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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 37 records · Page 2
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NASA NTRS1983

Sea ice effective microwave emissivities from satellite passive microwave and infrared observations

Near-simultaneous images from the temperature-humidity IR radiometer and dual-polarization scanning multichannel microwave radiometer of the Nimbus 7 satellite are used to investigate microwave sea ice emissivities on a global scale. Emissivities in several Arctic region study areas are found to be approximately constant during a nine-month pereiod covering the fall, winter and spring months, in the cases of both first-year and multiyear ice. During the onset of summer, emissivity increases of about 30 percent are observed at 37 GHz in multiyear ice. A multichannel cluster analysis over very large study areas during winter indicates considerable variability in emissivities of consolidated ice clusters at 37 GHz, and only 1/3 as much variability at 18 GHz. If the variability within each cluster is quantified and taken into account by means of multispectral analysis, data on ice thickness and surface characteristics may also be obtained.

Comiso, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Tropical cyclone rainfall characteristics as determined from a satellite passive microwave radiometer

Data from the Nimbus 5 electrically scanning microwave radiometer (ESMR-5) were used to calculate latent heat release (LHR) and other rainfall parameters for over 70 satellite observations of 21 tropical cyclones during 1973, 1974, and 1975 in the tropical North Pacific Ocean. The results indicate that the ESMR-5 measurements can be useful in determining the rainfall characteristics of these storms and appear to be potentially useful in monitoring as well as predicting their intensity. The ESMR-5 derived total tropical cyclone rainfall estimates agree favorably with previous estimates for both the disturbance and typhoon stages. The mean typhoon rainfall rate (1.9 mm h/1) is approximately twice that of disturbances (1.1 mm h/1).

Rodgers, E. B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Tropical cyclone rainfall characteristics as determined from a satellite passive microwave radiometer

Data from the Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer on Nimbus-5 (ESMR-5) have been used to calculate total tropical cyclone Latent Heat Release (LHR) and rainfall parameters for over 70 satellite observations of 21 tropical cyclones during 1973, 1974, and 1975 in the North Pacific tropical ocean. The data were found to be useful in determining the rainfall characteristics of these storms and appear to be potentially useful in monitoring and making short-term prediction of their intensity. Case studies as well as composite studies indicate that the increase in the ESMR-5 derived LHR corresponds to storm intensification. It also appears that the ESMR-5 derived rainfall parameters can be used to detect the beginning of tropical cyclone intensification.

Rodgers, E. B.↗
NASA NTRS2009

An Evaluation of Soil Moisture Retrievals Using Aircraft and Satellite Passive Microwave Observations during SMEX02

The Soil Moisture Experiments conducted in Iowa in the summer of 2002 (SMEX02) had many remote sensing instruments that were used to study the spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture. The sensors used in this paper (a subset of the suite of sensors) are the AQUA satellite-based AMSR-E (Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer- Earth Observing System) and the aircraft-based PSR (Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer). The SMEX02 design focused on the collection of near simultaneous brightness temperature observations from each of these instruments and in situ soil moisture measurements at field- and domain- scale. This methodology provided a basis for a quantitative analysis of the soil moisture remote sensing potential of each instrument using in situ comparisons and retrieved soil moisture estimates through the application of a radiative transfer model. To this end, the two sensors are compared with respect to their estimation of soil moisture.

Bolten, John D.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Precipitation and Latent Heating Distributions from Satellite Passive Microwave Radiometry: Evaluation of Estimates Using Independent Data - Part 2

