SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Stratospheric Balloon”

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 397 records · Page 22

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1981

Measurement of HO2 and other trace gases in the stratosphere using a high resolution far infrared spectrometer at 28 Km

A progress report and data analyses from the December 1980 flight are presented. The following areas are covered: (1) computer analysis of the flight spectra to obtain phase corrected, normalized sums of spectra for retrieval of atmospheric profiles; (2) study of atmospheric HF, HCl, and H2O; (3) stratospheric H2O2 and HOCl; (4) laboratory spectroscopy of HOCl; and (5) design study of a new balloon gondola. The majority of the flight data were taken in the low background mode, i.e., one input to the spectrometer looking at the sky and the other looking at a LN2 temperature blackbody. An analysis of HF stratospheric measurements was undertaken in conjunction with the HF analysis. High quality spectra showing the HOCl q-branches under optically thin conditions were also obtained.

Traub, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS2019

Power Systems Design for Long Duration Ballooning

The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) has been designing and building high-altitude balloon power systems for over 28 years. With that experience, we have found certain types of PV panels, batteries, and charge controllers that are reliable in stratospheric environments. The goal is to ensure that power systems provide power reliably throughout the duration of an Long Duration Ballooning (LDB) flight. The purpose of this presentation is to provide some general guidelines and best practices for power system design.

Long Duration Ballooning↗

NASA NTRS2001

Mean Ages of Stratospheric Air Derived From in Situ Observations of CO2, CH4, and N2O

Accurate mean ages for stratospheric air have been derived from a spatially and temporally comprehensive set of in situ observations of CO2, CH4, and N2O obtained from 1992 to 1998 from the NASA ER-2 aircraft and balloon flights. Errors associated with the tropospheric CO2 seasonal cycle and interannual variations in the CO2 growth rate are less than 0.5 year throughout the stratosphere and less than 0.3 year for air older than 2 years (N2O less than 275 ppbv), indicating that the age spectra are broad enough to attenuate these influences over the time period covered by these observations. The distribution of mean age with latitude and altitude provides detailed, quantitative information about the general circulation of the stratosphere. At 20 km, sharp meridional gradients in the mean age are observed across the subtropics. Between 20 and 30 km, the average difference in mean age between the tropics and midlatitudes is approximately 2 years, with slightly smaller differences at higher and lower altitudes. The mean age in the midlatitude middle stratosphere (approx. 25-32 km) is relatively constant with respect to altitude at 5 plus or minus 0.5 years. Comparison with earlier balloon observations of CO2 dating back to the 1970s indicates that the mean age of air in this region has remained within 11 year of its current value over the last 25 years. A climatology of mean age is derived from the observed compact relationship between mean age and N2O. These characteristics of the distribution of mean age in the stratosphere will serve as critically needed diagnostics for models of stratospheric transport.

Andrews, A. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Measurements of concentrations of chlorofluoromethanes (CFMs) carbon dioxide and carbon isotope ratio in stratospheric and tropospheric air by grab-sampling systems

Measurements of concentrations of chlorofluoromethanes (CFMs), carbon dioxide and carbon isotope ratio in stratospheric and tropospheric air by grab-sampling systems are reported. The balloon-borne grab-sampling system has been launched from Sanriku Balloon Center three times since 1981. It consists of: (1) six sampling cylinders, (2) eight motor driven values, (3) control and monitor circuits, and (4) pressurized housing. Particular consideration is paid to the problem of contamination. Strict requirements are placed on the choice of materials and components, construction methods, cleaning techniques, vacuum integrity, and sampling procedures. An aluminum pressurized housing and a 4-m long inlet line are employed to prevent the sampling air from contamination by outgassing of sampling and control devices. The sampling is performed during the descent of the system. Vertical profiles of mixing ratios of CF2Cl2, CFCl3 and CH4 are given. Mixing ratios of CF2Cl2 and CFCl3 in the stratosphere do not show the discernible effect of the increase of those in the ground level background, and decrease with altitude. Decreasing rate of CFCl3 is larger than that of CF2Cl2. CH4 mixing ratio, on the other hand, shows diffusive equilibrium, as the photodissociation cross section of CH4 is small and concentrations of OH radical and 0(sup I D) are low.

Itoh, T.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Thunderstorm related variations in stratospheric conductivity measurements

The vector electric field and polar conductivities were measured by zero-pressure balloon-borne payloads launched from Wallops Island, Virgina during the summers of 1987 and 1988. Data were collected over thunderstorms (or electrified clouds) during 6-hour flights at altitudes near 30 km. The vector electric field measurements were made with the double Langmuir probe high-impedance method, and the direct conductivity measurements were obtained with the relaxation technique. Evidence is presented for conductivity variations over thunderstorms (or electrified clouds). It is found that both positive and negative polar conductivity data do show variations of up to a factor of 2 from ambient values associated with the disturbed periods. Some ideas for possible physical mechanisms which may be responsible for the conductivity variations over thunderstorms are also discussed in this paper.

