SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “systematic errors”

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 487 records · Page 27

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1990

An extragalactic reference frame from DSN VLBI measurements - 1989

Assessment of the impact of recent improvements Deep Space Network (DSN) instrumentation, as well as of joint data analyses, provide a prognosis for the accuracy level to be expected in future realizations of an inertial radio reference frame. Intercontinental dual-frequency radio interferometric measurements during 68 sessions (including two recent sessions employing Mark III instrumentation) from 1978 to 1989 using NASA's DSN stations in California, Spain, and Australia give 8900 pairs of delay and delay-rate observations. Analysis yields a catalog of positions of 200 extragalactic radio sources north of -45 deg declination. The resulting source-position formal uncertainty distributions peak below 1 milliarcsecond, with 75 percent being smaller than 2 mas. Comparison with independent measurements shows some evidence for systematic errors at the milliarcsecond level.

Sovers, O. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

An extended Kalman filter for spinning spacecraft attitude estimation

An extended Kalman filter for real-time ground attitude estimation of a gyro-less spinning spacecraft was developed and tested. The filter state vector includes the angular momentum direction, phase angle, inertial nutation angle, and inertial and body nutation rates. The filter solves for the nutating three-axis attitude and accounts for effects due to principle axes offset from the body axes. The attitude is propagated using the kinematics of a rigid body symmetric about the principle spin axis; disturbance torques are assumed to be small. Filter updates consist only of the measured angles between celestial objects (Sun, Earth, etc.) and the nominal spin axis, and the times these angles were measured. Both simulated data and real data from the Dynamics Explorer -A (DE-A) spacecraft were used to test the filter; the results are presented. Convergence was achieved rapidly from a wide range of a priori state estimates, and sub-degree accuracy was attained. Systematic errors affecting the solution accuracy are discussed, as are the results of an attempt to solve for sensor measurement angle biases in the state vector.

Baker, David F.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Information content of ozone retrieval algorithms

The algorithms are characterized that were used for production processing by the major suppliers of ozone data to show quantitatively: how the retrieved profile is related to the actual profile (This characterizes the altitude range and vertical resolution of the data); the nature of systematic errors in the retrieved profiles, including their vertical structure and relation to uncertain instrumental parameters; how trends in the real ozone are reflected in trends in the retrieved ozone profile; and how trends in other quantities (both instrumental and atmospheric) might appear as trends in the ozone profile. No serious deficiencies were found in the algorithms used in generating the major available ozone data sets. As the measurements are all indirect in someway, and the retrieved profiles have different characteristics, data from different instruments are not directly comparable.

Rodgers, C.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Preliminary calibration results for the BATSE instrument on CGRO

Preliminary results pertaining to spectral reconstruction using Burst and Transient Source (BATSE) Large Area Detector measurements of solar flares are presented. The solar flare measurements are currently being used to fine tune the calibration of our data analysis software. The current status of the stability of spectral analysis, given the systematic errors present in burst location, are given. A brief description is given of enhancements to the input data for the atmospheric scattering algorithm that will be implemented in the data analysis software.

Pendleton, G. N.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Ulysses/BATSE observations of cosmic gamma ray bursts

The gamma ray burst detector aboard the ESA-NASA Ulysses spacecraft, in operation since Nov. 1990, has detected numerous gamma bursts in conjunction with the BATSE experiment aboard the Compton Observatory. Initial results are presented on burst locations for three events (21 April, 2 May, and 3 May, 1991) obtained by arrival time analysis, and they are compared with the BATSE locations. The arrival time analysis annuli have typical widths of 5'. The preliminary analysis indicates that both experiments are likely to have unresolved systematic errors, but that further work will improve the location accuracy substantially.

Hurley, K.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Types and Characteristics of Data for Geomagnetic Field Modeling

Given here is material submitted at a symposium convened on Friday, August 23, 1991, at the General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) held in Vienna, Austria. Models of the geomagnetic field are only as good as the data upon which they are based, and depend upon correct understanding of data characteristics such as accuracy, correlations, systematic errors, and general statistical properties. This symposium was intended to expose and illuminate these data characteristics.

