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Two-wavelength microwave radiometer to measure temperature and heat exchange at sea surface through heavy overcast for use in manned satellites - oceanography
The NASA responsibility and activities for the follow-on to the original Agro-Climatic Environmental Monitoring Project (ACEMP) which was completed during 1987 is described. Five training sessions which comprise the NASA ACEMP follow-on are: Agrometeorology, Meteorology of Severe Storms Using GEMPAK, Satellite Oceanography, Hydrology, and Meteorology with TOVS. The objective of the follow-on is to train Bangladesh Government staff in the use of satellite data for remote sensing applications. This activity also encourages the scientific connection between NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and The Bangladesh Space and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO).
Oceanic dynamics was traditionally investigated by sampling from instruments in situ, yielding quantitative measurements that are intermittent in both space and time; the ocean is undersampled. The need to obtain proper sampling of the averaged quantities treated in analytical and numerical models is at present the most significant limitation on advances in physical oceanography. Within the past decade, many electromagnetic techniques for the study of the Earth and planets were applied to the study of the ocean. Now satellites promise nearly total coverage of the world's oceans using only a few days to a few weeks of observations. Both a review of the early and present techniques applied to satellite oceanography and a description of some future systems to be launched into orbit during the remainder of this century are presented. Both scientific and technologic capabilities are discussed.
The TOPEX/Poseidon satellite oceanography mission will require very accurate orbit determination in order to fulfill its mission requirements of altimetrically mapping the ocean surface with approximately 10 centimeter accuracy. To meet such stringent orbit determination specifications will require very accurate tracking data and very accurate dynamical models of the satellite motion. The accuracy of the TOPEX/Poseidon orbit is expected to be driven by the accuracy of the earth's gravity field model. Expected orbit accuracy for several recent gravity models is presented. Both the capability of the models for modeling the motion of TOPEX/Poseidon and their global modeling characteristics are discussed. In addition, the gravity model improvement that can be expected by utilizing GPS tracking of TOPEX/Poseidon is evaluated. This evalution is based on a recent simulation of a gravity field recovery using 10 days of TOPEX/Poseidon GPS tracking.
An objective analysis technique has been developed to extrapolate tidal amplitudes and phases over entire ocean basins using existing gauge data and the altimetric measurements which are now beginning to be provided by satellite oceanography. The technique was previously tested in the Lake Superior basin. The method has now been developed and applied in the Atlantic-Indian ocean basins using a 6 deg x 6 deg grid to test its essential features. The functions used in the interpolation are the eigenfunctions of the velocity potential (Proudman functions) which are computed numerically from a knowledge of the basin's bottom topography, the horizontal plan form and the necessary boundary conditions. These functions are characteristic of the particular basin. The gravitational normal modes of the basin are computed as part of the investigation, they are used to obtain the theoretical forced solutions for the tidal constituents, the latter provide the simulated data for the testing of the method and serve as a guide in choosing the most energetic modes for the objective analysis. The results of the objective analysis of the M2 and K1 tidal constituents indicate the possibility of recovering the tidal signal with a degree of accuracy well within the error bounds of present day satellite techniques.
An estimation technique was developed to extrapolate tidal amplitudes and phases over entire ocean basins using existing gauge data and the altimetric measurements provided by satellite oceanography. The technique was previously tested. Some results obtained by using a 3 deg by 3 deg grid are presented. The functions used in the interpolation are the eigenfunctions of the velocity (Proudman functions) which are computed numerically from a knowledge of the basin's bottom topography, the horizontal plan form and the necessary boundary conditions. These functions are characteristic of the particular basin. The gravitational normal modes of the basin are computed as part of the investigation; they are used to obtain the theoretical forced solutions for the tidal constituents. The latter can provide the simulated data for the testing of the method and serve as a guide in choosing the most energetic functions for the interpolation.
The effects of aerosols on the microphysical characteristics of marine stratocumulus clouds can have a significant impact on climate processes through modification of cloud radiative properties. The effect of aerosols on clouds and the impact on climate processes have recently been discussed by several authors (Twomey et al., 1984; Coakley et al., 1987; Charlson et al., 1987). Of particular concern is the potential for observing variations of cloud characteristics that might be related to variations of available aerosols. The results of comparisons between aircraft-measured microphysical characteristics and satellite-detected radiative properties of marine stratocumulus clouds are presented. These results are extracted from Mineart (1988) and Durkee and Mineart (1989) where the analysis procedures and a full discussion of the observations are presented. Due to the space available, only a brief description of the results is presented. The satellite data used here are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) collected at the Scripps Satellite Oceanography Facility. The AVHRR channel 1 (0.63 microns), channel 2 (0.86 microns), channel 3 (3.7 microns), and channel 4 (11 microns) data were used in the analysis. Cloud microphysical data were obtained by instruments on the NCAR Electra during cloud-penetrating missions in support of the field operations from 29 June to 19 July 1988.
