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At least 307 records · Page 17

Scale Dependence of Cirrus Horizontal Heterogeneity Effects on TOA Measurements: MODIS Brightness Temperatures in the Thermal Infrared - Part I

This paper presents a study on the impact of cirrus cloud heterogeneities on MODIS simulated thermal infrared (TIR) brightness temperatures (BTs) at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) as a function of spatial resolution from 50 meters to 10 kilometers. A realistic 3-D (three-dimensional) cirrus field is generated by the 3DCLOUD model (average optical thickness of 1.4, cloudtop and base altitudes at 10 and 12 kilometers, respectively, consisting of aggregate column crystals of D (sub eff) equals 20 microns), and 3-D thermal infrared radiative transfer (RT) is simulated with the 3DMCPOL (3-D Monte Carlo Polarized) code. According to previous studies, differences between 3-D BT computed from a heterogenous pixel and 1-D (one-dimensional) RT computed from a homogeneous pixel are considered dependent at nadir on two effects: (i) the optical thickness horizontal heterogeneity leading to the plane-parallel homogeneous bias (PPHB); and the (ii) horizontal radiative transport (HRT) leading to the independent pixel approximation error (IPAE). A single but realistic cirrus case is simulated and, as expected, the PPHB mainly impacts the low-spatial resolution results (above approximately 250 meters), with averaged values of up to 5-7 K (thousand), while the IPAE mainly impacts the high-spatial resolution results (below approximately 250 meters) with average values of up to 1-2 K (thousand). A sensitivity study has been performed in order to extend these results to various cirrus optical thicknesses and heterogeneities by sampling the cirrus in several ranges of parameters. For four optical thickness classes and four optical heterogeneity classes, we have found that, for nadir observations, the spatial resolution at which the combination of PPHB and HRT effects is the smallest, falls between 100 and 250 meters. These spatial resolutions thus appear to be the best choice to retrieve cirrus optical properties with the smallest cloud heterogeneity-related total bias in the thermal infrared. For off-nadir observations, the average total effect is increased and the minimum is shifted to coarser spatial resolutions.

TOA↗

On-Orbit Calibration of ADEOS OCTS with an AVIRIS Underflight

The Ocean Color Temperature Scanner (OCTS) onboard the Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (ADEOS) was launched on August 17, 1996. Calibration of OCTS is required for use of the on-orbit measured data for retrieval of physical properties of the ocean. In the solar reflected portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, OCTS measures images with nominally 700-m spatial resolution through eight multispectral bands. The objective of this research was to establish the absolute radiometric calibration of OCTS on orbit through an underflight by the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). AVIRIS is a NASA Earth-observing imaging spectrometer designed, built and operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). AVIRIS acquires data from 20-km altitude on a NASA ER-2 aircraft, above most of the Earth's atmosphere. AVIRIS measures the solar reflected spectrum from 370 nm to 2500 nm through 224 contiguous spectral channels. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the spectral channels is nominally 10-nm. AVIRIS spectra are acquired as images of 11 km by up to 800 km extent with 20-m spatial resolution. The high spectral resolution of AVIRIS data allows direct convolution to the spectral response functions of the eight multispectral bands of OCTS. The high spatial resolution of AVIRIS data allows for spatial re-sampling of the data to match the ADEOS sensors spatial resolution. In addition, the AVIRIS high spatial resolution allows assessment of the scaling effects due to environmental factors of thin cirrus clouds, sub-pixel cloud cover, white caps, ocean foam, sun-glint, and bright-target adjacency. The platform navigation information recorded by AVIRIS allows calculation of the position and observation geometry of each spectrum for matching to the OCTS measurement. AVIRIS is rigorously characterized and calibrated in the laboratory prior to and following the flight season. The stability and repeatability of AVIRIS calibration have been validated through an extensive series of inflight calibration experiments. In the OCTS portion of the spectrum, using pre- and post-flight runway calibrations of AVIRIS coupled with the on-board calibrator an absolute calibration accuracy of better than 3% spectral, 2% radiometric, and 5% spatial, has been achieved. An analogous satellite underflight calibration experiment was performed with AVIRIS and the Optical Sensor (OPS) onboard the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS).

