Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Circulation”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 451 records · Page 25

African wave disturbances in a general circulation model

Evidence is presented to show that African wave disturbances are reproduced in a general circulation simulation. The model used is the general circulation model developed by the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency. The model was integrated in order to simulate the summer of 1974. A synoptic analysis of the simulated data over Africa for the month of July was done. The results of the analysis show that wave disturbances are generated by the model; the behavior and the structure of the simulated disturbances are similar to those observed over tropical Africa during the northern summer.

Estoque, M. A.↗

The simulation of transient statistics of the Southern Hemispheric circulation by the GLAS seasonal cycle model: Preliminary results

The general circulation of the Southern Hemisphere is quite different from that of the Northern Hemisphere in many important ways. These include the barotropic nature of the stationary waves and the presence of a strong barotropic component to the mean zonal wind, the lack of a strong seasonal dependence of the transient eddies, and the dominant role played by eddies with periods less than 10 days compared to longer period fluctuations. Such differences attest to the importance of the altered nature of the orographic and thermal land-sea forcings in the Southern Hemisphere compared to the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the important features of the Southern Hemisphere circulation as simulated by the GLAS Seasonal Cycle Model (SCM) are presented. The geographical patterns of local variability and their seasonal shifts in the SCM are discussed and compared to observations.

Straus, D. M.↗

The high latitude circulation and temperature structure of the thermosphere near solstice

NCAR thermospheric-general-circulation-model (TGCM) computations of solar-maximum thermospheric neutral-gas temperature and circulation around the December solstice are presented and discussed. The TGCM uses a 5 x 5-deg grid and 24 constant-pressure layers, corresponding to altitudes of about 97-500 km. The results are mapped as electron-density contours, polar plots, cylindrical equidistant projections, meridional cross sections, and F-region polar plots comparing the TGCM predictions with DE-2 satellite observations. The significant differences between summer and winter high-latitude F-region winds are attributed to the ion drag momentum associated with magnetospheric convection. The TGCM wind predictions follow the same pattern as the satellite measurements but are too small; possible model corrections are considered.

Roble, R. G.↗

The simulation of the seasonal cycle of the Southern Hemispheric circulation by the GLAS Seasonal Cycle Model and a comparison to observations

The general circulation of the Southern Hemisphere is quite different from that of the Northern Hemisphere in many important ways. These include the barotropic nature of the stationary waves and the presence of a strong barotropic component to the mean zonal wind, the lack of a strong seasonal dependence of the transient eddies, and the dominant role played by eddies with periods less than 10 days compared to longer period fluctuations. Such differences attest to the importance of the altered nature of the orographic and thermal land-sea forcings in the Southern Hemisphere compared to the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the important features of the Southern Hemisphere circulation as simulated by the GLAS Seasonal Cycle Model (SCM) are presented. The geographical patterns of local variability and their seasonal shifts in the SCM are discussed and compared to observations.

Straus, D. M.↗

The influence of the tropics upon the prediction of the Southern Hemisphere circulation within the GLAS GCM

An examination is undertaken of the sensitivity of short term Southern Hemisphere circulation prediction to tropical wind data and tropical latent heat release. The data assimilation experiments employ the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences' fourth-order general circulation model. Two of the experiments are identical, but for the fact that one uses tropical wind data while the other does not. A third experiment contains the identical initial conditions of forecasts with tropical winds, while suppressing tropical latent heat release.

Baker, W. E.↗

Orographic Effects in Atmospheric Circulation

The role of orography on the large-scale and regional atmospheric circulation, with special emphasis on lee cyclogenesis was studied. Effects observed in the actual atmosphere as well as numerical weather prediction and general circulation models are included.

Duffy, D. G.↗

Jet Stream Errors and Tropospheric-stratospheric Interactions in the GLAS General Circulation Model

This project used the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences general circulation model (GCM) to explore the causes of erroneously weak shears above the subtropicl jet in GCMs. This problem was seen over the past 15 years of general circulation modeling both as a weak vertical shear and as a cold polar stratosphere. Although recent models now have closed zonal wind contours in their monthly Northern Hemisphere winter climatologies, the weak shears are still present in both winter, summer, Northern, and Southern hemispheres. Numerous hypotheses have been advanced to explain this failure including the rigid top, poor vertical resolution, incorrect modeling of radiative processes, and incorrect model generation of tropospheric waves. Although the Community Climate Model, attempted to deal with many of these causes, especially radiative processes, the problem is still present.

