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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 361 records · Page 20
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Nephelometer Instrument Handbook

The Integrating Nephelometer (Figure 1) is an instrument that measures aerosol light scattering. It measures aerosol optical scattering properties by detecting (with a wide angular integration – from 7 to 170°) the light scattered by the aerosol and subtracting the light scattered by the carrier gas, the instrument walls and the background noise in the detector (zeroing). Zeroing is typically performed for 5 minutes every day at midnight UTC. The scattered light is split into red (700 nm), green (550 nm), and blue (450 nm) wavelengths and captured by three photomultiplier tubes. The instrument can measure total scatter as well as backscatter only (from 90 to 170°) (Heintzenberg and Charlson 1996; Anderson et al. 1996; Anderson and Ogren 1998; TSI 3563 2015) At ARM (Atmospheric Radiation Measurement), two identical Nephelometers are usually run in series with a sample relative humidity (RH) conditioner between them. This is possible because Nephelometer sampling is non-destructive and the sample can be passed on to another instrument. The sample RH conditioner scans through multiple RH values in cycles, treating the sample. This kind of setup allows to study how aerosol particles’ light scattering properties are affected by humidification (Anderson et al. 1996). For historical reasons, the two Nephelometers in this setup are labeled “wet” and “dry”, with the “dry” Nephelometer usually being the one before the conditioner and sampling ambient air (the names are switched for the MAOS measurement site due to the high RH of the ambient air).

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

EPCAPE Mt. Soledad In Situ Ozone Field Campaign Report

The focus of the Eastern Pacific Cloud Aerosol Precipitation Experiment (EPCAPE) is to characterize the extent, radiative properties, aerosol interactions, and precipitation characteristics of stratocumulus clouds in the Eastern Pacific Ocean across all four seasons at a coastal location, the Scripps Pier and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Mt. Soledad sites in La Jolla, California. An important enhancement in support of this study was the measurement of ozone at the Scripps Mt. Soledad site to help in distinguishing in situ sampling of air parcels originating from regional polluted and clean marine sources.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1972

Statistical analysis of several terminal area traffic collision hazard factors.

An 11 hr sample of air traffic, comprising 584 tracks recorded at Atlanta during peak periods of August 1967, is analyzed to examine the statistical characteristics of range-guard intrusions and airspace conflicts in a terminal area. The number of intrusions (of an imaginary 3-naut mile, 500-ft range guard surrounding each aircraft) and number of conflicts (of the projected airspace for two aircraft) for a track exhibit Poisson variations with track duration. The hourly rate of intrusions follows the gas model square-law variation with traffic density, but the hourly conflict rate, contrary to the gas model, decreases with greater traffic density.

Ruetenik, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Superconductivity in intercalated molybdenum disulfide.

X-ray studies show the existence of two different types of expansions of the intercalated unit cell in both Na and K compounds. Two different phases are also indicated in the superconducting behavior of the K compound. All intercalated samples studied show a superconducting transition. K and Rb compounds become superconductors in the temperature range from 6.5 to 6.0 K. The Na compounds become superconductors at about 4.5 K. In all cases, the superconductivity disappears upon a short exposure of the sample to air. This phenomenon confirms that the superconductivity is due to the presence of the alkali metal.

Somoano, R.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Elemental composition of suspended particulates as functions of space and time in Cleveland, Ohio

An approach to the analysis of a very large elemental concentration data set. The particular data considered was generated by instrumental neutron activation and emission spectroscopy analyses of over 750 24-hour ambient air particulate samples collected at 16 sites in Cleveland, Ohio, during the 15 months from August 1971 thru October 1972. Examples are presented that show the use of multiple approaches to interpreting the data, including pairwise correlation statistics, selective data plotting and cluster analysis.