Green, Robert O.↗

On-Orbit Calibration of ADEOS OCTS with an AVIRIS Underflight

The Ocean Color Temperature Scanner (OCTS) onboard the Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (ADEOS) was launched on August 17, 1996. Calibration of OCTS is required for use of the on-orbit measured data for retrieval of physical properties of the ocean. In the solar reflected portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, OCTS measures images with nominally 700-m spatial resolution through eight multispectral bands. The objective of this research was to establish the absolute radiometric calibration of OCTS on orbit through an underflight by the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). AVIRIS is a NASA earth-observing imaging spectrometer designed, built and operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). AVIRIS acquires data from 20-km altitude on a NASA ER-2 aircraft, above most of the Earth's atmosphere. AVIRIS measures the solar reflected spectrum from 370 nm to 2500 nm through 224 contiguous spectral channels. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the spectral channels is nominally 10-nm. AVIRIS spectra are acquired as images of 11 km by up to 800 km extent with 20-m spatial resolution. The high spectral resolution of AVIRIS data allows direct convolution to the spectral response functions of the eight multispectral bands of OCTS. The high spatial resolution of AVIRIS data allows for spatial re-sampling of the data to match the ADEOS sensors spatial resolution. In addition, the AVIRIS high spatial resolution allows assessment of the scaling effects due to environmental factors of thin cirrus clouds, sub-pixel cloud cover, white caps, ocean foam, sun-glint, and bright-target adjacency. The platform navigation information recorded by AVIRIS allows calculation of the position and observation geometry of each spectrum for matching to the OCTS measurement. AVIRIS is rigorously characterized and calibrated in the laboratory prior to and following the flight season. The stability and repeatability of AVIRIS calibration have been validated through an extensive series of inflight calibration experiments. In the OCTS portion of the spectrum, using pre-and post-flight runway calibrations of AVIRIS coupled with the on-board calibrator an absolute calibration accuracy of better than 3% spectral, 2% radiometric and 5% spatial has been achieved. An analogous satellite underflight calibration experiment was performed with AVIRIS and the Optical Sensor (OPS) onboard the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS).

Green, Robert O.↗

Pressure Sensitive Paint Applied to Flexible Models Project

One gap in current pressure-measurement technology is a high-spatial-resolution method for accurately measuring pressures on spatially and temporally varying wind-tunnel models such as Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerators (IADs), parachutes, and sails. Conventional pressure taps only provide sparse measurements at discrete points and are difficult to integrate with the model structure without altering structural properties. Pressure Sensitive Paint (PSP) provides pressure measurements with high spatial resolution, but its use has been limited to rigid or semi-rigid models. Extending the use of PSP from rigid surfaces to flexible surfaces would allow direct, high-spatial-resolution measurements of the unsteady surface pressure distribution. Once developed, this new capability will be combined with existing stereo photogrammetry methods to simultaneously measure the shape of a dynamically deforming model in a wind tunnel. Presented here are the results and methodology for using PSP on flexible surfaces.

model deformation↗

An Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Relationship between Satellite-Based Land Surface Temperature and Station-Based Near-Surface Air Temperature over Brazil

A better understanding of the relationship between land surface temperature (Ts) and near-surface air temperature (Ta) is crucial for improving the simulation accuracy of climate models, developing retrieval schemes for soil and vegetation moisture, and estimating large-scale Ta from satellite-based Ts observations. In this study, we investigated the relationship between multiple satellite-based Ts products, derived from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard Aqua satellite, and Ta from 204 meteorological stations over Brazil during 2003–2016. Monthly satellite-based Ts products used in this study include: (1) AIRS Version 6 with 1° spatial resolution, (2) AIRS Version 7 with 1° spatial resolution, (3) MODIS Collection 6 with 0.05° spatial resolution, and (4) MODIS Collection 6 with 1° spatial resolution re-sampled from (3) for a direct comparison with AIRS products. We found that satellite-based Ts is lower than Ta over the forest area, but higher than Ta over the non-forest area. Nevertheless, the correlation coefficients (R) between monthly Ta and four Ts products during 2003–2016 are greater than 0.8 over most stations. The long-term trend analysis shows a general warming trend in temperatures, particularly over the central and eastern parts of Brazil. The satellite products could also observe the increasing Ts over the deforestation region. Furthermore, we examined the temperature anomalies during three drought events in the dry season of 2005, 2010, and 2015. All products show similar spatio-temporal patterns, with positive temperature anomalies expanding in areal coverage and magnitude from the 2005 to 2015 event. The above results show that satellite-based Ts is sensitive in reflecting environmental changes such as deforestation and extreme climatic events, and can be used as an alternative to Ta for climatological studies. Moreover, the observed differences between Ts and Ta may inform how thermal assumptions can be improved in satellite-based retrievals of soil and vegetation moisture or evapotranspiration.

land surface temperature↗

Spatial Downscaling of GOES-R Land Surface Temperature over Urban Regions: A Case Study for New York City

The surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect is among the major environmental issues encountered in urban regions. To better predict the dynamics of the SUHI and its impacts on extreme heat events, an accurate characterization of the surface energy balance in urban regions is needed. However, the ability to improve understanding of the surface energy balance is limited by the heterogeneity of surfaces in urban areas. This study aims to enhance the understanding of the urban surface energy budget through an innovation in the use of land surface temperature (LST) observations from remote sensing satellites. A LST database with 5–min temporal and 30–m spatial resolution is developed by spatial downscaling of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites—R (GOES–R) series LST product over New York City (NYC). The new downscaling method, known as the Spatial Downscaling Method (SDM), benefits from the fine spatial resolution of Landsat–8 and high temporal resolution of GOES–R, and considers the temporal variation in LST for each land cover type separately. Preliminary results show that the SDM can reproduce the temporal and spatial variability of LST over NYC reasonably well and the downscaled LST has a spatial root mean square error (RMSE) of the order of 2 K as compared to the independent Landsat–8 observations. The SDM shows smaller RMSE of 1.93 K over the tree canopy land cover, whereas RMSE is 2.19 K for built–up areas. The overall results indicate that the SDM has potential to estimate LST at finer spatial and temporal scales over urban regions.

land surface temperature↗

Development of thin-gap GEM- μ RWELL hybrid detectors

Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs) are used for tracking in High Energy Physics and Nuclear Physics because of their large area, excellent spatial resolution capabilities and low cost. However, for high energy charged particles impacting at a large angle with respect to the axis perpendicular to detector plane, the spatial resolution degrades significantly because of the long trail of ionization charges produced in clusters all along the track in the drift region of the detector. The long ionization charge trail results in registering hits from large number of strips in the readout plane which makes it challenging to precisely reconstruct the particle’s position using simple center of gravity algorithm. As a result, the larger the drift gap, the more severe the deterioration of spatial resolution for inclined tracks. For the same reason, the position resolution is also severely degraded in a large magnetic field, where the Lorentz E x B effect causes the ionization charges to follow a curved and longer path in the detector gas volume. In this paper, we report on the development of thin-gap MPGDs as a way to maintain excellent spatial resolution capabilities of MPGD detectors over a wide angular range of incoming particles. In a thin-gap MPGD, the thickness of the gas volume in the drift region is reduced from typically 3 mm to 1 mm or less. We present preliminary test beam results demonstrating the improvement in spatial resolution from 400 m with a standard 3 mm gap μ RWELL prototype to ~140 μ m with a double amplification GEM- μ RWELL thin-gap hybrid detector. Here, we also discuss the impact of a thin-gap drift volume on other aspects of the performance of MPGD technologies such as the efficiency and detector stability.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Cross Calibration and Validation Using CLARREO

The presentation focuses on study questions, effort, and result. Study questions include a focus on MW/LW, error sources and what can be expected, how validation will be performed and what resolution is required, and spatial resolution required for cross-calibration. Study effort includes empirical approach by examining AIRS ,IASI and MODIS cross-calibration methods already in place and estimate the number of clear and Dome C observations possible versus spatial resolution. Study results include 5000 sampler per cross-calibration recommended, insufficient cloud free and Dome C AWS observations for cross calibration and validation at 100km, and less than 20 km IFOV at 100 km swath needed to achieve sufficient samples for cross-calibration of CLARREO.

calibration↗

Properties of an imaging gas scintillation proportional counter

An instrument which combines the improved energy resolution offered by the gas scintillation proportional counter (GSPC) with the submillimeter imaging capabilities of the multiwire proportional counter (MWPC) is described. The imaging gas scintillation proportional counter detects the centroid of the UV light excited by X-ray photons interacting in the noble gas of the GSPC with a UV sensitive gas in the MWPC. The prototype counter yields a measured performance of 9% (FWHM) energy resolution and 0.9 mm (FWHM) spatial resolution at 6 keV. Further design refinements should achieve 18% (FWHM) energy resolution and 0.6 mm (FWHM) spatial resolution at 1 keV.

Ku, W. H.-M.↗

Design trade-offs for a multispectral linear array (MLA) instrument

The NASA Landsat program with imagery produced by the Multispectral Scanner has been thoroughly successful. The second generation of Landsat is represented by the Thematic Mapper, while the MLA sensor belongs to a third generation. It is pointed out that the strength of the MLA concept emanates from the pushbroom image-formation approach, which offers some fundamental improvements over opto-mechanically scanned instruments. The increased dwell time of the MLA sensor can be employed to improve signal-to-noise, spectral resolution, and spatial resolution simultaneously. Problems regarding design tradeoffs are considered, taking into account instrument sizing, configuration tradeoffs, optical design tradeoffs, aspects of spectral separation and registration, and radiometric accuracy and calibration tradeoffs. A description is provided of the instrument concept to which the design tradeoffs have led.