The papers presented at the symposium focus on remote sensing, particularly on global monitoring of the earth with emphasis on the solution of environmental problems. Topics discussed include remote sensing of clouds and earth troposphere, sea ice remote sensing, optical remote sensing, land monitoring and thermal sensing, atmospheric sounding and monitoring, atmospheric correction, and satellite imaging data. Other subject areas are ecosystems and vegetation monitoring; ocean winds and surface scattering; ocean waves, currents and bathymetry; satellite oceanography; SAR for remote sensing; neural nets application to remote sensing; geographical information systems; and electromagnetic wave propagation. Also discussed environmental monitoring using ERS-1; Topex/Poseidon results; spaceborne instruments; image processing and classification algorithms; and future space missions.
Oceanographic observations from manned satellites by visible light
A recent publication by Shepherd et al. (2002) demonstrated the feasibility of using TRMM precipitation radar (PR) estimates to identify precipitation anomalies caused by urbanization. The approach is particularly useful for investigating this global process because TRMM data span large portions of the globe and comprise an extended temporal dataset. Recent literature suggests that urbanized regions of Houston, Texas may be influencing lightning and precipitation formation over and downwind of the city. Possible mechanisms include: (1) enhanced convergence through interactions between the sea breeze, Galveston bay breeze, and urban heat island circulations, (2) enhanced convergence due to increased surface roughness over the city and/or destabilization of the boundary layer by the UHI, or (3) enhanced cloud condensation nuclei due to urban and industrial aerosol sources. In this study, a downscaling analysis of spatial and temporal trends in rainfall around the Houston Area is being conducted. The downscaling analysis concept involves identifying and quantifying urban rainfall anomalies at progressively smaller spatial and temporal scales using the TRMM satellite, ground-based radar, and a dense network of rain gauges. The goal is to test the hypothesis that the Houston urban district and regions in the climatological downwind region of the city exhibit enhanced rainfall amounts relative to the climatological upwind regions. TRMM was launched in 1997 and currently operates in a low-inclination (35 deg), non-sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 402 km (350 km prior to August 2001). The satellite analysis follows the methodologies described in Shepherd et al. (2002). Nearly five years of TRMM PR-derived mean monthly rainfall estimates are utilized to produce annual and warm season isohyetal analyses around Houston. Early results indicate that rainfall rates (mm/h) for the entire period are largest within 100 km northeast and east of Houston (e.g. the "hypothesized downwind region"). The mean rainfall rate over the Houston urban center is 30.5% larger than the upwind control region. The mean rainfall rate in the downwind region is 34.4% larger than the upwind region. An analysis of a parameter called the urban rainfall ratio (URR) illustrates that 65% (88%) of the satellite-derived rainfall rates in the downwind (upwind control) region are greater (less) than the mean background rainfall rate of the entire study region. When the data is stratified by summer months from 1998 to 2001 (June-August), even greater influence over and downwind of the urban area is observed in the statistics. This result is consistent with published reports of urban-generated rainfall being more prevalent in the warm season. The research demonstrates that the evolving TRMM satellite climatology is a credible way to detect mesoscale precipitation signatures that may be linked to urbanization. Early results also corroborate recent findings on Houston-induced convection/drainfall anomalies. Burian and Shepherd will report on other aspects of the downscaling analysis in future forums, but early rain gauge results are consistent with the satellite-based observations.
Coastal zone oceanographic priorities planning for Earth Resources Technology Satellite observation
Of the Nearly 1000 standard infrared photographic images received, 273 images were on computer compatible tape. It proved necessary to digitally enhance the scene contrast to cover only a select few degrees K over the photographic grey scale appropriate to the scene-specific range of sea surface temperature (SST). Some 178 images were so enhanced. Comparison with sea truth show that SST, as seen by satellite, provides a good guide to the ocean currents and eddies off East Australia, both in summer and winter. This is in contrast, particularly in summer, to SST mapped by surface survey, which usually lacks the necessary spatial resolution.
Role of satellite and manned spacecraft in marine meteorology - oceanography
Satellite and other data for estimating depth of thermocline and role of satellites in oceanography, weather assessment, sea surface temperature determinations, and communications
Satellite photography, airborne remote sensing, and other techniques applied to oceanography, marine biology, and coastal processes - conference
Oceanographic measurements with instrumented satellites, examining surface temperature surface waves, tides, albedo, heat flux and coordination of airborne and seaborne sensing systems
Observations of the Gulf Stream System in the Gulf of Mexico were obtained in synchronization with LANDSAT-1. Computer enhanced images, which are necessary to extract useful oceanic information, show that the current can be observed by color (diffuse radiance) or sea state (specular radiance) effects associated with the cyclonic boundary even in the absence of a surface thermal signature. The color effect relates to the spectral variations in the optical properties of the water and its suspended particles, and is studied by radiative transfer theory. Significant oceanic parameters identified are: the probability of forward scattering, and the ratio of scattering to total attenuation. Several spectra of upwelling diffuse light are computed as a function of the concentration of particles and yellow substance.
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