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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Testing the Li-Strahler four-component canopy reflectance model in the HAPEX-Sahel shrub savanna sites using ground reflectance data

The rate at which a light field decays in water is characterized by the diffuse attenuation coefficient k. The Li-Strahler discrete-object canopy reflectance model was tested in two sites, a shrub grass savanna and a degraded shrub savanna on bare soil, in the proposed HAPEX (Hydrologic Atmospheric Pilot Experiment) II/Sahel study area in Niger, West Africa. Average site reflectance was predicted for each site from the reflectances and cover proportions of four components: shrub canopy, background (soil or grass and soil), shaded canopy, and shaded background. Component reflectances were sampled in the SPOT wavebands using a hand-held radiometer. Predicted reflectance was compared to average site reflectance measured using the same radiometer mounted on a backpack with measurements recorded every 5 m along two 1-km transects, also in the SPOT (Systeme Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre) bands. Measurements and predictions were made for each of the three days during the summer growing season, approximately two weeks apart. Red, near infrared reflectance, and the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) were all predicted with a high degree of accuracy for the shrub/grass site and with reasonable accuracy for the degraded shrub site.

Franklin, J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A method for reducing ground reflection effects from acoustic measurements

The method involved placing foam blocks on the ground between sound source and receiver in an approximation of the wedges in an anechoic chamber. The tests were performed out of doors as a function of the receiver height and source-receiver separation distance. The spacing between blocks and the extent of ground covered were varied to estimate the optimum placement and minimum amount of foam treatment needed. Base-line tests without foam were also performed. It was found that the foam treatment reduced the amplitude of the peaks and valleys in the sound pressure spectra substantially. The foam was least effective at low frequency, especially for the low receiver height and for large source-receiver distances. Results from the base-line tests were compared with theoretically predicted results. These base-line test results were in reasonable agreement with those from theory.

Noerager, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Atmospheric transfer of radiation above an inhomogeneous non-Lambertian reflective ground. I - Theory

A method for solving the three-dimensional equation of transfer for a vertically inhomogeneous atmosphere bounded by a reflecting surface of non-uniform bidirectional reflectance is presented. The technique incorporates a two-dimensional spatial Fourier transform of the transfer equation and solution of the resulting expressions for each Fourier component of the radiation field using the method of Gauss-Seidel iteration. The intensity field in the spatial domain, which is calculated for a variety of altitudes, zenith angles, and azimuths, is reconstructed using the inverse Fourier transform. An empirical surface bidirectional reflectance function is employed, permitting the consideration of non-Lambertian reflective properties.

Diner, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Investigation of ground reflection and impedance from flyover noise measurements

An extensive series of flyover noise tests was conducted for the primary purpose of studying meteorological effects on propagation of aircraft noise. The test airplane, a DC 9-10, flew several level-flight passes at various heights over a taxiway. Two microphone stations were located under the flight path. A total of 37 runs was selected for analysis and processed to obtain a consistant set of 1/3 octave band sound pressure levels at half-second intervals. The goal of the present study was to use the flyover noise data to deduce acoustical reflection coefficients and hence, acoustical impedances.

Chapkis, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Atmospheric transfer of radiation above an inhomogeneous non-Lambertian reflective ground. II - Computational considerations and results

The theoretical foundation for solution of the three-dimensional radiative transfer problem described in the preceding paper is reviewed. Practical considerations involved in implementing the Fourier transform/Gauss-Seidel method on a minicomputer are discussed, along with derivations of symmetry relations and approximations which can be used to enhance the computational efficiency. Model results for a surface whose albedo varies as a step function are presented and compared with published solutions obtained by using the Monte Carlo method.

Diner, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Subjective response to simulated sonic booms with ground reflections

The Sonic Boom Simulator at NASA LaRC was used for the following: (1) quantify subjective loudness of simulated composite sonic booms, each of which was comprised of a simulated direct (non-reflected) boom combined with a simulated reflection of the direct boom; and (2) evaluate several metrics as estimators of loudness for these composite booms. The direct booms consisted of selected N-wave and minimized signatures having front-shock rise times of 3, 6, and 9 milliseconds and durations of 300 milliseconds. Delay times of the reflected booms ranged from 0 to 12 milliseconds. Subjective loudness results indicated that composite booms formed using reflections with non-zero delay times were generally rated as being less loud than composite booms containing non-delayed reflections. The largest reductions in loudness occurred when delay times were equal to the front shock rise times of the direct booms and were, in some cases, equivalent to reductions in Perceived Level of 6 to 7 dB. Results also showed Perceived Level to be an effective metric for assessing subjective loudness effects for the composite signatures. This was confirmed by statistical analysis, which showed that, for equal Perceived Level, no significant differences existed between the subjective loudness responses to composite booms containing reflections with zero delay and those containing reflections with non-zero delays.

