Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “AUTOCORRELATION”

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 307 records · Page 17

Spatial and Temporal scales of time-averaged 700 MB height anomalies

The monthly and seasonal forecasting technique is based to a large extent on the extrapolation of trends in the positions of the centers of time averaged geopotential height anomalies. The complete forecasted height pattern is subsequently drawn around the forecasted anomaly centers. The efficacy of this technique was tested and time series of observed monthly mean and 5 day mean 700 mb geopotential heights were examined. Autocorrelation statistics are generated to document the tendency for persistence of anomalies. These statistics are compared to a red noise hypothesis to check for evidence of possible preferred time scales of persistence. Space-time spectral analyses at middle latitudes are checked for evidence of periodicities which could be associated with predictable month-to-month trends. A local measure of the average spatial scale of anomalies is devised for guidance in the completion of the anomaly pattern around the forecasted centers.

Gutzler, D.↗

Synoptic studies of chromospheric variability in F - K dwarfs with the IUE

Time-sequential series of IUE spectra for ten F, G and K dwarfs were obtained in 1980 and 1981 to study the rotational dependence of chromospheric flux in the ultraviolet. An interactive computational method using unbiased estimators was developed to measure emission line fluxes free of arbitrary judgement concerning the behavior of the underlying spectrum and shapes of the line profiles. Due to the limited number of observational samples per star, we have used special techniques to analyze the sparsely and anharmonically sampled emission line flux data. Two different autocorrelation measures were computed for each emission line as a function of temporal frequency. Examples and results of this analysis now in progress are given for several stars.

Hallam, K. L.↗

Rapid X-ray variability in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 6814

In contrast with the Tennant et al (1981) sample of over 30 active galactic nuclei, HEAO 1 A-2 high time resolution X-ray observations of the X-ray emitting Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 6814 show strong X-ray variability on time scales of less than 3 hr. On a time scale of 90 min, the mean flux varied by a factor of about 2.5, and a characteristic time for variability of 100 + 60 or - 25 sec is obtained by autocorrelation analysis. There is no indication of spectral variability with an upper limit on a change in the power law spectral index of less than about 0.37, for a factor 2 change in intensity. The constraints of such rapid variability on a range of X-ray source mechanisms is discussed.

Tennant, A. F.↗

Recurrence of solar activity - Evidence for active longitudes

It is pointed out that the autocorrelation coefficients of the daily Wolf sunspot numbers over a period of 128 years reveal a number of interesting features of the variability of solar activity. Besides establishing periodicities for the solar rotation, solar activity cycle, and, perhaps, the 'Gleissberg Cycle', they suggest that active longitudes do exist, but with much greater strength and persistence in some solar cycles than in others. Evidence is adduced for a variation in the solar rotation period, as measured by sunspot number, of as much as two days between different solar cycles.

Bogart, R. S.↗

Application of modern time series analysis to high stability oscillators

Techniques of modern time series analysis useful for investigating the characteristics of high-stability oscillators and identifying systematic perturbations are discussed with reference to an experiment in which the frequencies of superconducting cavity-stabilized oscillators and hydrogen masers were compared. The techniques examined include transformation to stationarity, autocorrelation and cross-correlation, superresolution, and transfer function determination.

Farrell, B. F.↗

Short-term fluctuations in the eddy heat flux and baroclinic stability of the atmosphere

National Meteorological Center data from midlatitudes for three Januaries is used in calculating time series of the zonal mean meridional eddy heat flux and the zonal mean baroclinic stability, as measured by the difference between the zonal wind shear and the critical value of the shear in two-level models. Time-lagged correlations between the two series reveal a highly significant negative correlation for short time lags, peaking at approximately -0.4 when the stability parameter lags one half day behind the eddy flux. They also reveal that strongly unstable conditions are not followed by significant increases in the eddy flux. These results are seen as indicating that the synoptic variations of the zonal mean eddy flux are not closely related to the degree of baroclinic instability of the zonal mean flow. The autocorrelation of the eddy flux is then compared with those expected for autoregressive processes. A Bayesian information criterion suggests that the behavior is represented best by a damped oscillation, with a damping time of 0.8 day and a period of five days.

