Atlantic and East Pacific

In this study, we investigate the characteristics of tropical easterly wave convection and the possible implications of convective structure on tropical cyclogenesis and intensification over the Atlantic Ocean and East Pacific using data from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission Microwave Imager, Precipitation Radar (PR), and Lightning Imaging Sensor as well as infrared (IR) brightness temperature data from the NASA global-merged IR brightness temperature dataset. Easterly waves were partitioned into northerly, southerly, trough, and ridge phases based on the 700-hPa meridional wind from the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis dataset. Waves were subsequently divided according to whether they did or did not develop tropical cyclones (i.e., developing and nondeveloping, respectively), and developing waves were further subdivided according to development location. Finally, composites as a function of wave phase and category were created using the various datasets. Results suggest that the convective characteristics that best distinguish developing from nondeveloping waves vary according to where developing waves spawn tropical cyclones. For waves that developed a cyclone in the Atlantic basin, coverage by IR brightness temperatures .240 K and .210 K provide the best distinction between developing and nondeveloping waves. In contrast, several variables provide a significant distinction between nondeveloping waves and waves that develop cyclones over the East Pacific as these waves near their genesis location including IR threshold coverage, lightning flash rates, and low-level (<4.5 km) PR reflectivity. Results of this study may be used to help develop thresholds to better distinguish developing from nondeveloping waves and serve as another aid for tropical cyclogenesis forecasting.

Leppert, Kenneth D., II↗

Remote sensing for control of tsetse flies

Remotely sensed information is discussed which has potential for aiding in the control or eradication of tsetse flies. Data are available from earth resources meteorological, and manned satellites, from airborne sensors, and possibly from data collection platforms. A new zone discrimination technique, based on data from meteorological satellites may also allow the identification of zones hospitable to one or another species of tsetse. For background, a review is presented of the vegetation of Tanzania and Zanzibar, and illustrations presented of automatic processing of data from these areas. In addition, a review is presented of the applicability of temperature data to tsetse areas.

Giddings, L. E.↗

Lightning strike experience

A program implemented to report various lightning-strike incidents was reviewed. Strike incidence data was summarized according to aircraft altitude, flight path, meteorological conditions and atmospheric air temperature. Data was given indicating the incidence of reported lightning strikes to commercial and U.S. Air Force aircraft and an outline of pilot opinion in lightning avoidance was given.

Franklin A Fisher↗

Meteorological Analysis of Icing Conditions Encountered in Low-Altitude Stratiform Clouds

Liquid-water content, droplet size, and temperature data measured during 22 flights in predominatly stratiform clouds through the 1948-49 and the 1949-50 winters are presented. Several icing encounters were of greater severity than those previously measured over the same geographical area, but were within the limits of similar measurements obtained over different terrain within the United States. An analysis of meteorological conditions existing during the 74 flights conducted for four winters indicated an inverse relation of liquid-water concentration to maximum horizontal extent of icing clouds. Data on the vertical extent of supercooled clouds are also presented. Icing conditions were most likely to occur in the southwest and northwest quadrants of a cyclone area, and least likely to occur in the southeast and northeast quadrants where convergent air flow and lifting over the associated warm frontal surface usually cause precipitation. Additional data indicated that, icing conditions were usually encountered in nonprecipitating clouds existing at subfreezing temperatures and were unlikely over areas where most weather observing stations reported the existence of precipitation. Measurements of liquid-water content obtained during 12 flights near the time and location of radiosonde observations were compared with theoretical values. The average liquid-water content of a cloud layer, as measured by the multicylinder technique, seldom exceeded two-thirds of that which could be released by adiabatic lifting. Local areas near the cloud tops equaled or occasionally exceeded the calculated maximum quantity of liquid water.

Kline, D. B.↗

Analysis of cirrus from airborne lidar and radiometer observations

Lidar and passive radiance sensing data on cirrus clouds gathered in instrumented high altitude aircraft flights are analyzed, with emphasis on cirrus emittance characteristics. The data were collected with a U-2 aircraft flying at about 19 km altitude. Lidar data defined the vertical structure of the cloud which, when combined with independent atmospheric temperature data, permitted radiance to be derived from thermal radiance data. Sample return lidar images are provided of cirrus and cirrostratus clouds, along with the calculated emittance data.

Spinhirne, J. D.↗

Sampling theory applied to measurement and analysis of temperature for climate studies

Of all the errors discussed in climatology literature, aliasing errors caused by undersampling of unsmoothed or improperly smoothed temperature data seem to be completely overlooked. This is a serious oversight in view of long-term trends of 1 K or less. Adequate sampling of properly smoothed data is demonstrated with a Hamming digital filter. It is also demonstrated that hourly temperatures, daily averages, and annual averages free of aliasing errors can be obtained by use of a microprocessor added to standard weather sensors and recorders.

Edwards, Howard B.↗