Rainfall rate estimates from space-borne k&ents are generally accepted as reliable by a majority of the atmospheric science commu&y. One-of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRh4M) facility rain rate algorithms is based upon passive microwave observations fiom the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). Part I of this study describes improvements in the TMI algorithm that are required to introduce cloud latent heating and drying as additional algorithm products. Here, estimates of surface rain rate, convective proportion, and latent heating are evaluated using independent ground-based estimates and satellite products. Instantaneous, OP5resolution estimates of surface rain rate over ocean fiom the improved TMI algorithm are well correlated with independent radar estimates (r approx. 0.88 over the Tropics), but bias reduction is the most significant improvement over forerunning algorithms. The bias reduction is attributed to the greater breadth of cloud-resolving model simulations that support the improved algorithm, and the more consistent and specific convective/stratiform rain separation method utilized. The bias of monthly, 2.5 deg. -resolution estimates is similarly reduced, with comparable correlations to radar estimates. Although the amount of independent latent heating data are limited, TMI estimated latent heating profiles compare favorably with instantaneous estimates based upon dual-Doppler radar observations, and time series of surface rain rate and heating profiles are generally consistent with those derived from rawinsonde analyses. Still, some biases in profile shape are evident, and these may be resolved with: (a) additional contextual information brought to the estimation problem, and/or; (b) physically-consistent and representative databases supporting the algorithm. A model of the random error in instantaneous, 0.5 deg-resolution rain rate estimates appears to be consistent with the levels of error determined from TMI comparisons to collocated radar. Error model modifications for non-raining situations will be required, however. Sampling error appears to represent only a fraction of the total error in monthly, 2S0-resolution TMI estimates; the remaining error is attributed to physical inconsistency or non-representativeness of cloud-resolving model simulated profiles supporting the algorithm.

Yang, Song↗
NASA NTRS2006

Precipitation and Latent Heating Distributions from Satellite Passive Microwave Radiometry. Part II: Evaluation of Estimates Using Independent Data

Rainfall rate estimates from spaceborne microwave radiometers are generally accepted as reliable by a majority of the atmospheric science community. One of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) facility rain-rate algorithms is based upon passive microwave observations from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). In Part I of this series, improvements of the TMI algorithm that are required to introduce latent heating as an additional algorithm product are described. Here, estimates of surface rain rate, convective proportion, and latent heating are evaluated using independent ground-based estimates and satellite products. Instantaneous, 0.5 deg. -resolution estimates of surface rain rate over ocean from the improved TMI algorithm are well correlated with independent radar estimates (r approx. 0.88 over the Tropics), but bias reduction is the most significant improvement over earlier algorithms. The bias reduction is attributed to the greater breadth of cloud-resolving model simulations that support the improved algorithm and the more consistent and specific convective/stratiform rain separation method utilized. The bias of monthly 2.5 -resolution estimates is similarly reduced, with comparable correlations to radar estimates. Although the amount of independent latent heating data is limited, TMI-estimated latent heating profiles compare favorably with instantaneous estimates based upon dual-Doppler radar observations, and time series of surface rain-rate and heating profiles are generally consistent with those derived from rawinsonde analyses. Still, some biases in profile shape are evident, and these may be resolved with (a) additional contextual information brought to the estimation problem and/or (b) physically consistent and representative databases supporting the algorithm. A model of the random error in instantaneous 0.5 deg. -resolution rain-rate estimates appears to be consistent with the levels of error determined from TMI comparisons with collocated radar. Error model modifications for nonraining situations will be required, however. Sampling error represents only a portion of the total error in monthly 2.5 -resolution TMI estimates; the remaining error is attributed to random and systematic algorithm errors arising from the physical inconsistency and/or nonrepresentativeness of cloud-resolving-model-simulated profiles that support the algorithm.

Yang, Song↗
NASA NTRS1986

A satellite passive 37-GHz scattering-based method for measuring oceanic rain rates

A combination of theory and measurement is used to develop a scattering-based method for quantitatively measuring rainfall over the ocean from Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) 37-GHz observations. This technique takes the observed scattering effects of precipitation on 37-GHz brightness temperatures and applies it to the oceanic environment. It requires an estimate of the effective radiating temperature of the cloudy portion of the atmosphere, and a brightness temperature measurement of the cloud-free ocean surface. These two measurements bound all possible combinations of clear and cloudy conditions within a footprint in terms of bipolarized brightness temperatures. Any satellite-observed brightness temperature T(B) lower than these values is assumed to reflect scattering, which at 37 GHz is only due to precipitation-size hydrometeors. Because the technique involves linear transformation between dual polarized brightness temperature and rain rate, there are no nonlinear 'footprint filling' effects and a unique footprint-averaged rain rate results. It is shown that these SMMR-derived rain rates for five cases of convection over the Gulf of Mexico are closely related to simultaneously derived radar rain rates, having a correlation of 0.90. This technique is then applied to a massive squall line over the Gulf of Mexico, and the resulting rain rate distribution reflects features found in cloud top heights and texture inferred from GOES infrared and visible imagery.

