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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 523 records · Page 29

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NASA NTRS1981

The effect of zonal gradients of sea surface temperature on the Indian Ocean winter monsoon

Several global climate simulations by the 7-layer, 8 x 10 GISS climate model were designed to test the contributions of various surface boundary conditions to the global climate. The model was run with the sun fixed at a perpetual January. In a comparison of run #5, in which realistic January surface boundary conditions were used, with run #4, which was the same except that a zonally symmetric climatological January sea surface temperature (SST) field was used, one of the results was that run #5 provided a better simulation of the Indian Ocean monsoon. A further comparison of the wind fields over the Indian Ocean that were generated by these two model runs is presented.

Cohen, C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Sea surface temperatures from the scanning multichannel microwave radiometer on Nimbus 7

Because of problems with the design and calibration of the scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) on Nimbus 7, sea surface temperature (SST) algorithms had to be developed that corrected for instrument effects. Several stages of this development are reported here. The quality of the SST products from the final version is assessed. Thirty-four months of data have been analyzed; the average SST error is about 1.12 C over the whole globe. The error is smaller in the equatorial region and larger in the northern oceans. The main source of error is due to heating of the SMMR instrument. Specific problems in the design of the instrument are discussed. The details of the ST algorithms are given in an appendix.

Milman, A. S.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The relationship between surface temperature and a spectral vegetation index of a tallgrass prairie - Effects of burning and other landscape controls

Site-to-site variability in the relation between remotely-sensed surface temperatures (Ts) and the normalized difference spectral vegetation index (NDVI) of a tallgrass prairie was investigated. The primary objective was to determine whether the proportion of burnt/unburnt area within a sub-scene affected the Ts-NDVI regression slope (SL). Regression analyses confirmed that burn treatments, particularly on steep slopes, were responsible for most of the observed variability in SL while soil moisture content and the forested areas also had a significant effect on SL.

Hope, A. S.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Effects of surface temperature and Reynolds number on heat transfer to the Shuttle Orbiter leeward fuselage

Heat-transfer data obtained at hypersonic shock tunnel conditions and three-dimensional flow field computations were used to study the influence of surface temperature and Reynolds number on the heating experienced by the leeward fuselage area of the Space Shuttle Orbiter configuration. The basic results of this study indicate that systematic variations in the average total enthalpy within a boundary layer (as obtained through controlled nonadiabatic processes) has an influence on the heat transfer to downstream areas which can be correlated; even in three-dimensional separated flow areas. Specifically, the average separated-flow Stanton number for the fuselage leeward surface is shown to be moderately dependent on the windward-wall to free-stream total temperature ratio.

Bertin, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Simulation Study of Effects of Solar Irradiance and Sea Surface Temperature on Monsoons and Global Circulation

A recent version of the GEOS 2 GCM was used to isolate the roles of the annual cycles of solar irradiation and/or sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) on the simulated circulation and rainfall. Four 4-year long integrations were generated with the GCM. The first integration, called Control Case, used daily-interpolated SSTs from a 30 year monthly SST climatology that was obtained from the analyzed SST-data, while the solar irradiation at the top of the atmosphere was calculated normally at hourly intervals. The next two cases prescribed the SSTs or the incoming solar irradiance at the top of the atmosphere at their annual mean values, respectively while everything else was kept the same as in the Control Case. In this way the influence of the annual cycles of both external forcings was isolated.

Sud, Y. C.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Covariation of Mesoscale Ocean Color and Sea-Surface Temperature Patterns in the Sargasso Sea

During the lifetime of the Coastal Zone Color Scanner, there were 21 instances in which both satellite-derived ocean color and sea-surface temperature are simultaneously available over large areas of the Sargasso Sea. These images reveal close correspondence between mesoscale structures observed in temperature and pigment fields. In general, higher (lower) pigment biomass occurs in mesoscale features consisting of cold (warm) temperature anomalies. This relationship is consistent with the idea that upward displacement of isopycnals at the base of the euphotic zone by mesoscale eddies is an important mechanism of nutrient supply in the region.

McGillicuddy, Dennis J., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Covariation of Mesoscale Ocean Color and Sea-Surface Temperature Patterns in the Sargasso Sea

McGillicuddy, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

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.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Comparison of conventionally measured sea surface temperature and wind speed with data retrieved from satellite-borne microwave radiometry

The Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer aboard both the Seasat and Nimbus-7 satellites was designed to estimate sea surface temperature (SST) and wind speed (WS) over an extended range of atmospheric conditions. The retrieval technique is described briefly, and it is demonstrated in a case study that the instrument design goals (SST:1.5 C; WS:2 m/s) appear to be feasible.