R A Langel↗

NASA NTRS1992

Observation of Stratospheric Ozone with NIES Lidar System in Tsukuba, Japan

Lidars are expected to play important roles in an international monitoring network of the stratosphere such as the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC). The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) in Tsukuba constructed an ozone lidar system in March 1988 and started observation in August 1988. The lidar system has a 2-m telescope and injection locked XeCl and XeF excimer lasers which can measure ozone profiles (15-45 km) and temperature profiles (30-80 km). From December 1991, lidar observations have been carried out in which the second Stokes line of the stimulated Raman scattering of a KrF laser has been used. Ozone profiles obtained with the NIES lidar system are compared with the data provided by the SAGE II satellite sensor. Results showed good agreement for the individual and the zonal mean profiles. Variations of ozone with various time scales at each altitude can be studied using the data obtained with the NIES ozone lidar system. Seasonal variations are easily found at 20 km, 30 km, and 35 km, which are qualitatively understood as a result of dynamical and photochemical effects. Systematic errors of ozone profiles due to the Pinatubo stratospheric aerosols have been detected using multi-wavelength observation.

Nakane, H.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A determination of the radio-planetary frame tie from comparison of Earth orientation parameters

The orientation of the reference frame of radio source catalogs relative to that of planetary ephemerides, or 'frame tie,' can be a major systematic error source for interplanetary spacecraft orbit determination. This work presents a method of determining the radio-planetary frame tie from a comparison of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) and lunar laser ranging (LLR) station coordinate and earth orientation parameter estimates. A frame tie result is presented with an accuracy of 25 nrad.

Finger, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Rossby waves in a fluctuating zonal mean flow

The effects of the zonal mean wind variability on the energy propagation of a stationary Rossby wave in a barotropic nondivergent atmosphere are studied. It is shown that the random nature of the zonal wind fluctuations do not allow Rossby wave energy to propagate from its energy source. The mechanism for this effect is strongly dependent on the spatial resolution at which the zonal mean flow is assumed to be known. Some speculations are offered on the relation between this mechanism and the systematic error of some low-resolution climate models.

Pandolfo, Lionel↗

NASA NTRS1991

First identification of pure rotation lines of NH in the infrared solar spectrum

Pure rotation lines of NH of the v = 0 level and v = 1 level are detected in high-resolution solar spectra obtained from the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experimental observations. It is pointed out that the identification of the lines is favored by the typical appearance of the triplet lines of nearly equal intensities. The observed equivalent widths of these triplet lines are compared with predicted intensities, and it is observed that these widths are systematically larger than the predicted values. It is noted that because these very faint lines are observed in a region where the signal is very low, a systematic error in the measurements of the equivalent widths cannot be ruled out; therefore, the disagreement between the observed and predicted intensities is not considered to be real.

Geller, M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Estimation of shortwave hemispherical reflectance (albedo) from bidirectionally reflected radiance data

An equation for estimating albedo from bidirectional reflectance data is proposed. The estimates of albedo are found to be greater than values obtained with simultaneous pyranometer measurements. Particular attention is given to potential sources of systematic errors including extrapolation of bidirectional reflectance data out to a view zenith angle of 90 deg, the use of inappropriate weighting coefficients in the numerator of the albedo equation, surface shadowing caused by the A-frame instrumentation used to measure the incoming and outgoing radiation fluxes, errors in estimates of the denominator of the proposed albedo equation, and a 'hot spot' contribution in bidirectional data measured by a modular multiband radiometer.

Starks, Patrick J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Observational tests of convective core overshooting in stars of intermediate to high mass in the Galaxy

This study presents the results of 14 tests for the presence of convective overshooting in large convecting stellar cores for stars with masses of 4-17 solar masses which are members of detached close binary systems and of open clusters in the Galaxy. A large body of theoretical and observational data is scrutinized and subjected to averaging in order to minimize accidental and systematic errors. A conservative upper limit of d/HP less than 0.4 is found from at least four tests, as well as a tighter upper limit of d/HP less than 0.2 from one good test that is subject to only mild restrictions and is based on the maximum observed effective temperature of evolved blue supergiants. It is concluded that any current uncertainty about the distance scale for these stars is unimportant in conducting the present tests for convective core overshooting. The correct effective temperature scale for the B0.5-B2 stars is almost certainly close to one of the proposed hot scales.

