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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 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

A study of model parameters associated with the urban climate using HCMM data

Progress in the study of the intensity of the urban heat island is reported. The intensity of the heat island is commonly defined as the temperature difference between the center of the city and the surrounding suburban and rural regions. The intensity is considered as a function of changes in the season and changes in meteorological conditions in order to derive various parameters which may be used in numerical models for urban climate. Twelve case studies were selected and CCT's were ordered. In situ data was obtained from sixteen stations scattered about the city of St. Louis. Upper-air meteorological data were obtained and the water vapor and the temperature data were processed. Atmospheric transmissivities were computed for each of the case studies.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1982

A study of persistent elevated pollution episodes in the northeastern United States

To examine chemical transformation within stagnant air masses and the atmospheric processes acting upon such air masses, the United States EPA sponsored a study in the summer of 1980 in the northeastern region of the country. Ten research aircraft and several mobile and stationary surface monitoring platforms participated in an intensive measurement program between 16 July and 15 August 1980. Pollutants of interest included SO2, NO, NO(x), HC, O3, sulfate, nitrate, and aerosols in general. This paper summarizes the activities of these research aircraft. Three aircraft and one helicopter logged a total of 353 flight hours during 100 missions in the program. The flight patterns and data collected for each mission are documented. This summary will allow scientists who are interested in this data base to identify subsets of the data for model development.

Vaughan, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Airborne lidar investigations of ozone and aerosols in the nonurban troposphere

A description is presented of the first application of an airborne optical radar (lidar) to measurements of ozone and aerosol profiles in regional and global tropospheric investigations. It is pointed out that high spatial resolution measurements of ozone and aerosols are important in studying the relative contribution of chemistry and transport in large scale atmospheric processes. The investigation makes use of an airborne differential absorption optical radar system, which has been developed for the remote profiling of O3 and aerosols in the troposphere. Attention is given to lower tropospheric measurements and upper tropospheric measurements. The obtained results demonstrate the capability of the considered system to measure O3 and aerosol profiles in the troposphere and lower stratosphere.

Browell, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1983

AFGL trace gas compilation - 1982 version

The new edition of the AFGL trace gas compilation is described. The latest version provides the necessary parameters for the computation of absorption or emission spectra of major bands of twenty-one gases in the region from 0 to 10,000 per cm. Emphasis in this edition has been on the addition of numerous millimeter and submillimeter transitions, the inclusion of bands of significance in upper atmospheric processes, and strong IR bands of trace constituents likely to be used for remote detection. The sources for the additions and modifications of the absorption parameters are summarized.

Rothman, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Solar influence on terrestrial weather and global lightning patterns via cosmic ray modulations

A series of cosmic ray neutron monitor data which were used in three analyses: (1) solar activity influence on ionization of the upper troposphere and tropopause; (2) solar activity influence on Canadian high stratus in winter; and (3) the S3-4 satellite study of IMF/GMF magnetic coupling effects are reported. The magnetic coupling model of solar activity influence on atmospheric processes were investigated. The magnetic coupling model is used to explain a number of seemingly diverse studies lightning incidence is emphasized.

Ely, J. T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The numerical design of a spherical baroclinic experiment for Spacelab flights

The near-zero G environment of Spacelab is the basis of a true spherical experimental model of synoptic scale baroclinic atmospheric processes, using a radial dielectric body force analogous to gravity over a volume of liquid within two concentric spheres. The baroclinic motions are generated by corotating the spheres and imposing thermal boundary conditions, such that the liquid is subjected to a stable radial gradient and a latitudinal gradient. Owing to mathematical difficulties associated with the spherical geometry, quantitative design criteria can be acquired only by means of numerical models. The procedure adopted required the development of two computer codes based on the Navier-Stokes equations. The codes, of which the first calculates axisymmetric steady flow solutions and the second determines the growth or decay rates of linear wave perturbations with different wave numbers, are combined to generate marginal stability curves.

