SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “local scale”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2002

Biogeography

As a field of study, biogeography may be considered a bricolage - it has been constructed from many different facets from an array of research disciplines including biology, botany, zoology, geography, and geology. Biogeography focuses on the study of the constantly changing ranges of plants and animals, over multitude of space and time scales. It also includes the study of the structure and dynamics of biotic communities and ecosystems as they relate to both natural and anthropogenic processes. As it exists today, biogeography is an interdisciplinary research area founded in both the biological and Earth sciences. From a purely biological perspective, biogeography may be perceived as one of two types of studies: 1. biotic distributions and broad scales, and interpretations of the evolutionary and dispersal history of a single taxon or a few taxa; or 2. biotic distributions at local-to-regional scales, and interpretations of these distributions in relation to contemporary environments and rates of immigration or extinction. The first type of study is what is most usually associated with the term "biogeography" as disciplinary research field. It is conventionally termed "classical biogeography" because it reflects the continuity of research foci on which biogeography was founded in the nineteenth-century. The second type of biogeographical study has more modern day roots and is termed "geographical ecology" to reflect the theoretical predilections of ecologists and population biologists. Geographical ecology for all intents has become merged with ecology and exists as a sub discipline within this larger field of study.

Quattrochi, Dale A.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Observations of Intermediate-Scale Diurnal Waves in the Equatorial Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere

The purpose of this study is to seek observational evidence for diurnal, vertically propagating inertia-gravity waves (IGWs) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT). Numerical modeling studies indicate that vertically propagating IGWs excited by tropical heating provide a significant source of momentum for the semiannual oscillation (SAO) in the equatorial zonal mean winds. The power spectrum of these waves has a strong diurnal component. We analyze global patterns of ascending and descending node differences in MLT satellite temperatures, which are assumed in this study to be proxies for waves of diurnal period. Juxtaposed upon the planetary-scale features are localized variations with longitudinal wavelengths ranging from 25 deg to 50 deg, and with vertical wavelengths between 13 and 25 km. These intermediate-scale variations are spatially coherent, and persist for several weeks. Their amplitudes generally increase with altitude, while their phase structures suggest both eastward and westward propagation. The variance of wave numbers 9-17 in the MLT is examined in relation to the underlying stratospheric zonal mean zonal gradient winds. Stronger variances generally coincide with periods where the underlying zonal mean winds are relatively light, or unidirectional. The weak inverse association between variance strength and zonal wind magnitude is suggestive of a wave filtering mechanism.

Lieberman, R. S.↗

NASA NTRS2013

View-angle-dependent AIRS Cloudiness and Radiance Variance: Analysis and Interpretation

Upper tropospheric clouds play an important role in the global energy budget and hydrological cycle. Significant view-angle asymmetry has been observed in upper-level tropical clouds derived from eight years of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) 15 um radiances. Here, we find that the asymmetry also exists in the extra-tropics. It is larger during day than that during night, more prominent near elevated terrain, and closely associated with deep convection and wind shear. The cloud radiance variance, a proxy for cloud inhomogeneity, has consistent characteristics of the asymmetry to those in the AIRS cloudiness. The leading causes of the view-dependent cloudiness asymmetry are the local time difference and small-scale organized cloud structures. The local time difference (1-1.5 hr) of upper-level (UL) clouds between two AIRS outermost views can create parts of the observed asymmetry. On the other hand, small-scale tilted and banded structures of the UL clouds can induce about half of the observed view-angle dependent differences in the AIRS cloud radiances and their variances. This estimate is inferred from analogous study using Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) radiances observed during the period of time when there were simultaneous measurements at two different view-angles from NOAA-18 and -19 satellites. The existence of tilted cloud structures and asymmetric 15 um and 6.7 um cloud radiances implies that cloud statistics would be view-angle dependent, and should be taken into account in radiative transfer calculations, measurement uncertainty evaluations and cloud climatology investigations. In addition, the momentum forcing in the upper troposphere from tilted clouds is also likely asymmetric, which can affect atmospheric circulation anisotropically.

AIRS↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Towards a program of record of inland water quality: Exploiting present and heritage multispectral sensors for maximum information extraction

Inland↗

NASA NTRS1985

Local heat-transfer measurements on a large, scale-model turbine blade airfoil using a composite of a heater element and liquid crystals

Local heat transfer coefficients were experimentally mapped along the midchord of a five-time-size turbine blade airfoil in a static cascade operated at room temperature over a range of Reynolds numbers. The test surface consisted of a composite of commercially available materials: a mylar sheet with a layer of cholesteric liquid crystals, that change color with temperature, and a heater sheet made of a carbon-impregnated paper, that produces uniform heat flux. After the initial selection and calibration of the composite sheet, accurate, quantitative, and continuous heat transfer coefficients were mapped over the airfoil surface. The local heat transfer coefficients are presented for Reynolds numbers from 2.8 x 10 to the 5th power to 7.6 x 10 to the 5th power. Comparisons are made with analytical values of heat transfer coefficients obtained from the STAN5 boundary layer code. Also, a leading edge separation bubble was revealed by thermal and flow visualization.

