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At least 415 records · Page 23

Correction to "Influence of Dust and Black Carbon on the Snow Albedo in the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System Version 5 Land Surface Model"

The website information describing the forcing meteorological data used for the land surface model (LSM) simulation, which were observed at an Automated Meteorological Station CAWS) at the Sapporo District Meteorological Observatory maintained by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), was missing from the text. The 1-hourly data were obtained from the website of Kisyoutoukeijouhou (Information for available JMA-observed meteorological data in the past) on the website of JMA (in Japanese) (available at: http://www.jma.go.jpijmaimenulreport.html). The measurement height information of 59.5 m for the anemometer at the Sapporo Observatory was also obtained from the website of JMA (in Japanese) (available at: http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/menu/report.html). In addition, the converted 10-m wind speed, based on the AWS/JMA data, was further converted to a 2-m wind speed prior to its use with the land model as a usual treatment of off-line Catchment simulation. Please ignore the ice absorption data on the website mentioned in paragraph [15] which was not used for our calculations (but the data on the website was mostly the same as the estimated ice absorption coefficients by the following method because they partially used the same data by Warren [1984]). We calculated the ice absorption coefficients with the method mentioned in the same paragraph, for which some of the refractive index data by Warren [1984] were used and then interpolated between wavelengths, and also mentioned in paragraph [20] for the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) ranges. The optical data we used were interpolated between wavelengths as necessary.

Yasunari, Teppei J.↗

Earth Observing System (EOS)/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) worst-case analysis: Antenna beam pointing

This report presents a worst-case analysis of the EOS/AMSU-A (Earth Observing System/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A) Antenna beam-pointing accuracy. There are three sources of beam pointing error. These are mechanical tolerances in the manufacture and assembly of the parts, allowable axial displacement of the reflector relative to the motor shaft, and on-orbit thermal distortions. For the worst-case analysis, each will be assumed to act independently and thus each contribution is additive.

Ely, Wayne↗

Convective Systems Observed and Simulated During TRMM Field Campaigns

Recently completed TRMM field campaigns (TEFLUN1998, SCSMEX-1998, TRMM.LBA-1999, and KWAJEX 1999) have obtained direct measurements of microphysical data associated with convective systems from various geographical locations. These TRMM field experiments were designed to contribute to fundamental understanding of cloud dynamics and microphysics, as well as for validation,, testing assumptions and error estimates of cloud-resolving models, forward radiative transfer models, algorithms used to estimate rainfall statistics and vertical structure of precipitation and latent heating from both surface-based radar and satellites.

Tao, Wei-Kuo↗

Earth observing system (Eos) requirements for a polar platform

This paper describes the requirements that the polar platform will have to meet if it is to satisfy the needs of the scientific earth observation communities in the early 1990s. The Eos is a prime mission for the polar platform. The polar platform will be a large satellite in a sun synchronous orbit that could be built up from the same components that are to be used to build the Space Station and its co-orbiting freeflying satellite. It will be serviced from the Shuttle so that it will be kept in operation and up-to-date for at least a decade. An initial set of scientific requirements has been documented by a Science and Missions Requirements Working Group (S&MRWG). These scientific requirements have been translated into derived technical requirements for the polar platform. These derived requirements are presented.

Muller, R. M.↗

Advanced Earth Observation System Instrumentation Study (AEOSIS)

The feasibility, practicality, and cost are investigated for establishing a national system or grid of artificial landmarks suitable for automated (near real time) recognition in the multispectral scanner imagery data from an earth observation satellite (EOS). The intended use of such landmarks, for orbit determination and improved mapping accuracy is reviewed. The desirability of using xenon searchlight landmarks for this purpose is explored theoretically and by means of experimental results obtained with LANDSAT 1 and LANDSAT 2. These results are used, in conjunction with the demonstrated efficiency of an automated detection scheme, to determine the size and cost of a xenon searchlight that would be suitable for an EOS Searchlight Landmark Station (SLS), and to facilitate the development of a conceptual design for an automated and environmentally protected EOS SLS.