Mika, A. M.↗

Synoptic study of the corona at meter wavelength

The Mark III Nancay Radioheliograph is used to observe the Sun at 169 MHz with a time resolution of 25 East-West and North-South images per second. When the brightness distribution of the Sun is stable during the eight hours of daily observation, a two dimensional map can be produced using the technique of earth rotation synthesis. The best images are obtained during the period April to August, when the declination of the Sun is high to give a good coverage in the uv plane and a reasonable North-South resolution. The spatial resolution is 1.5' East-West and in summer, 3.5' North-South. The maps are calibrated using Cygnus A as a reference. Examples of the maps are given and discussed.

Lantos, P.↗

Auroral energy deposition rate, characteristic electron energy, and ionospheric parameters derived from Dynamics Explorer 1 images

Auroral images obtained by the Spin Scan Auroral Imager (SAI) aboard the DE-1 satellite were used to derive auroral energy deposition rate, characteristic electron energy, and ionospheric parameters. The principles involved in the imaging technique and the physical mechanisms that underlie the relationship between the spectral images and the geophysical parameters are discussed together with the methodology for implementing such analyses. It is shown that images obtained with the SAI provide global parameters at 12-min temporal resolution; the spatial resolution is limited by the field of view of a pixel. The analysis of the 12-min images presented yielded a representation of ionospheric parameters that was better than can be obtained using empirical models based on local measurements averaged over long periods of time.

Rees, M. H.↗

BOREAS RSS-10 TOMS Circumpolar One-Degree PAR Images

The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) Remote Sensing Science (RSS)-10 team investigated the magnitude of daily, seasonal, and yearly variations of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) from ground and satellite observations. This data set contains satellite estimates of surface-incident PAR (400-700 nm, MJ/sq m) at one-degree spatial resolution. The spatial coverage is circumpolar from latitudes of 41 to 66 degrees north. The temporal coverage is from May through September for years 1979 through 1989. Eleven-year statistics are also provided: (1) mean, (2) standard deviation, and (3) coefficient of variation for 1979-89. The PAR estimates were derived from the global gridded ultraviolet reflectivity data product (average of 360, 380 nm) from the Nimbus-7 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS). Image mask data are provided for identifying the boreal forest zone, and ocean/land and snow/ice-covered areas. The data are available as binary image format data files. The PAR data are available from the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884).

Dye, Dennis G.↗

Demonstration of the Wide-Field Imaging Interferometer Testbed Using a Calibrated Hyperspectral Image Projector

The Wide-field Imaging Interferometer testbed (WIIT) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center uses a dual-Michelson interferometric technique. The WIIT combines stellar interferometry with Fourier-transform interferometry to produce high-resolution spatial-spectral data over a large field-of-view. This combined technique could be employed on future NASA missions such as the Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT) and the Sub-millimeter Probe of the Evolution of Cosmic Structure (SPECS). While both SPIRIT and SPECS would operate at far-infrared wavelengths, the WIIT demonstrates the dual-interferometry technique at visible wavelengths. The WIIT will produce hyperspectral image data, so a true hyperspectral object is necessary. A calibrated hyperspectral image projector (CHIP) has been constructed to provide such an object. The CHIP uses Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology to produce customized, spectrally-diverse scenes. CHIP scenes will have approximately 1.6-micron spatial resolution and the capability of . producing arbitrary spectra in the band between 380 nm and 1.6 microns, with approximately 5-nm spectral resolution. Each pixel in the scene can take on a unique spectrum. Spectral calibration is achieved with an onboard fiber-coupled spectrometer. In this paper we describe the operation of the CHIP. Results from the WIIT observations of CHIP scenes will also be presented.