Hippensteele, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Local heat-transfer measurements on a large scale-model turbine blade airfoil using a composite of a heater element and liquid crystals

Local heat transfer coefficients were experimentally mapped along the midchord of a five-time-size turbine blade airfoil in a static cascade operated at room temperature over a range of Reynolds numbers. The test surface consisted of a composite of commercially available materials: a mylar sheet with a layer of cholesteric liquid crystals, that change color with temperature, and a heater sheet made of a carbon-impregnated paper, that produces uniform heat flux. After the initial selection and calibration of the composite sheet, accurate, quantitative, and continuous heat transfer coefficients were mapped over the airfoil surface. The local heat transfer coefficients are presented for Reynolds numbers from 2.8 x 10 to the 5th power to 7.6 x 10 to the 5th power. Comparisons are made with analytical values of heat transfer coefficients obtained from the STANS boundary layer code. Also, a leading edge separation bubble was revealed by thermal and flow visualization.

Hippensteele, S. A.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

SWIPE: Spectral Water Inversion Processor and Emulator

Degradation of Earth’s inland water resources due to anthropogenic perturbations and climate anomalies at both local and global scales continues to place human health at substantial risk. There is now a growing necessity to develop pragmatic approaches that allow timely and effective extrapolation of local processes, to spatially resolved global products, and to promote operational and sustainable resource policy management. This presentation will be discussing the progress made developing SWIPE: Spectral Water Inversion Processor and Emulator. SWIPE is a platform for advanced modeling of coastal and inland aquatic habitats. The goal is create a comprehensive and cohesive system to leverage recent advancements in computation and machine learning to develop a synthetic training ground for sensitivity studies and algorithm development. The four principal facets of SWIPE include: 1. Advanced two-layer coated sphere bio-optical modeling and GPU radiative transfer modeling, 2. Big Data involving massive synthetic spectral libraries of optical properties of various global aquatic particles, surface reflectance, and top-of-atmosphere reflectance, all at hyperspectral resolution leveraging high-end computing systems at NASA Ames Research Center, 3. Deep Learning for algorithm development for water quality inversion of concentrations of common biogeophysical variables as well as optics, full uncertainty characterization by water type, and forward emulation, and lastly, 4. Image Processing for application of developed retrieval algorithms for both hyperspectral and multispectral sensors with experimental corrections for global adjacency, noise, sunglint, and benthic reflectance. This presentation will demonstrate the Equivalent Algal Populations (EAP) two-layer coated sphere scattering model which has been used develop spectral libraries of hyperspectral inherent optical properties of roughly 80 species of phytoplankton, covering 15 different classes and nine taxonomic functional types. The EAP model was also used to derive spectral properties of 10 different non-algal particle functional types. Examples of how the SMART-G (Speed-up Monte-carlo Advanced Radiative Transfer using GPU) radiative transfer code is used to model optically complex aquatic signals will be presented and discussed in the context of creating a massive synthetic database which can leverage the full power of next generation machine learning techniques and high end computing for water quality inversion. We will discuss our active investigation in things like appropriate model architectures, dimensionality reduction techniques such as PCA and autoencoders, uncertainty quantification and abstaining, and which variables actually benefit most from hyperspectral information versus multispectral resolution. We are also curious about questions relating to cost/benefit analysis in terms of computation resources, neural network complexity, and data volumes. Answers to these questions will hopefully elaborate on cost efficiency for potential future sensor design considerations.

SWIPE↗

NASA NTRS1991

Wave models for turbulent free shear flows

New predictive closure models for turbulent free shear flows are presented. They are based on an instability wave description of the dominant large scale structures in these flows using a quasi-linear theory. Three model were developed to study the structural dynamics of turbulent motions of different scales in free shear flows. The local characteristics of the large scale motions are described using linear theory. Their amplitude is determined from an energy integral analysis. The models were applied to the study of an incompressible free mixing layer. In all cases, predictions are made for the development of the mean flow field. In the last model, predictions of the time dependent motion of the large scale structure of the mixing region are made. The predictions show good agreement with experimental observations.