Neustadter, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Sampler of gas borne particles

An atmosphere sample is described which includes a very thin filter element with straight-through holes on the order of 1 micron. A sample of air with particles to be examined is driven by means of a pressurized low molecular weight gas, e.g., He to the filter element front side. A partial vacuum may be present at the back side of the filter element. The pressure differential across the filter element is just below the rupture point of the filter element. Particles smaller than filter holes are deposited on the filter element. When using a filter element of plastic material of a thickness on the order of 10 microns, a stainless steel back-up plate and a diffusion member are used to support the filter element when subjected to a pressure differential on the order of a few hundred atmospheres.

Miller, C. G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Thermal diffusivity of four Apollo 17 rock samples

The modified Angstrom technique was used to measure the thermal diffusivity of four Apollo 17 rock samples in air at pressures of 1 atm and one-millionth torr in the temperature range 80-460 K, and in CO2 at different pressures for various temperature ranges and at different temperatures for the range of interstitial CO2 gas pressure 1 atm to 0.0001 torr. The experiments with CO2 were intended to simulate Martian conditions, and it was found that the thermal diffusivity of lunar crystalline basalt and breccia varies very little with temperature in a simulated Martian environment, which indicates that the thermal processes in the Martian regolith could be more straightforward than in the lunar regolith.

Horai, K.-I.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The TIROS-N high resolution infrared radiation sounder

The high-resolution infrared radiation sounder (HIRS/2) was developed and flown on the Television and Infrared Observation Satellite, N Series (TIROS-N) as one means of obtaining atmospheric vertical profile information. The HIRS/2 receives visible and infrared spectrum radiation through a single telescope and selects 20 narrow spectral channels by means of a rotating filter wheel. A passive radiant cooler provides an operating temperature of 106.7K for the HgCdTe and InSb detectors while the visible detector operates at instrument frame temperature. Low noise amplifiers and digital processing provide 13 bit data for spacecraft data multiplexing and transmission. The qualities of system performance that determine sounding capability are the dynamic range of data collection, the noise equivalent radiance of the system, the registration of the air columns sampled in each channel, and the ability to upgrade the calibration of the instrument to maintain the performance standard throughout life. The basic performance of the instrument in test is described. Early orbital information from the TIROS-N launched on October 13, 1978 are given and some observations on system quality are made.

Koenig, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Performance of the HIRS/2 instrument on TIROS-N

The High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS/2) was developed and flown on the TIROS-N satellite as one means of obtaining atmospheric vertical profile information. The HIRS/2 receives visible and infrared spectrum radiation through a single telescope and selects 20 narrow radiation channels by means of a rotating filter wheel. A passive radiant cooler provides an operating temperature of 106.7 K for the HgCdTe and InSb detectors while the visible detector operates at instrument frame temperature. Low noise amplifiers and digital processing provide 13 bit data for spacecraft data multiplexing and transmission. The qualities of system performance that determine sounding capability are the dynamic range of data collection, the noise equivalent radiance of the system, the registration of the air columns sampled in each channel and the ability to upgrade the calibration of the instrument to maintain the performance standard throughout life. The basic features, operating characteristics and performance of the instrument in test are described. Early orbital information from the TIROS-N launched on October 13, 1978 is given and some observations on system quality are made.

Koenig, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Flow behavior of ten iron-containing silicate compositions

The viscosity of ten iron-containing silicates has been measured over the temperature range 400 to 650 C. The compositions contain trace amounts up to 30 wt. pct. or 20 mole. pct. Fe3O4 from 10 to 20 wt. pct. or 10 to 20 mole. pct. Na2O and the remainder is SiO2. Samples were melted in air to form oxidized samples, in forming gas (95% N2-5% H2) to form mildly reduced samples, and in forming gas with carbon in the batch to form strongly reduced samples. In general, the viscosity decreased with increasing mole. pct. Na2O and decreasing mole. pct. SiO2 for a given temperature. In samples with increasing mole. pct. FeO(x) the difference in the viscosity between the oxidized sample and the reduced sample grew in magnitude at a given temperature. In all of the compositions, the log or viscosity, vs reciprocal-of-temperature relation shows curvature with an apparent activation energy between 90 and 100 kcal/mole.