Bolcar, Matthew R.↗

Solar Flare Termination Shock and the Synthetic Fe XXI 1354.08 Å Line

Solar flares are one of the most energetic phenomena occurred in the solar system. In the standard solar flare model, a fast mode shock, which is often referred to as the flare termination shock (TS), can exist above the loop-top source of hard X-ray emissions. The existence of the termination shock has been recently related to spectral hardening of flare hard X-ray spectrum at energies > 300 keV. Observations of the Fe XXI 1354.08 Å line during solar flares by the IRIS spacecraft have found significant redshift with >100 km/s, which is consistent with a reconnection downflow. The ability to identify such a redshift by IRIS is made possible by IRIS's high time resolution, high spatial resolution, high sensitivity and cadence spectral observations. The ability to identify such a redshift by IRIS suggests that one may be able to use IRIS observations to identify flare termination shocks. Using a MHD simulation to model magnetic reconnection of a solar flare and assuming the existence of a TS in the downflow of the reconnection plasma, we model the synthetic emission of the Fe XXI 1354.08 Å line in this work. We show that the existence of the TS in the solar flare may manifest itself from the Fe XXI 1354.08 Å line.Plain Language SummaryA solar flare is a brief eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface, associated with sunspots and causing electromagnetic disturbances on the earth, as with radio frequency communications and power line transmissions. The standard solar flare model proposes that magnetic reconnection drives solar flares and fast mode shock, which is often referred to as the flare termination shock (TS), can exist at the reconnection outflows. The existence of the termination shock has been recently related to spectral hardening of flare hard X-ray spectrum.

Guo, Lijia↗

Numerical case study of the aerosol–cloud interactions in warm boundary layer clouds over the eastern North Atlantic with an interactive chemistry module

The presence of warm boundary layer stratiform clouds over the eastern North Atlantic (ENA) region is commonly influenced by the Azores High, especially during the summer season. To investigate comprehensive aerosol–cloud interactions, this study employs the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with a chemistry component (WRF-Chem), incorporating aerosol chemical components that are relevant to the formation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and accounting for aerosol spatiotemporal variation. This study focuses on aerosol indirect effects, particularly the long-range transport of aerosols, in the ENA region under three different weather regimes: a ridge with a surface high-pressure system, a post-trough with a surface high-pressure system, and a weak trough. The WRF-Chem simulations conducted at a near-large-eddy scale offer valuable insights into the model's performance, especially in terms of its ability to use high spatial resolution to capture mesoscale cloud features across various weather regimes. Our result shows that introducing 5 times more aerosols to either non-precipitating or precipitating clouds significantly increases ambient CCN numbers, resulting in, to varying degrees, higher liquid water path (LWP) values. The substantial aerosol–cloud interaction especially occurs in the precipitating clouds and demonstrates the susceptibility of the LWP to changes in CCN under different regimes. Conversely, thin, non-rain clouds at the edges of a cloud system are prone to evaporation, exhibiting an aerosol drying effect. The aerosols released during this process transition back to the accumulation mode, facilitating future activation. This dynamic behavior is not adequately represented in prescribed-aerosol simulations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

The Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM)

The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), a joint NASA and United States Geological Survey (USGS) mission, is scheduled for launch in December, 2012. The LDCM instrument payload will consist of the Operational Land Imager (OLI), provided by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation (BATC) under contract to NASA and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS), provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). This paper will describe the design, capabilities and status of the OLI and TIRS instruments. The OLI will provide 8 channel multispectral images at a spatial resolution of 30 meters and panchromatic images at 15 meter spatial resolution. The TIRS is a 100 meter spatial resolution push-broom imager whose two spectral channels, centered at 10.8 and 12 microns, split the ETM+ thermal bands. The two channels allow the use of the "split-window" technique to aid in atmospheric correction. The TIRS focal plane consists of three Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) arrays to span the 185 km swath width. The OLI and TIRS instruments will be operated independently but in concert with each other. Data from both instruments will be merged into a single data stream at the (USGS)/Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) facility. The ground system, being developed by USGS, includes an Image Assessment System (lAS), similar to Landsat-7's, to operationally monitor, characterize and update the calibrations of the two sensors.

Reuter, Dennis↗

Multi-Decadal Pathfinder Data Sets of Global Land Biophysical Variables from AVHRR and MODIS and their Use in GCM Studies of Biogeophysics and Biogeochemistry

The problem of how the scale, or spatial resolution, of reflectance data impacts retrievals of vegetation leaf area index (LAI) and fraction absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) has been investigated. We define the goal of scaling as the process by which it is established that LAI and FPAR values derived from coarse resolution sensor data equal the arithmetic average of values derived independently from fine resolution sensor data. The increasing probability of land cover mixtures with decreasing resolution is defined as heterogeneity, which is a key concept in scaling studies. The effect of pixel heterogeneity on spectral reflectances and LAI/FPAR retrievals is investigated with 1 km Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data aggregated to different coarse spatial resolutions. It is shown that LAI retrieval errors at coarse resolution are inversely related to the proportion of the dominant land cover in such pixel. Further, large errors in LAI retrievals are incurred when forests are minority biomes in non-forest pixels compared to when forest biomes are mixed with one another, and vice-versa. A physically based technique for scaling with explicit spatial resolution dependent radiative transfer formulation is developed. The successful application of this theory to scaling LAI retrievals from AVHRR data of different resolutions is demonstrated

Myneni, Ranga↗