Stone, P. H.↗

Shape and texture

Methods used to measure the geometrical properties of regions in a segmented image are discussed including the use of centroids, moments, and principle axes. In addition, statistical picture properties, particularly those which describe visual texture, are discussed. Gray level statistics, local property statistics, and autocorrelation and power spectrum are addressed.

Rosenfeld, A.↗

Preliminary rotor wake measurements with a laser velocimeter

A laser velocimeter (LV) was used to determine rotor wake characteristics. The effect of various fuselage widths and rotor-fuselage spacings on time averaged and detailed time dependent rotor wake velocity characteristics was defined. Definition of time dependent velocity characteristics was attempted with the LV by associating a rotor azimuth position with each velocity measurement. Results were discouraging in that no apparent time dependent velocity characteristics could be discerned from the LV measurements. Since the LV is a relatively new instrument in the rotor wake measurement field, the cause of this lack of periodicity is as important as the basic research objectives. An attempt was made to identify the problem by simulated acquisition of LV-type data for a predicted rotor wake velocity time history. Power spectral density and autocorrelation function estimation techniques were used to substantiate the conclusion that the primary cause of the lack of time dependent velocity characteristics was the nonstationary flow condition generated by the periodic turbulence level that currently exists in the open throat configuration of the wind tunnel.

Hoad, D. R.↗

Classification of journal surfaces using surface topography parameters and software methods to compensate for stylus geometry

Measurements made with a stylus surface tracer which provides a digitized representation of a surface profile are discussed. Parameters are defined to characterize the height (e.g., RMS roughness, skewness, and kurtosis) and length (e.g., autocorrelation) of the surface topography. These are applied to the characterization of crank shaft journals which were manufactured by different grinding and lopping procedures known to give significant differences in crank shaft bearing life. It was found that three parameters (RMS roughness, skewness, and kurtosis) are necessary to adequately distinguish the character of these surfaces. Every surface specimen has a set of values for these three parameters. They can be regarded as a set coordinate in a space constituted by three characteristics axes. The various journal surfaces can be classified along with the determination of a proper wavelength cutoff (0.25 mm) by using a method of separated subspace. The finite radius of the stylus used for profile tracing gives an inherent measurement error as it passes over the fine structure of the surface. A mathematical model is derived to compensate for this error.

Li, C. J.↗

Radar modeling of space diversity associated with slant path rain attenuation at variable path angles, frequencies, and drop size distributions

Single and joint terminal slant path attenuation statistics at frequencies of 28.56 and 19.04 GHz were derived from radar data. Statistics were independently obtained for path angles of 20, 45, and 90 deg, in order to examine how path angle influences both single terminal and joint probability distributions. A prediction technique is demonstrated to work well for calculating both single and joint terminal distributions at other path angles. Diversity gains and autocorrelation function dependence on site spacing were determined employing the radar modeling results.

Goldhirsh, J.↗

Entropy, instrument scan, and pilot workload

Experimental results are presented from a set of experiments designed to explore the relationship between the performance, skill, and visual scanning behavior of pilots under varying levels of mental workload. Instrument fixations were recorded as groups of pilots with widely differing levels of skill simultaneously performed a continuous instrument flight task and a verbally presented loading task with four discrete levels. Pilot scanning patterns were found to be significantly affected by the level of mental workload in a manner that was dependent on skill. These scanning alterations were quantified by the methods of entropy and autocorrelation, where the former concerns visual scan path and the latter assesses the relations among scan periodicity, skill level and mental task periodicity.