Var, R. E.↗

The Effect of Environmental Conditions on Tropical Deep Convective Systems Observed from the TRMM Satellite

This study uses measurements of radiation and cloud properties taken between January and August 1998 by three Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) instruments, the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) scanner, the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI), and the Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS), to evaluate the variations of tropical deep convective systems (DCS) with sea surface temperature (SST) and precipitation. This study finds that DCS precipitation efficiency increases with SST at a rate of approx. 2%/K. Despite increasing rainfall efficiency, the cloud areal coverage rises with SST at a rate of about 7%/K in the warm tropical seas. There, the boundary layer moisture supply for deep convection and the moisture transported to the upper troposphere for cirrus-anvil cloud formation increase by approx. 6.3%/K and approx. 4.0%/K, respectively. The changes in cloud formation efficiency, along with the increased transport of moisture available for cloud formation, likely contribute to the large rate of increasing DCS areal coverage. Although no direct observations are available, the increase of cloud formation efficiency with rising SST is deduced indirectly from measurements of changes in the ratio of DCS ice water path and boundary layer water vapor amount with SST. Besides the cloud areal coverage, DCS cluster effective sizes also increase with precipitation. Furthermore, other cloud properties, such as cloud total water and ice water paths, increase with SST. These changes in DCS properties will produce a negative radiative feedback for the earth's climate system due to strong reflection of shortwave radiation by the DCS. These results significantly differ from some previous hypothesized dehydration scenarios for warmer climates, and have great potential in testing current cloud-system resolving models and convective parameterizations of general circulation models.

Lin, Bing↗

Remote Sensing of Fires and Smoke from the Earth Observing System MODIS Instrument

The talk will include review of the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) algorithms and performance e.g. the MODIS algorithm and the changes in the algorithm since launch. Comparison of MODIS and ASTER fire observations. Summary of the fall activity with the Forest Service in use of MODIS data for the fires in the North-West. Validation on the ground of the MODIS fire product.

Kaufman, Y. J.↗

Extended field observations of cirrus clouds using a ground-based cloud observing system

The evolution of synoptic-scale dynamics associated with a middle and upper tropospheric cloud event that occurred on 26 November 1991 is examined. The case under consideration occurred during the FIRE CIRRUS-II Intensive Field Observing Period held in Coffeyville, KS during Nov. and Dec., 1991. Using data from the wind profiler demonstration network and a temporally and spatially augmented radiosonde array, emphasis is given to explaining the evolution of the kinematically-derived ageostrophic vertical circulations and correlating the circulation with the forcing of an extensively sampled cloud field. This is facilitated by decomposing the horizontal divergence into its component parts through a natural coordinate representation of the flow. Ageostrophic vertical circulations are inferred and compared to the circulation forcing arising from geostrophic confluence and shearing deformation derived from the Sawyer-Eliassen Equation. It is found that a thermodynamically indirect vertical circulation existed in association with a jet streak exit region. The circulation was displaced to the cyclonic side of the jet axis due to the orientation of the jet exit between a deepening diffluent trough and building ridge. The cloud line formed in the ascending branch of the vertical circulation with the most concentrated cloud development occurring in conjunction with the maximum large-scale vertical motion. The relationship between the large scale dynamics and the parameterization of middle and upper tropospheric clouds in large-scale models is discussed and an example of ice water contents derived from a parameterization forced by the diagnosed vertical motions and observed water vapor contents is presented.

Ackerman, Thomas P.↗

Fires and Smoke Observed from the Earth Observing System MODIS Instrument: Products, Validation, and Operational Use