Liou, W. W.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Quantifying Water Storage Change and Land Subsidence Induced by Reservoir Impoundment Using GRACE, Landsat, and GPS Data

The construction of hydropower dams is a common strategy to support a country's increasing need for electricityand river water management for industry and agriculture. Although the hydrological and geophysical impacts ofwater relocation are usually assessed prior to impoundment, their accuracy is generally limited due to the lack ofin situ observations, especially in a remote area. This study presents a workflow to quantify the terrestrial waterstorage change (TWS) and land subsidence induced by a reservoir's water impoundment using multiple satelliteobservations (GRACE, Landsat), land surface models (CABLE, GLDAS, NCEP, ECMWF), and GPS data. The studysite is the Bakun Dam, located in Sarawak, Malaysia, which is the largest hydropower dam in Southeast Asia.Commencing operation in late 2010, the dam induced a change of water mass and lake surface area that wasclearly observed by GRACE and Landsat observations, respectively. During the 17-month impounding period(from August 2010 to December 2011), GRACE observed a dramatic increase of approximately 200mmequivalent water height, while Landsat detected an increased lake extent of around 600 km2. In this paper, aforward model is developed to determine the increased water surface level corresponding to GRACE observations,estimated to be about 120 m. In contrast to GRACE, the TWS derived from land surface models cannotcapture the increased TWS, due to the lack of reservoir routing algorithms in the models. In addition, the landsubsidence was calculated using the disk load model constructed based on the GRACE-derived lake level andLandsat-derived lake extent; the result is validated with the GPS data from BIN1 station, located at the westerncoast of Borneo. The commencement stage of the Bakun Dam induces the large-scale land subsidence, whichcauses the GPS-BIN1 station to subside by ~9 mm, and move toward the Bakun Lake by ~4 mm. Computation ofthe surface displacements directly from GRACE spherical harmonic coefficient data fails to capture the subsidencefeature, mainly due to the truncation error. Overall, this study demonstrates that evaluating GRACE inconjunction with Landsat, LSMs, and GPS data allows the exploitation of the gravity signal at a much smallerspatial scale than its intrinsic resolution. Benefiting from global coverage, the newly developed satellite-basedalgorithm is a valuable tool for assessing the impacts of reservoir operation on hydrological and geophysicalchanges from local to regional scales.

Tangdamrongsub, Natthachet↗

NASA NTRS2019

Quantifying Water Storage Change and Land Subsidence Induced by Reservoir Impoundment Using GRACE, Landsat, and GPS Data

The construction of hydropower dams is a common strategy to support a country's increasing need for electricity and river water management for industry and agriculture. Although the hydrological and geophysical impacts of water relocation are usually assessed prior to impoundment, their accuracy is generally limited due to the lack of in situ observations, especially in a remote area. This study presents a workflow to quantify the terrestrial water storage change (TWS) and land subsidence induced by a reservoir's water impoundment using multiple satellite observations (GRACE, Landsat), land surface models (CABLE, GLDAS, NCEP, ECMWF), and GPS data. The study site is the Bakun Dam, located in Sarawak, Malaysia, which is the largest hydropower dam in Southeast Asia. Commencing operation in late 2010, the dam induced a change of water mass and lake surface area that was clearly observed by GRACE and Landsat observations, respectively. During the 17-month impounding period (from August 2010 to December 2011), GRACE observed a dramatic increase of approximately 200 mm equivalent water height, while Landsat detected an increased lake extent of around 600 km2. In this paper, a forward model is developed to determine the increased water surface level corresponding to GRACE observations, estimated to be about 120 m. In contrast to GRACE, the TWS derived from land surface models cannot capture the increased TWS, due to the lack of reservoir routing algorithms in the models. In addition, the land subsidence was calculated using the disk load model constructed based on the GRACE-derived lake level and Landsat-derived lake extent; the result is validated with the GPS data from BIN1 station, located at the western coast of Borneo. The commencement stage of the Bakun Dam induces the large-scale land subsidence, which causes the GPS-BIN1 station to subside by ~9 mm, and move toward the Bakun Lake by ~4 mm. Computation of the surface displacements directly from GRACE spherical harmonic coefficient data fails to capture the subsidence feature, mainly due to the truncation error. Overall, this study demonstrates that evaluating GRACE in conjunction with Landsat, LSMs, and GPS data allows the exploitation of the gravity signal at a much smaller spatial scale than its intrinsic resolution. Benefiting from global coverage, the newly developed satellite-based algorithm is a valuable tool for assessing the impacts of reservoir operation on hydrological and geophysical changes from local to regional scales.