Tenenbaum, J.↗

Some Aspects of General Circulation and Tides in the Middle Atmosphere

Data from several sources suggest that between 100 and 200 km in the middle atmosphere, a layer of anomalous circulation must be situated, at least in middle latitudes. The mechanisms responsible for the circulation anomaly in this height region are discussed in terms of hydrodynamic equations. The current state of atmospheric tidal theory is also addressed.

Ivanovskiy, A. I.↗

The influence of ocean surface temperature gradient and continentality on the Walker circulation. II - Prescribed global changes

The series of experiments presently used to investigate the mechanisms responsible for forcing the global Walker circulation features worldwide changes in ocean surface temperatures (OSTs), topography, and/or continents. The primary factor affecting circulation is noted to be the global distribution of continents and oceans; while OST gradients are also important, topography emerges as comparatively unimportant. Continentality and OST gradients force the model atmosphere through the introduction of zonal variations in surface heating. The vertical motions to which they give rise yield moisture convergence and condensation variations which reinforce vertical motions. The forcing by OST gradients is partly nonlocal, and the atmospheric response is effected by continentality. In all cases, vertical motion zonal variations correlate with precipitation.

Stone, P. H.↗

Circulation control airfoils - Past, present, future

This paper presents a review of circulation control technology, its history, status and areas for further research and development. A brief description of the basic performance characteristics of circulation control airfoils are presented together with a more detailed discussion of some of the more important aerodynamic parameters dependencies. The unique capability of the airfoils to develop high lift coefficients independent of incidence over a range of operating conditions is demonstrated. Consideration is also given to the various stall conditions that have been experimentally observed and to the various theoretical formulations that have been attempted to explain these phenomena.

Wood, N. J.↗

On the effects of islands' geometry and size on inducing sea breeze circulation

Model scaling of the characteristics of the sea breeze circulation involved with circular and slab elongated-symmetric midlatitude islands was performed. Larger horizontal and vertical velocities were indicated over the small circular islands as compared to those over corresponding elongated islands. The circulation characteristics of both types of islands become similar when the half-width of the island is about the same as the distance of inland penetration of the sea breeze in a nonisland case. Evaluation of the results through a scale analysis is presented.

Mahrer, Y.↗

Influence of radiative heating and cumulus convection on development of mean monsoon circulation in July

Numerical simulations of July mean monsoon circulation in the tropics are described. The model used in the simulations was based on a series of primitive equations for the combined effects of variations of solar radiation, radiative diurnal warming, and large-scale and deep cumulus condensation, and the kinematic effects of topography. The initial states of the model were derived from the observed mean distributions of pressure and humidity. Analysis of the numerical results showed that the large-scale features of the mean July monsoon circulation in the tropics are created mainly by differential diabatic heating under the influence of the specific topography. The time necessary to establish the large scale features was only about 5 days when the diurnal variation of solar radiation was taken into account. Graphic illustrations of the simulated mean July flow conditions are provided.

Kuo, H. L.↗

Numerical simulations of a transverse indirect circulation and low-level jet in the exit region of an upper-level jet

A numerical study was performed of a severe weather event (tornado) which occurred on May 10, 1973 in the Ohio region. The situation was modeled with a primitive equation mesoscale dynamic formulation. Account was taken of precipitation, the planetary boundary layer parameters as bulk quantities, the vertical pressure gradient, and lateral boundary conditions based on radiosonde data. Two 12-hr simulations, adiabatic and nondivergent, respectively, were analyzed for relationships between upper and lower level jets. In the adiabatic formulation, a transverse circulation with a low level jet formed at the exit region of the upper level jet. The nondivergent situation led to similar, but weaker, phenomena. Both forms suggest that indirect circulation in the exit zone of an upper level jet is strongly influenced by the initial structure of the jet.

Brill, K. F.↗

Circulation-Control Variable-Pitch Propeller

Circulation-control variable-pitch propeller has large lift value at moderate blowing coefficients. Based on circulation-control airfoil concept, has no moving parts other than needed for propeller rotation. Substituted for conventional variable-pitch propeller airfoil, lowers manufacturing costs, reduces maintenance, and improves reliability.

Garner, H. D.↗

Dynamic response characteristics of a circulation control rotor model pneumatic system

Numerical and experimental simulation of unsteady airflow through the control valve and slotted air duct of a circulation control rotor is described. The numerical analysis involves the solution of the quasi-one-dimensional compressible fluid-dynamic equations in the blade air duct together with the coupled isentropic flow equations for flow into the blade through the valve and out of the blade through the Coanda slot. Numerical solutions are compared with basic experimental results obtained for a mockup of a circulation control rotor and its pneumatic valving system. The pneumodynamic phenomena that were observed are discussed with particular emphasis on the characteristic system time lags associated with the response of the flow variables to transient and periodic control valve inputs.

Watkins, C. B.↗