Fowlis, W. W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

MSG-7: Atmospheric Penetration of Solar Radiation in the Range of Schumann-runge Bands

There have been major efforts in measuring extraterrestrial solar irradiance for use in atmospheric studies. The quantity of immediate relevance to theoretical studies is the number of photons which reach a given altitude in the middle atmosphere. Current models compute the attenuated radiation field but the cross sections available for the major absorbers, O2 and O3, often come from experiments that are now quite old. Balloon measurements show some significant differences between the predicted and observed ultraviolet radiation field between 30 and 40 km. The wavelength region to be studied includes Lyman alpha plus the range 175 nm to the visible. Specific topics to be addressed are as follows: (1) the cross sections of the major absorbers, O2 and O3 including the Schumann-Runge bands as a subset; (2) comparison of the in situ measurements of the attenuated radiation field with calculations; and (3) the relevance of the scattered and reflected radiation fields for middle atmospheric processes.

Frederick, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The lower electronic states of ClOO - A computational investigation

Eight doublet and eight quartet states of ClOO were investigated by ab initio CI techniques. The potential energy surfaces of the four lowest energy doublet states of both A-double-prime and A-prime symmetry indicate that only the 1 2A-double-prime state is bound. In contrast to the model provided by the HO2 radical, all of the excited doublet states investigated were repulsive with respect to dissociation to Cl + O2 and metastable or bound with respect to dissociation to ClO + O. The transitions to the excited states investigated span the visible and near UV spectral regions, but the transition moments indicate that they are very weak. Since the photolysis products are the same as those of the rapid thermal dissociation, photolysis is not expected to be an important atmospheric process. The soft bending potential for the 1 2A-prime state and the shape of the 1 4A-double-prime state in the entrance channel of the ClO + O yields Cl + O2 reaction provide a qualitative explanation for the underprediction of the low temperature reaction rate by previous trajectory calculations.

Jafri, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Differential scattering cross sections for collisions of 0.5-, 1.5-, and 5.0-keV helium atoms with He, H2, N2, and O2

This paper reports the first results of an experimental program established to provide cross section data for use in modeling various atmospheric processes. Absolute cross sections, differential in the scattering angle, have been measured for collisions of 0.5-, 1.5-, and 5.0-keV helium atoms with He, H2, N2, and O2 at laboratory scattering angles between 0.1 deg and 5 deg. The results are the sums of cross sections for elastic and inelastic scattering of helium atoms; charged collision products are not detected. Integration of the differential cross section data yields integral cross sections consistent with measurements by other workers. The apparatus employs a position-sensitive detector for both primary and scattered particles and uses a short target cell with a large exit aperture to ensure a simple and well-defined apparatus geometry.

Newman, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A new scheme for the parameterization of the turbulent planetary boundary layer in the GLAS fourth order GCM

Methods being used to increase the horizontal and vertical resolution and to implement more sophisticated parameterization schemes for general circulation models (GCM) run on newer, more powerful computers are described. Attention is focused on the NASA-Goddard Laboratory for Atmospherics fourth order GCM. A new planetary boundary layer (PBL) model has been developed which features explicit resolution of two or more layers. Numerical models are presented for parameterizing the turbulent vertical heat, momentum and moisture fluxes at the earth's surface and between the layers in the PBL model. An extended Monin-Obhukov similarity scheme is applied to express the relationships between the lowest levels of the GCM and the surface fluxes. On-line weather prediction experiments are to be run to test the effects of the higher resolution thereby obtained for dynamic atmospheric processes.

Helfand, H. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Molecular oxygen absorption continua at 195-300 nm and O2 radiative lifetimes

With the aid of new calculations on the transition moments between the six lowest states of O2 (Klotz and Peyerimhoff, 1986), absorption cross sections have been calculated for several oxygen continua. Reasonable agreement is achieved with recent experimental results, the comparison indicating an overestimation of the theoretical transition moment for the A-X system of 20-25 percent. With this adjustment, the calculated radiative lifetime for the O2(A) state is 150 ms, in close agreement with the currently used value. The continua cross sections indicate that absorption by O2(a) cannot be a significant atmospheric process.

Saxon, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Geomagnetic activity and local modulations of cosmic rays circa 1 GV

Solar-sector synchronous modulations of the particulate cosmic radiation reaching the earth's atmosphere have been studied using low altitude satellite and surface data. The flux in the broad maximum of the galactic cosmic ray differential spectrum (near GV rigidity) exhibits an intermittent north-south asymmetry (NSA) in mid and high geomagnetic latitudes. During the 1964 and 1965 years of sunspot minimum, this modulation had a negative rigidity dependence and strong correlations with geomagnetic disturbance index (ap) and interplanetary magnetic field direction. Taken together with other features, this ap dependence is consistent with the hypothesis that reconnection of the interplanetary and geomagnetic fields should produce a local NSA independent of much larger scale NSAs associated with cosmic ray gradients in the heliosphere. This finding is also consistent with suggestions that solar activity influence on atmospheric processes may be mediated by the resulting modulations of upper tropospheric ionization.