Tole, J. R.↗

Interannual variability and climatic noise in satellite-observed outgoing longwave radiation

Upwelling-IR observations of the North Pacific by polar orbiters NOAA 3, 4, 5, and 6 and TIROS-N from 1974 to 1981 are analyzed statistically in terms of interannual variability (IAV) in monthly averages and climatic noise due to short-term weather fluctuations. It is found that although the daily variance in the observations is the same in summer and winter months, and although IAV in winter is smaller than that in summer, the climatic noise in winter is so much smaller that a greater fraction of winter anomalies are statistically significant. The smaller winter climatic noise level is shown to be due to shorter autocorrelation times. It is demonstrated that increasing averaging area does not reduce the climatic noise level, suggesting that continuing collection of high-resolution satellite IR data on a global basis is necessary if better models of short-term variability are to be constructed.

Short, D. A.↗

Interannual variability and predictability of 500 mb geopotential heights over the Northern Hemisphere

The interannual variability of monthly mean 500 mb heights in a 15-year sample of observed data is compared to the variance expected from sampling errors associated with high-frequency fluctuations using the analysis of variance approach. The monthly mean 'signal' stands out significantly from the 'noise' over a substantial fraction of the Northern Hemisphere during the winter. The expected spectrum of variance at very low frequencies is assumed to be white at frequencies lower than per (30 days) rather than the per (96 days) cutoff used by Madden. This difference is justified by observing that the effective time between independent samples T(0) is relatively insensitive to changes in the maximum lag over which the local autocorrelation is integrated to calculate T(0). Further non-randomness in the variance of 500 mb heights is evidenced by the correlation between monthly mean height and contemporaneous daily variability.

Shukla, J.↗

Update and review of accuracy assessment techniques for remotely sensed data

Research performed in the accuracy assessment of remotely sensed data is updated and reviewed. The use of discrete multivariate analysis techniques for the assessment of error matrices, the use of computer simulation for assessing various sampling strategies, and an investigation of spatial autocorrelation techniques are examined.

Congalton, R. G.↗

Interaction of aerodynamic noise with laminar boundary layers in supersonic wind tunnels

The interaction between incoming aerodynamic noise and the supersonic laminar boundary layer is studied. The noise field is modeled as a Mach wave radiation field consisting of discrete waves emanating from coherent turbulent entities moving downstream within the supersonic turbulent boundary layer. The individual disturbances are likened to miniature sonic booms and the laminar boundary layer is staffed by the waves as the sources move downstream. The mean, autocorrelation, and power spectral density of the field are expressed in terms of the wave shapes and their average arrival rates. Some consideration is given to the possible appreciable thickness of the weak shock fronts. The emphasis in the interaction analysis is on the behavior of the shocklets in the noise field. The shocklets are shown to be focused by the laminar boundary layer in its outer region. Borrowing wave propagation terminology, this region is termed the caustic region. Using scaling laws from sonic boom work, focus factors at the caustic are estimated to vary from 2 to 6 for incoming shocklet strengths of 1 to .01 percent of the free stream pressure level. The situation regarding experimental evidence of the caustic region is reviewed.

Schopper, M. R.↗

Spectral moment estimation in MST radars

Signal processing techniques used in Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) radars are reviewed. Techniques which produce good estimates of the total power, frequency shift, and spectral width of the radar power spectra are considered. Non-linear curve fitting, autocovariance, autocorrelation, covariance, and maximum likelihood estimators are discussed.

Woodman, R. F.↗

Slant path rain attenuation and path diversity statistics obtained through radar modeling of rain structure

Single and joint terminal slant path attenuation statistics at frequencies of 28.56 and 19.04 GHz have been derived, employing a radar data base obtained over a three-year period at Wallops Island, VA. Statistics were independently obtained for path elevation angles of 20, 45, and 90 deg for purposes of examining how elevation angles influences both single-terminal and joint probability distributions. Both diversity gains and autocorrelation function dependence on site spacing and elevation angles were determined employing the radar modeling results. Comparisons with other investigators are presented. An independent path elevation angle prediction technique was developed and demonstrated to fit well with the radar-derived single and joint terminal radar-derived cumulative fade distributions at various elevation angles.

Goldhirsh, J.↗