Hu, Hua↗

NASA NTRS1987

Measurement of methane and other light hydrocarbons in the troposphere and lower stratosphere

The volume mixing ratios of methane, acetylene, ethane, and propane were measured in the troposphere and stratosphere on April 5, 1984, at 33 deg N, over New Mexico, using the technique of grab sampling by evacuated spheres on a balloon platform. Tropospheric volume mixing ratios were CH4, 1.59 ppm; C2H2, 358 ppt (parts per trillion); C2H6, 365 ppt; and C3H8, 1440 ppt. In the stratosphere, acetylene was 60 ppt. For ethane and propane the mixing ratios at 11.6 km were 441 ppt and 84 ppt, respectively.

Aikin, A. C.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Sequential High-Resolution Wind Profile Measurements

Tropospheric flow and lower stratospheric flow as measured by 94 sequences of high-resolution Jimsphere balloon data are presented and discussed. The 70 and 24 sequential series are presented for the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and Point Mugu, California, areas, respectively. Supplemental data, consisting of the associative temperature profiles and surface and 200 mb synoptic maps, are also presented. The measurements are discussed relative to both the engineering and disciplinary areas. An initial subjective analysis of mesoscale features observed on some sequences is presented.

Johnson, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

STRATCOM 8 Data Workshop and supplement

The STRATCOM-8 effort took place at Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on September 28-30, 1977. The prime emphasis was on the study of stratospheric photochemistry involving ozone, with secondary objectives including a study of the balloon environment, comparison of independent techniques for the measurement of O3 and NO, and the development of new sensor systems. More than forty sensors were included on the two large balloons, a U-2 aircraft, and several rockets and small balloons, in addition to meteorological balloons and rockets. Most of the systems performed as expected.

Reed, E. L.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Recent observations of HF and HCl in the upper stratosphere

Concentrations of gas phase hydrofluoric acid and hydrochloric acid have been determined in the upper stratosphere from near-infrared solar spectra recorded in the course of balloon flights from Palestine, Texas, in October 1978 and in September 1979. The average mixing ratios for HF deduced respectively from these flights are (4.8 plus or minus .3) x 10 to the -10th ppv above 30.3km and (6.2 plus or minus .5) x 10 to the -10th ppv above 36.8km. This observed difference is ascribed to an increase in the HF concentration out to at least 37km. The HCl mixing ratios deduced from the 1978 flight yield (4.5 plus or minus .6) x 10 to the -10th ppv at 21.7km, (7.5 plus or minus .7) x 10 to the -10th ppv at 27.5 km and (2.1 plus or minus .4) x 10 to the -9th ppv above 30.5km. Observations in 1979 imply an average HCl mixing ratio above 36.8km of (2.4 plus or minus .4) x 10 to the -9th ppv. Our data do not indicate a measurable temporal trend of the HCl concentration above 30km.

Zander, R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Microprocessor-controlled laser tracker for atmospheric sensing

An optical tracking system comprising a visible HeNe laser, an imaging detector, and a microprocessor-controlled mirror, has been designed to track a moving retroreflector located up to 500 m away from an atmospheric instrument and simultaneously direct spectrally tunable infrared laser radiation to the retroreflector for double-ended, long-path absorption measurements of atmospheric species. The tracker has been tested during the recent flight of a balloon-borne tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer which monitors the concentrations of stratospheric species within a volume defined by a 0.14-m-diameter retroreflector lowered 500 m below the instrument gondola.

Johnson, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Seasonal variation of the temporal variance of long-lived trace gases measured during MAP

A series of balloon observations of long lived trace gases was performed in the midlatitude stratosphere during MAP. The temporal variance of the local mixing ratios of CH4, N2O, CFCl3, and CF2Cl2 indicates a substantial annual variability. The concept of the equivalent displacement height (EDH), introduced by Ehhalt et al., is used to investigate some features of transport activity in the lower stratosphere. It appears that most of the temporal variance originates from strong transport effects during the periods of the spring and autumn turn-around of the stratospheric circulation. The dynamical process was found to be considerably reduced during October.