Ely, J. T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Remote sensing from space; Proceedings of Symposium 3, Workshop V, and Topical Meeting A2 of the Twenty-sixth COSPAR Plenary Meeting, Toulouse, France, June 30-July 11, 1986

Various papers on remote sensing from space are presented. The use of such remote sensing to study terrestrial patterns and processes is examined, including the relevant processes and theories, observed vegetation and surface climate parameters, derived terrestrial processes, atmospheric effects, and new sensors. Quantitative radar remote sensing of land and oceanic surface features is addressed, including systems, calibration, simulation, data evaluation for vegetational studies, altimetry, sea ice monitoring, and oil slick detection. The use of satellite observations for weather prediction is discussed.

Goward, S. N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

High altitude turbulence for supersonic cruise vehicles

The characteristics of high altitude turbulence and its associated meteorological features are reviewed. Findings based on data from NASA flight research programs with prototype military aircraft, the XB-70 and YF-12A, are emphasized. An example of detailed numerical atmospheric simulations, which may provide greatly increased understanding of these earlier turbulence observations, is presented. Comparisons between observation and numerical simulation should help to delineate the limitations of analysis techniques and improve our understanding of atmospheric processes in the stratosphere.

Ehernberger, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Wind, current and swell influences on the ice extent and flux in the Grand Banks-Labrador sea area as observed in the LIMEX '87 experiment

This paper presents data collected by airborne and satellite instruments during the Labrador Ice Margin Experiment, that demonstrate the effects of oceanic and atmospheric processes on the ice conditions in the Grand Banks-Labrador sea area. Special consideration is given to the development of algorithms for extracting information from SAR data. It is shown that SAR data can be used to monitor ice extent, determine ice motion, locate shear zones, monitor the penetration of swell into the ice, estimate floe sizes, and establish the dimensions of the ice velocity zones. It is also shown that the complex interaction of the ice cover with winds, currents, swell, and coastlines is similar to the dynamics established for a number of sites in both polar regions.

Argus, Susan Digby↗
NASA NTRS1988

Relations between water vapor imagery, vertical motion, and tropopause folds

The atmospheric processes associated with the movement and development of a pronounced dry feature in a series of 6.7-micron images from March, 1982 are examined. It is found that the dark, warm image bands are due to subsidence. The advective band is produced by descent associated with the entrance region of a polar jet streak. The evolution of the development image component is coincident with a tropopause fold and associated intrusion of dry stratospheric air into the middle troposphere. The increasing brightness temperatures are simulated by altering upwind soundings based on trajectory-determined vertical motion and using both the original and altered profiles as input to a radiative transfer model.

Moore, Steven R.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Atmospheric planetary waves induced by solar rotation

It is known that there are variations in the atmospheric processes with a period close to that of the rotation of the Sun (27 days). The variations are discovered in tropospheric processes, rainfalls, geopotential and in stratosphere. The main theoretical problem is the identification of the physical process by which these heterogeneous solar and meteorological phenomena are connected. Ivanovsky and Krivolutsky proposed that the periodic heating of the ozone layer by the short wave radiation would be the reason of excitation the 27-day oscillations. It was also assumed that excitement takes place in condition of resonance with an excited mode corresponding to the conditions present in the stratospheric circulations. The possibility is discussed of the resonant excitation and presentation is made of the data analysis results which support this idea.

Krivolutsky, A. A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) - An Earth Observing System experiment

An overview is presented of the CERES experiment that is designed not only to monitor changes in the earth's radiant energy system and cloud systems but to provide these data with enough accuracy and simultaneity to examine the critical climate/cloud feedback mechanisms which may play a major role in determining future changes in the climate system. CERES will estimate not only the flow of radiation at the top of the atmosphere, but also more complete cloud properties that will permit determination of radiative fluxes within the atmosphere and at the surface. The CERES radiation budget data is also planned for utilization in a wide range of other Earth Observing System interdisciplinary science investigations, including studies of land, biological, ocean and atmospheric processes.

Wielicki, Bruce A.↗