Natthachet Tangdamrongsub↗

NASA NTRS2000

Simple and Multiple Endmember Mixture Analysis in the Boreal Forest

Roberts, Dar A.↗

NASA NTRS2001

AVIRIS Land-Surface Mapping in Support of the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

A key scientific objective of the original Boreal Ecosystem-Atmospheric Study (BOREAS) field campaign (1993-1996) was to obtain the baseline data required for modeling and predicting fluxes of energy, mass, and trace gases in the boreal forest biome. These data sets are necessary to determine the sensitivity of the boreal forest biome to potential climatic changes and potential biophysical feedbacks on climate. A considerable volume of remotely-sensed and supporting field data were acquired by numerous researchers to meet this objective. By design, remote sensing and modeling were considered critical components for scaling efforts, extending point measurements from flux towers and field sites over larger spatial and longer temporal scales. A major focus of the BOREAS follow-on program is concerned with integrating the diverse remotely sensed and ground-based data sets to address specific questions such as carbon dynamics at local to regional scales. The Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) has the potential of contributing to BOREAS through: (1) accurate retrieved apparent surface reflectance; (2) improved landcover classification; and (3) direct assessment of biochemical/biophysical information such as canopy liquid water and chlorophyll concentration through pigment fits. In this paper, we present initial products for major flux tower sites including: (1) surface reflectance of dominant cover types; (2) a land-cover classification developed using spectral mixture analysis (SMA) and Multiple Endmember Spectral Mixture Analysis (MESMA); and (3) liquid water maps. Our goal is to compare these land-cover maps to existing maps and to incorporate AVIRIS image products into models of photosynthetic flux.

Roberts, Dar A.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Surface soil variability and stratigraphy at the Apollo 16 site

The results of penetration tests, analyses of footprint and Lunar Roving Vehicle track depths, and core tube sample data have been used to deduce details of near-surface stratigraphy (to depths of several tens of cm) and lateral variability in soil conditions. Local variations (meter scale) in penetration resistance and porosity may be large, and soil stratigraphy may be complex. Since average properties are about the same at all sites, these variations probably reflect individual cratering and depositional events. These local variations cannot be anticipated on the basis of surface appearance or behavior.

Mitchell, J. K.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Saturn's rings - Properties and processes

In the present consideration of the structural and particle properties of Saturn's rings, emphasis is given to spacecraft observations and an attempt is made to relate observed properties to favored causative processes. While the ring particles are primarily icy, there is evidence for compositional variation on both local and regional scales. Ring structure is generally dominated by collisional and gravitational dynamics. On the basis of such features as orbital resonances with various satellites, which drive spiral density and bending waves, the ring mass density and local vertical thickness can be determined.

Cuzzi, J. N.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Non-WKB evolution of solar wind fluctuations - A turbulence modeling approach

Recent observations indicate systematic changes in the interplanetary inertial range velocity-magnetic field correlation with increasing heliocentric distance. Here, a multiple length scale model for the evolution of the small scale fluctuations due to local nonlinear couplings as well as couplings to large scale gradients is outlined, which is similar to that used in turbulence modeling of inhomogeneous shear flows. A simple special case solution is given, indicating that couplings to large scale flow gradients can cause radial evolution of the type seen in observations. The strongest couplings of this type are linear and do not appear in the usual WKB orderings. The relationship of the present approach to WKB theory is not fully understood at present.

Ye, Zou↗

NASA NTRS1997

Micromechanical Modeling of Woven Metal Matrix Composites

This report presents the results of an extensive micromechanical modeling effort for woven metal matrix composites. The model is employed to predict the mechanical response of 8-harness (8H) satin weave carbon/copper (C/Cu) composites. Experimental mechanical results for this novel high thermal conductivity material were recently reported by Bednarcyk et al. along with preliminary model results. The micromechanics model developed herein is based on an embedded approach. A micromechanics model for the local (micro-scale) behavior of the woven composite, the original method of cells (Aboudi), is embedded in a global (macro-scale) micromechanics model (the three-dimensional generalized method of cells (GMC-3D) (Aboudi). This approach allows representation of true repeating unit cells for woven metal matrix composites via GMC-3D, and representation of local effects, such as matrix plasticity, yarn porosity, and imperfect fiber-matrix bonding. In addition, the equations of GMC-3D were reformulated to significantly reduce the number of unknown quantities that characterize the deformation fields at the microlevel in order to make possible the analysis of actual microstructures of woven composites. The resulting micromechanical model (WCGMC) provides an intermediate level of geometric representation, versatility, and computational efficiency with respect to previous analytical and numerical models for woven composites, but surpasses all previous modeling work by allowing the mechanical response of a woven metal matrix composite, with an elastoplastic matrix, to be examined for the first time. WCGMC is employed to examine the effects of composite microstructure, porosity, residual stresses, and imperfect fiber-matrix bonding on the predicted mechanical response of 8H satin C/Cu. The previously reported experimental results are summarized, and the model predictions are compared to monotonic and cyclic tensile and shear test data. By considering appropriate levels of porosity, residual stresses, and imperfect fiber-matrix debonding, reasonably good qualitative and quantitative correlation is achieved between model and experiment.