Stothers, Richard B.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Evaporation over global oceans derived from satellite data and AGCM

Evaporation over ocean at 100 km has been estimated using operational satellite data. Recent satellite results are compared to data obtained through atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). A large systematic error is found in AGCM data which is considered to be due to overestimation of atmospheric moisture. It is suggested that the discrepancy may be caused by errors in operational infrared sounder data assimilated into the model. The error may also be caused by interpolation of very sparse in situ data in areas of sharp gradients.

Liu, W. T.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Extrapolation procedures in Mott electron polarimetry

In standard Mott electron polarimetry using thin gold film targets, extrapolation procedures must be used to reduce the experimentally measured asymmetries A to the values they would have for scattering from single atoms. These extrapolations involve the dependent of A on either the gold film thickness or the maximum detected electron energy loss in the target. A concentric cylindrical-electrode Mott polarimeter, has been used to study and compare these two types of extrapolations over the electron energy range 20-100 keV. The potential systematic errors which can result from such procedures are analyzed in detail, particularly with regard to the use of various fitting functions in thickness extrapolations, and the failure of perfect energy-loss discrimination to yield accurate polarizations when thick foils are used.

Gay, T. J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

TOPEX orbit determination and gravity recovery using Global Positioning System data from repeat orbits

A covariance analysis is presented for satellite tracking and gravity recovery with a differential Global Positioning System-based technique to be demonstrated on TOPEX in the early 1990s. The technique employs data from an ensemble of repeat ground tracks to recover a unique satellite epoch state for each track and a set of invariant positional parameters common to all tracks. The positional parameters represent the effect of mismodeled gravitational field on the satellite orbit. At an altitude of 1336 km, where gravity modeling is the dominant systematic error, averaging of random error over many arcs and adjustment of the gravity model reduce the final satellite position error. The positional parameters can then be used to produce a refined global gravity model. The analysis indicates that errors ranging from 5 to 8 cm in TOPEX altitude and 0.05 to 0.2 mGal for the gravity field can be achieved, depending on the number of repeat arcs used.

Wu, Jiun-Tsong↗

NASA NTRS1990

Sulfur dioxide and its variations

UV spectroscopy from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter shows a decline in the cloud top abundance of SO2 from about 100 ppb to about 10 ppb in the period 1978-1986. A consistent decline in polar haze has occurred over the same period with the correlation coefficient between these two observables of 0.8. Star calibrations determine the instrument sensitivity to within 10 percent, which rules out the possibility that this is an instrumental effect. Systematic errors could increase the SO2 abundance to twice the inferred values in later orbits. Tracking of SO2 features and power spectral analysis give rotation periods for the longer lived features of 3.6-5.2 d, consistent with cloud tracked winds observed at other wavelengths. The behavior of SO2 and polar haze can be plausibly explained by episodic injection of SO2 into the cloud top regions, for example, by active volcanism.

Esposito, Larry W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The density evolution of IRAS galaxies

A maximum likelihood test for density evolution is applied to a full-sky redshift survey of 5297 galaxies selected from the IRAS data base and flux-limited at 1.2 Jy. No evidence for evolution is found. Attention is given to important systematic errors which decrease the certainty with which evolution can be measured, namely, limited knowledge of the cosmological model, the unknown intrinsic spectral energy distribution of IRAS galaxies from 16 to 140 microns, the effect of density fluctuations, a Malmquist-like bias arising from flux errors in the IRAS Point Source Catalog, and possible incompleteness of the sample at high redshifts and low Galactic latitudes. It is shown that the Malmquist bias could result in a significant overestimation of the evolution rate, especially if the catalog has a flux limit near the completion limit of the Point Source Catalog.

Fisher, Karl B.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The Hubble constant

The Hubble constant is the constant of proportionality between recession velocity and distance in the expanding universe. It is a fundamental property of cosmology that sets both the scale and the expansion age of the universe. It is determined by measurement of galaxy radial velocities and distances. Although there has been considerable progress in the development of new techniques for the measurements of galaxy distances, both calibration uncertainties and debates over systematic errors remain. Current determinations still range over nearly a factor of 2; the higher values favored by most local measurements are not consistent with many theories of the origin of large-scale structure and stellar evolution.

Huchra, John P.↗