Sullivan, B. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Atmospheric effects on cluster analyses

Ground reflected radiance, from which information is extracted through techniques of cluster analyses for remote sensing application, is altered by the atmosphere when it reaches the satellite. Therefore it is essential to understand the effects of the atmosphere on Landsat measurements, cluster characteristics and analysis accuracy. A doubling model is employed to compute the effective reflectivity, observed from the satellite, as a function of ground reflectivity, solar zenith angle and aerosol optical thickness for standard atmosphere. The relation between the effective reflectivity and ground reflectivity is approximately linear. It is shown that for a horizontally homogeneous atmosphere, the classification statistics from a maximum likelihood classifier remains unchanged under these transforms. If inhomogeneity is present, the divergence between clusters is reduced, and correlation between spectral bands increases. Radiance reflected by the background area surrounding the target may also reach the satellite. The influence of background reflectivity on effective reflectivity is discussed.

Kiang, R. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ground level reflectance measurement techniques - An evaluation with emphasis on the importance of spectral calibration

The bandpasses, overflight conditions, and sensor geometry that will provide optimum target discrimination in remote-sensing studies can be determined only from spectral reflectance measurements made for various sun-target-sensor geometries, supplemented by model calculations which can be checked against field data. The accurate measurement of ground reflectance properties is critical to the design of future sensors and to the determination of imaging conditions. The current investigation has the objective to review typical methods of measuring spectral reflectance, to point out some of the problems inherent to reflectance measuring techniques, and to present a method of checking measurement accuracy.

Duggin, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Computer program to predict aircraft noise levels

Methods developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center for predicting the noise contributions from various aircraft noise sources were programmed to predict aircraft noise levels either in flight or in ground tests. The noise sources include fan inlet and exhaust, jet, flap (for powered lift), core (combustor), turbine, and airframe. Noise propagation corrections are available for atmospheric attenuation, ground reflections, extra ground attenuation, and shielding. Outputs can include spectra, overall sound pressure level, perceived noise level, tone-weighted perceived noise level, and effective perceived noise level at locations specified by the user. Footprint contour coordinates and approximate footprint areas can also be calculated. Inputs and outputs can be in either System International or U.S. customary units. The subroutines for each noise source and propagation correction are described. A complete listing is given.

Clark, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The Characterization of Surface Variegation Effects on Remote Sensing

Improvements in remote sensing capabilities hinge very directly upon attaining an understanding of the physical processes contributing to the measurements. In order to devise new measurement strategies and to learn better techniques for processing remotely gathered data, it is necessary to understand and to characterize the complex radiative interactions of the atmosphere-surface system. In particular, it is important to understand the role of atmospheric structure, ground reflectance inhomogeneity and ground bidirectional reflectance type. The goals, then, are to model, analyze, and parameterize the observable effects of three dimensional atmospheric structure and composition and two dimensional variations in ground albedo and bidirectional reflectance. To achieve these goals, a Monte Carlo radiative transfer code is employed to model and analyze the effects of many of the complications which are present in nature.

Pearce, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Simulation studies and the need for field reflectance studies

There is a need to calibrate satellite data obtained at large polar (i.e., off-nadir) view angles for effects caused by scanner geometry and by the atmosphere. If such effects are not corrected for, then recorded radiance data will contain systematic and random errors which will make accurate target identification and quantification difficult. Adequate calibration of digital radiance data requires both an inductive analysis of digital satellite images and a deductive analysis based upon a priori simulation studies. The inputs to a simulation model (ground reflectance, atmospheric transmission and bandscatter) and their variability are dependent upon (for example) sun-target-sensor geometry. There is a major need to make accurate ground reflectance measurements to provide calibration information on the anisotropy of ground reflectance. There is also a need to assess atmospheric transmission and backscatter from the image itself. A potential simple, inexpensive method for making ground reflectance measurements in the above context is discussed.

Duggin, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Transforming ground-measured reflectances to radiances measured by various space sensors through clear and turbid atmospheres

The influence on the ratios of the ground measured reflectances in the range 0.8-1.1 microns to those in the range 0.6-0.7 microns of the intervening atmosphere and the sensor response are investigated over a typical range of remote sensing conditions. A simulation of the influences of clear and turbid atmospheres is developed, and their effects on Landsat MSS band 7 to band 5 ratios are determined for Avondale loam and stressed and unstressed vegetation. Results show that for dry loam the differences between the band 7 to band 5 ratios as determined from space and ground level measurements is 2.3% for clear and 5.6% for turbid atmospheric conditions, while for wet loams the differences are 10.4% and 29.5%. It is concluded that the effect of the atmosphere on band ratios for vegetation indicates that atmospheric conditions may delay the discrimination of stressed from unstressed vegetation by 3 to 7 days. The influence of the atmosphere is found to increase for oblique angle observations, and the path radiance and the change in path radiance are greater in the 0/180 degree azimuth than in the 90/270 azimuth.

Slater, P. N.↗