Roeth, E. P.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Infrared measurements of atmospheric constituents

The objective of this program is to obtain data concerning the concentration versus altitude of various constituents of interest in the photochemistry of the stratospheric ozone layer. Data pertinent to this objective are obtained using balloon-borne instruments to measure the atmospheric transmission and emission in the mid infrared. In addition to obtaining constituent profile information, the spectral data obtained are also used to identify absorption or emission features which may interfere with the retrieval of constituent data from satellite instruments using lower spectral resolution. The spectral resolution obtained with the solar spectral system is 0.0025 cm(exp -1) and represents about a factor of 5 greater resolution than any solar spectra previously obtained in this spectral region. As a result of the increase in spectral resolution, a large number of features are observed in these spectra which were not observed in previous studies. Identification and analysis of these features is in progress. The results of this analysis to date shows a number of HNO3 features which have not been observed before, and these occur where they will interfere with the retrieval of other constituents. An example of the interference is the occurrence of features in the 780.2 cm(exp -1) region which overlap the ClONO2 feature which will be used for retrieval of ClONO2 by the CLAES instrument on UARS. A number of features due to COF2 were also identified in the 1250 cm(exp -1) region which may interfere with retrieval of N2O5.

Murcray, David G.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Ozone in the Troposphere and Stratosphere, part 1

This is the first part of a 2-part Conference Publication. This document contains papers presented at the 1992 Quadrennial Ozone Symposium held at the Charlottesville, Virginia, from June 4-13, 1992. The papers cover topics in both Tropospheric and Stratospheric research. These topics include ozone trends and climatology, ground based, aircraft, balloon, rocket and satellite measurements, Arctic and Antarctic research, global and regional modeling, and volcanic effects.

Hudson, Robert D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Ozone in the troposphere and stratosphere, part 2

This is the second of a 2-part Conference Publication. This document contains papers presented at the 1992 Quadrennial Ozone Symposium held at Charlottesville, Virginia, from June 4-13, 1992. The papers cover topics in both Tropospheric and Stratospheric research. These topics include ozone trends and climatology, ground based, aircraft, balloon, rocket and satellite measurements, Arctic and Antarctic research, global and regional modeling, and volcanic effects.

Hudson, Robert D.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Comparison of Upper Tropospheric Water Vapor from AIRS and Cryogenic Frostpoint Hygrometers

Upper tropospheric water vapor (UTWV) from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) experiment on NASA's Aqua spacecraft has the potential of addressing several important climate questions. The specified AIRS system measurement uncertainty for water vapor is 20 percent absolute averaged over 2 km layers. Cryogenic frostpoint hygrometers (CFH) are balloon-borne water vapor sensors responsive from the surface into the lower stratosphere. Several dozen coincident, collocated CFH profiles have been obtained for AlRS validation. The combination of CFH sensitivity and sample size offers a statistically compelling picture of AIRS UTWV measurement capability. We present a comparison between CFH observations and AlRS retrievals. We focus on the altitude range from the middle troposphere up to heights at the limits of AlRS sensitivity to water vapor, believed to be around 100-1 50 hPa.

validation↗

NASA NTRS1977

Radiometric measurement of stratospheric HCl

On March 17, 1976, the atmospheric absorption of solar infrared radiation at sunset was measured by a balloon-borne pressure modulator, whose major feature was a cell containing gaseous HCl, through which the incoming radiation passed. The side-band:wide-band ratio which is related to the amount of atmospheric HCl in the path between the instrument and the sun, was also measured. The vertical mixing ratio profile for gaseous HCl for the altitude range 16-39 km, was derived from the data by using a computer model. The shape of the profile implies that the major source of HCl in the stratosphere is around 32 km. The importance of this profile in determining the effects of man-made chlorine compounds on atmospheric ozone is stressed.

Eyre, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Measurement of HO2 and other trace gases in the stratosphere using a high resolution far-infrared spectrometer

This report covers the time period 1 Jul. to 31 Dec. 1993. There were no balloon or airplane flights during this reporting period, instead we concentrated on analyzing our existing data. This was facilitated by a recently completed program of enhancements made in our data reduction software. We are using our data sets to examine the changes in stratospheric chemistry over a variety of time scales. Ongoing projects include investigating the diurnal variation of OH, HO2, and H2O2 and exploring their relationships with other simultaneously measured species; measuring long term trends in HF and HCl; and looking for changes caused by the June 1991 Pinatubo eruption. We are also continuing to analyze the large set of data collected during the AASE 2.

Traub, Wesley A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Advanced laser stratospheric monitoring systems analyses

This report describes the software support supplied by Systems and Applied Sciences Corporation for the study of Advanced Laser Stratospheric Monitoring Systems Analyses under contract No. NAS1-15806. This report discusses improvements to the Langley spectroscopic data base, development of LHS instrument control software and data analyses and validation software. The effect of diurnal variations on the retrieved concentrations of NO, NO2 and C L O from a space and balloon borne measurement platform are discussed along with the selection of optimum IF channels for sensing stratospheric species from space.

Larsen, J. C.↗