Klein, L. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Mobile sampler for use in acquiring samples of terrestrial atmospheric gases

Samples of terrestrial atmospheric gasses from a free body of such gasses using a device characterized by a plurality of tubular bodies adapted to be mounted in side by side relation on a motorized highway vehicle in mutual parallelism with the axis of the normal path of travel for the vehicles. Each of the bodies is of a cylindrical configuration and has an axial opening at each of its opposite ends through which a linear flow path is defined. A pair of pivotally supported, spring-biased sealing caps is mounted adjacent to the ends of the body and continuously urged into a hermetic sealing relationship. A restraint for securing the caps against spring-urged pivotal displacement, includes a separable, normally tensioned line interconnecting the caps and an operable release mechanism for simultaneously releasing the caps for spring-urged displacement. A hot wire cutter is included for separating the line, whereby samples of air are trapped in the body as the caps are spring-driven to assume an hermetically sealed relation with the openings defined in each of the opposite ends of the body.

Tucker, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Participation of Ethylene in Two Modes of Gravistimulation of Shoots

In order to elucidate the role of ehtylene in gravitropism, detailed time courses for ethylene production in horizontal and upright plants were measured. Tomato and pea were chosen as examples of plants which exhibit different patterns of gravitropic curvature. Tomato seedlings were placed in gas-tight lucite boxes from which air was sampled and analyzed for ethylene. During the first 2 min interval after one set of plants was turned horizontal ethylene production was double the baseline. Similarly, plants rotated 3 rpm about a vertical axis transiently doubled ethylene production when the axis was shifted 90 deg. In order to clarify the role of this 2-min burst, the effect of exogenous ethylene was studied. In peas, epicotyls were excised, equilibrated until wound ethylene had subsided to a low stable level, and ethylene production was measured in vertical and horizontal segments. As for tomatoes, excised pea epicotyls increased their rate of ethylene production during the first 2 min of gravistimulation. Also, very low concentrations of exogenous ethylene slightly enhance curvature. On the other hand, higher levels of ethylene and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) inhibit overall curvature.

Harrison, M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Measuring tropospheric HNO3 - Problems and prospects for Nylon filter and mist chamber techniques

A series of laboratory and field measurements was performed to evaluate the mist chamber technique for determining tropospheric HNO3 concentrations. Both the mist chamber and standard Nylon filter techniques exhibit high collection efficiency and excellent agreement measuring HNO3 vapors from a permeation source. When simultaneously sampling ambient air in eastern Virginia, the Nylon filter measured an average of 70 percent higher HNO3 concentration than the mist chamber technique. The results indicate that O3 causes a low-level positive artifact interference in HNO3 measurements performed with the filter technique. This O3-induced error is small, however, compared to the large difference between atmospheric HNO3 concentrations determined with the two techniques. It is hypothesized that unidentified (organic?) nitrogen species in the atmosphere react for form NO3(-) on the filter and this phenomenon may interfere with Nylon filter measurements of HNO3 vapor. These potential interferences did not appear to affect measurements of HNO3 with the mist chamber method.

Talbot, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A case of type I polar stratospheric cloud formation by heterogeneous nucleation

The NASA ER-2 aircraft flew on January 24, 1989, from Stavanger to Spitsbergen, Norway, at the 430-440 K potential temperature surface (19.2-19.8 km pressure altitude). Aerosols were sampled continuously by an optical particle counter (PMS-FSSP300) for concentration and size analyses, and during five 10-min intervals by four wire and one replicator impactor for concentration, size, composition, and phase analysis. During sampling, the air saturation of H2O with respect to ice changed from 20 to 100 percent, and of HNO3 with respect to nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) from subsaturation to supersaturation. Data from both instruments indicate a condensation of hydrochloric acid and, later, nitric acid on the background aerosol particles as the ambient temperature decreases along the flight track. This heterogeneous nucleation mechanism generates type I polar stratospheric cloud particles of 10-fold enhanced optical depth, which could play a role in stratospheric ozone depletion.

Pueschel, R. F.↗