The MODIS sensor, launched on NASA's Terra satellite at the end of 1999, was designed with 36 spectral channels for a wide array of land, ocean, and atmospheric investigations. MODIS has a unique ability to observe fires, smoke, and burn scars globally. Its main fire detection channels saturate at high brightness temperatures: 500 K at 4 microns and 400 K at 11 microns, which can only be attained in rare circumstances at the I kin fire detection spatial resolution. Thus, unlike other polar orbiting satellite sensors with similar thermal and spatial resolutions, but much lower saturation temperatures (e.g. AVHRR and ATSR), MODIS can distinguish between low intensity ground surface fires and high intensity crown forest fires. Smoke column concentration over land is for the first time being derived from the MOMS solar channels, extending from 0.41 microns to 2.1 microns. The smoke product has been provisionally validated both globally and regionally over southern Africa and central and south America. Burn scars are observed from MODIS even in the presence of smoke, using the 1.2 to 2.1 micron channels. MODIS burned area information is used to estimate pyrogenic emissions. A wide range of these fire and related products and validation are demonstrated for the wild fires that occurred in northwestern United States in the summer of 2000. The MODIS rapid response system and direct broadcast capability is being developed to enable users to obtain and generate data in near real time. It is expected that health and land management organizations will use these systems for monitoring the occurrence of fires and the dispersion of smoke within two to six hours after data acquisition.

Kaufman, Y. J.↗

The Life Cycles of Intense Cyclonic and Anticyclonic Circulation Systems Observed over Oceans

This report presents a summary of research accomplished over the past four years under the sponsorship of NASA grant #NAG8-915. Building on previously funded NASA grants, this part of the project focused on the following specific goals relative to cyclone/anticyclone systems: the jet streak link between block formation and upstream cyclone activity; the role of northward warm air advection in block formation; the importance of cooperative participation of several forcing mechanisms during explosive cyclone development; and the significance of the vertical distribution of forcing processes during cyclone/anticyclone development.

Smith, Phillip J.↗

The Evolution of Icelandic Volcano Emissions, as Observed From Space in the Era of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS)

Volcanoes are natural phenomena that have global environmental impacts. Satellite remote sensing can help classify volcanic eruptions and track the dispersion of emissions. We assess multiple volcanic eruptions in Iceland (Eyjafjallajökull 2010, Grímsvötn 2011 and Holuhraun 2014-2015), using space-borne observations to infer information about the geological dynamics of each volcano and the properties and evolution of plume particles. We derive qualitative constraints on plume particle size, shape and light-absorption characteristics from Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) space-borne imagery. With the MISR Research Algorithm (RA), we distinguish sulfate/water-dominated volcanic plumes from Holuhraun and ash-dominated plumes from Eyjafjallajökull and Grímsvötn, and even identify subtler changes in ash particle size and light-absorption within plumes. Additionally, plume heights are retrieved geometrically from MISR. These are combined with surface thermal anomalies from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and SO2 concentrations derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to synthesize eruption remote-sensing chronologies. Signals related to differences in particle properties are identified and linked to evolving magma composition at Eyjafjallajökull. The results illustrate the potential to distinguish qualitative differences in eruptive magma composition based on particle light absorption and plume profile from remote-sensing. For the sulfate-rich Holuhraun plumes, the influence of aerosol hygroscopic growth during transport is inferred from such data. Three processes appear to dominate plume evolution in Iceland: downwind aerosol formation; particle hydration; and particle deposition. This work demonstrates enhanced MISR capabilities, and more generally, remote-sensing analysis that can be applied globally, especially where suborbital volcano observations are limited or entirely absent.

remote sensting↗

Towards Assimilation of Satellite Derived Aerosol Optical Centroid Height in the NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) Model: Case Studies

Aerosol vertical distribution plays an important role in determining aerosol effects on the weather, climate and air quality, but is one of the largest uncertainties in current global chemistry transport models. Operational datasets of global aerosol vertical distribution from observational sources that could constrain models are not adequate.

Santiago Gasso↗

Simulations of Infrared Radiances Over a Deep Convective Cloud System Observed During TC4: Potential for Enhancing Nocturnal Ice Cloud Retrievals