Spencer, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Antarctic sea ice cover from satellite passive microwave

The 3-day images from the Nimbus 5 electrically scanning microwave radiometer were combined to form monthly average maps and contour plots. These show clearly the yearly cycle from minimum ice extent in February to maximum ice extent from August to September and the spatial distribution of ice 15 to 50 percent concentrated, 50 to 85 percent concentrated, and 85 to 100 percent concentrated. The yearly cycle of the monthly extent of ice is plotted for each of the four years (1973-76). The total 4-year range in monthly mean concentrations (over the 30 km x 30 km grid elements with ice present) is 50 to 80 percent, and the yearly cycle is far less distinct than that for the ice areas.

Zwally, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Satellite passive microwave rain rate measurement over croplands during spring, summer and fall

Rain-rate algorithms for spring, summer and fall that have been developed from comparisons between the brightness temperatures measured by the Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) and rain rates derived from operational WSR-57 radars over land are described. Data were utilized from a total of 25 SMMR passes and 234 radars, resulting in about 12,000 observations of about 1600 sq/km areas. Multiple correlation coefficients of 0.63, 0.80 and 0.75 are achieved for the spring, summer and fall algorithms, respectively. Most of this information is in the form of multifrequency contrast in brightness temperature, which is interpreted as a measurement of the degree to which the land-emitted radiation is attenuated by the rain systems. The SMMR 37-GHz channel has more information on rain rate than any other channel. By combining the lower frequency channels with the 37-GHz observations, variations in land and precipitation thermometric temperatures can be removed, leaving rain attenuation as the major effect on brightness temperature. Polarization screening at 37 GHz is found to be sufficient to screen out cases of wet ground, which is only important when the ground is relatively vegetation free. Heavy rain cases are found to be significant part of the algorithms' success, because of the strong microwve signatures (low-brightness temperatures) that result from the presence of precipitation-sized ice in the upper portions of heavily precipitating storms. If IR data are combined with the summer microwave data, an improved (0.85) correlation with radar rain rates is achieved.

Spencer, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Aircraft and satellite passive microwave observations of the Bering Sea ice cover during MIZEX West

Passive microwave measurements of the Bering Sea were made with the NASA CV-990 airborne laboratory during February. Microwave data were obtained with imaging and dual-polarized, fixed-beam radiometers in a range of frequencies from 10 to 183 GHz. The high resolution imagery at 92 GHz provides a particularly good description of the marginal ice zone delineating regions of open water, ice compactness, and ice-edge structure. Analysis of the fixed-beam data shows that spectral differences increase with a decrease in ice thickness. Polarization at 18 and 37 GHz distinguishes among new, young, and first-year ice types.

Cavalieri, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Oceanic rain retrievals from satellite passive 37 GHz scattering measurements

A technique for estimating the effect of scattering on the average brightness temperature, T(B), is examined. This scattering method is based on the relation observed over land between the SMMR T(B) and radar-derived rain rate. The scattering algorithm was evaluated and a comparison of radar and SMMR images reveals a correlation between radar-reflectivity-derived rates and the SMMR rain rates. The limitations of the scattering technique are discussed. Graphs and images displaying the application of the scattering algorithm are presented.

Spencer, Roy W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Observing the advection of sea ice in the Weddell Sea using buoy and satellite passive microwave data

Data from four buoys tracked by Nimbus 6 and concurrent ice concentrations retrieved from Nimbus 7 scanning multichannel microwave radiometer data are used to investigate the progress and behavior of an area of sea ice as it drifts from the southwestern Weddell Sea. The overall drift characteristics and their relationship to ice edge displacement are examined within the framework of four zones. Three phases are identified in the large-scale behavior of the Weddell Sea ice cover, namely, a rapid equatorward and eastward advance, a quasi-equilibrium phase, and a period of rapid recession. Outbreaks of cold continental air alternate with incursions of relatively warm air from the north; warm conditions are recorded as far as 1200 km in from the ice edge in winter. Closed loops in the buoy trajectories, which are clockwise to the south of 63 deg S, reverse to become anticlockwise to the north. A coherence is observed in the response of the buoys to the passage of storms, even though the buoys separated by a distance of over 100 km.

Massom, Robert A.↗