Bednarcyk, Brett A.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Data Base for CFD Validation

The flow behind the shock wave formed around objects which fly at hypervelocity behaves differently from that of a perfect gas. Molecules become vibrationally excited, dissociated, and ionized. The hot gas may emit or absorb radiation. When the atoms produced by dissociation reach the wall surface, chemical reactions, including recombination, may occur. The thermochemical phenomena of vibration, dissociation, ionization, surface chemical reaction, and radiation are referred to commonly as high-temperature real-gas phenomena. The phenomena cause changes in the dynamic behavior of the flow and the surface pressure and heat transfer distribution around the object. The character of a real gas is described by the internal degrees of freedom and state of constituent molecules; nitrogen and oxygen for air. The internal energy states, rotation, vibration and electronic, of the molecules are excited and, in the limit, the molecular bonds are exceeded and the gas dissociated into atomic and, possibly, ionic constituents. The process of energy transfer causing excitation, dissociation and recombination is a rate process controlled by particle collisions. Binary, two-body, collisions are sufficient to cause internal excitation, dissociation and ionization while three-body collisions are required to recombine the particles into molecular constituents. If the rates of energy transfer are fast with respect to the local fluid dynamic time scale the gas is in, or nearly in, equilibrium. If the energy transfer rates are very slow the gas can be described as frozen. In all other instances, wherein any of the energy exchange rates are comparable to the local fluid time scale, the gas will be thermally or chemically reacting and out of equilibrium. Real gas thermochemical nonequilibrium processes are important in the determination of aerodynamic heating; both convective (including wall catalytic effects) and radiative heating. To illustrate this we consider the hypervelocity flow over a bluff body typical of an atmospheric entry vehicle or an aerospace transfer vehicle (ASTV). The qualitative aspects of a hypersonic flow field over a bluff body are discussed in two parts, forebody and afterbody, with attention to which particular physical effects must be included in an analysis. This will indicate what type of numerical modeling will be adequate in each region of the flow. A bluff forebody flow field is dominated by the presence of the strong bow shock wave and the consequent heating, and chemical reaction of the gas. At high altitude hypersonic flight conditions the thermal excitation and chemical reaction of the gas occur slowly enough that a significant portion of the flow field is in a state of thermochemical nonequilibrium. A second important effect is the presence of the thick boundary layer along the forebody surface. In this region there are large thermal and chemical species gradients due to the interaction of the gas with the wall. Also at high altitudes the shock wave and the boundary layer may become so thick that they merge; in this case the entire shock layer is dominated by viscous effects.

Deiwert, George S.↗

NASA NTRS1994

The Theta-z relation for HST bulges and disks out to z approximately equal 0.8

We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) scale lengths and ground-based redshifts for 63 faint field galaxies down to I less than or approximately 21.5 mag from the Medium-Deep Survey. These have measured redshifts z less than or approximately 0.8 and half-light radii 0.1 sec less than or approximately r(sub e), r(sub s) less than or approximately 5 sec. We present the Theta-z relation for r(exp 1/4)-bulges and exponential disks separately for world models with q(sub 0) = 0.0-1.0. We show that selection against low surface brightness galaxies in the HST images and ground-based spectra is comparable to that in local surveys. We compare our HST disk-dominated galaxies to a magnitude-limited subsample of the European Southern Observatory (ESO)-Uppsala local spirals. Extrapolating the best-fit local exponential disk scale length (r(sub s) = 3.5 kpc for H(sub 0) = 75) out to z = 0.8, we find a rather symmetrical distribution of HST disks around this value. This implies that galaxy disks have been stable since z is approximately equal to 0.8. We compare our HST bulge-dominated galaxies with r(exp 1/4)-profiles to a magnitude-limited subsample of local Seven Samurai ellipticals. The latter have a local best fit r(sub e) = 5.7 kpc. Our HST bulge sample shows a similar distribution for z less than or approximately 0.8. Elliptical galaxy scale lengths have thus also remained rather constant since z less than or approximately 0.8. We set limits to their possible evolution.

Mutz, Steven B.↗