Retrievals of ice cloud properties using infrared measurements at 3.7, 6.7, 7.3, 8.5, 10.8, and 12.0 microns can provide consistent results regardless of solar illumination, but are limited to cloud optical thicknesses tau < approx.6. This paper investigates the variations in radiances at these wavelengths over a deep convective cloud system for their potential to extend retrievals of tau and ice particle size D(sub e) to optically thick clouds. Measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Airborne Simulator--ASTER, the Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder, the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL), and the Cloud Radar System (CRS) aboard the NASA ER-2 aircraft during the NASA TC4 (Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling) experiment flight during 5 August 2007, are used to examine the retrieval capabilities of infrared radiances over optically thick ice clouds. Simulations based on coincident in-situ measurements and combined cloud tau from CRS and CPL measurements are comparable to the observations. They reveal that brightness temperatures at these bands and their differences (BTD) are sensitive to tau up to approx.20 and that for ice clouds having tau > 20, the 3.7 - 10.8 microns and 3.7 - 6.7 microns BTDs are the most sensitive to D(sub e). Satellite imagery appears consistent with these results. Keywords: clouds; optical depth; particle size; satellite; TC4; multispectral thermal infrared

Minnis, Patrick↗

Simulations of Infrared Radiances Over a Deep Convective Cloud System Observed During TC4- Potential for Enhancing Nocturnal Ice Cloud Retrievals

Retrievals of ice cloud properties using infrared measurements at 3.7, 6.7, 7.3, 8.5, 10.8, and 12.0 microns can provide consistent results regardless of solar illumination, but are limited to cloud optical thicknesses tau < approx.6. This paper investigates the variations in radiances at these wavelengths over a deep convective cloud system for their potential to extend retrievals of tau and ice particle size D(sub e) to optically thick clouds. Measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Airborne Simulator--ASTER, the Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder, the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL), and the Cloud Radar System (CRS) aboard the NASA ER-2 aircraft during the NASA TC4 (Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling) experiment flight during 5 August 2007, are used to examine the retrieval capabilities of infrared radiances over optically thick ice clouds. Simulations based on coincident in-situ measurements and combined cloud tau from CRS and CPL measurements are comparable to the observations. They reveal that brightness temperatures at these bands and their differences (BTD) are sensitive to tau up to approx.20 and that for ice clouds having tau > 20, the 3.7 - 10.8 microns and 3.7 - 6.7 microns BTDs are the most sensitive to D(sub e). Satellite imagery appears consistent with these results. Keywords: clouds; optical depth; particle size; satellite; TC4; multispectral thermal infrared

CRS and CPL↗

Reference Intercalibration for the Climate Observing System

Reference Intercalibration is critical in supporting the construction of climate data records, which, given their necessary longevity, must consist of measurements from multiple instruments. Reference intercalibration enables placing multiple instruments on the same radiometric scale, reducing calibration-based biases in climate data records. Measurements that have characteristics of a climate benchmark make excellent in-orbit intercalibration references. Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) Pathfinder (CPF) consists of a reflected solar (RS) spectrometer (350-2300 nm) that will take hyperspectral Earth reflectance measurements with unprecedented SI-traceable accuracy (0.3%, 1-sigma) from the International Space Station (ISS). CPF measurements will have several characteristics of climate benchmark measurements and will demonstrate its capability as a rigorous in-orbit intercalibration reference with Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The methodologies that have been developed to support CPF-CERES and CPF-VIIRS intercalibration can readily be extended to other Low Earth Orbit and Geostationary instrument targets. With its highly accurate hyperspectral observations, CPF measurements can also be used to improve the characterization of targets widely used for satellite instrument vicarious calibration including Earth land surface pseudo-invariant calibration sites, deep convective clouds, and the Moon. We will discuss the importance of climate benchmark measurement attributes for intercalibration and considerations for the associated intercalibration data analysis to support building and maintaining climate data records.

Yolanda Shea↗

Sensor technology for future atmospheric observation systems

The remote sensing instruments that will be needed for research in atmospheric environmental quality in the future are considered. The needs are determined on the basis of a model that incorporates scientific knowledge objectives, measurement needs, and potential space missions, spacecraft and instruments in order to discern the technology requirements. While emphasis is placed on global surveys that make full use of the synoptic observation capabilities of spaceborne sensors, the importance of airborne and ground-based sensors in this research is also recognized. Several of the instruments that are identified to fulfill the knowledge objectives are spectrometers and radiometers using such passive measurement techniques as interferometer correlation absorption radiometry, and heterodyne spectrometry. Lidar instruments are also seen as important future developments.

Alvarado, U. R.↗