Hofer, R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Temperature: Workshop 3

This is the third of a series of three workshops, sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to investigate the state of the art in global sea surface temperature measurements from space. Three workshops were necessary to process and analyze sufficient data from which to draw conclusions on the accuracy and reliability of the satellite measurements. In this workshop, the final two (out of a total of four) months of satellite and in situ data chosen for study were processed and evaluated. Results from the AVHRR, HIRS, SMMR, and VAS sensors, in comparison with in situ data from ships, XBTs, and buoys, confirmed satellite rms accuracies in the 0.5 to 1.0 C range, but with variable biases. These accuracies may degrade under adverse conditions for specific sensors. A variety of color maps, plots, and statistical tables are provided for detailed study of the individual sensor SST measurements.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1995

Effects of Longwave Cloud Radiative Forcing Anomalies on the Atmospheric Response to Equatorial Pacific Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies

The latest version of the National Center for Atmospheric Research community climate model (CCM2) has been used to investigate cloud radiative forcing (CRF) anomalies associated with equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and the effects of the longwave CRF (LWCRF) anomalies on the atmospheric response to the SST anomalies. The SST anomalies cause large CRF anomalies, both longwave and shortwave, as well as latent heat anomalies at low latitudes on a global scale. The relative magnitude of the simulated longwave and shortwave CRF anomalies is consistent with the result of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE), implying that cloud height and cloud radiative properties such as emissivity and reflectivity are well simulated by the model. The LWCRF anomaly strongly enhances the precipitation anomaly in the whole tropical belt. The positive (negative) LWCRF anomaly warms (cools) the troposphere and destabilizes (stabilizes) the upper troposphere. The LWCRF anomaly enhances the Southern Oscillation and the related Walker circulation anomaly. The effects of the LWCRF anomaly are essential to the northern hemispheric extratropical circulation anomaly, the Pacific/North American pattern.

Chen, M.↗

NASA NTRS2016

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MOD21 Land Surface Temperature and Emissivity Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document

This document outlines the theory and methodology for generating the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Level-2 daily daytime and nighttime 1-km land surface temperature (LST) and emissivity product using the Temperature Emissivity Separation (TES) algorithm. The MODIS-TES (MOD21_L2) product, will include the LST and emissivity for three MODIS thermal infrared (TIR) bands 29, 31, and 32, and will be generated for data from the NASA-EOS AM and PM platforms. This is version 1.0 of the ATBD and the goal is maintain a 'living' version of this document with changes made when necessary. The current standard baseline MODIS LST products (MOD11*) are derived from the generalized split-window (SW) algorithm (Wan and Dozier 1996), which produces a 1-km LST product and two classification-based emissivities for bands 31 and 32; and a physics-based day/night algorithm (Wan and Li 1997), which produces a 5-km (C4) and 6-km (C5) LST product and emissivity for seven MODIS bands: 20, 22, 23, 29, 31-33.

Hulley, G.↗

NASA NTRS2012

MODIS MOD21 Land Surface Temperature and Emissivity Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document

This document outlines the theory and methodology for generating the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Level-2 daily daytime and nighttime 1-km land surface temperature (LST) and emissivity product using the Temperature Emissivity Separation (TES) algorithm. The MODIS-TES (MOD21_L2) product, will include the LST and emissivity for three MODIS thermal infrared (TIR) bands 29, 31, and 32, and will be generated for data from the NASA-EOS AM and PM platforms. This is version 1.0 of the ATBD and the goal is maintain a ‘living’ version of this document with changes made when necessary. The current standard baseline MODIS LST products (MOD11*) are derived from the generalized split-window (SW) algorithm (Wan and Dozier 1996), which produces a 1-km LST product and two classification-based emissivities for bands 31 and 32; and a physics-based day/night algorithm (Wan and Li 1997), which produces a 5-km (C4) and 6-km (C5) LST product and emissivity for seven MODIS bands: 20, 22, 23, 29, 31–33

Hughes, Christopher↗

NASA NTRS1982

Evaluation of the potential of one to three SEASAT-SMMR channels in retrieving sea surface temperature

The scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) aboard the SEASAT satellite measured emitted radiation in both horizontal and vertical polarizations at microwave frequencies of 6.6, 10.69, 18.0, 21.0 and 37.0 GHz. Retrieval algorithms, for sea surface temperature (SST) determination, from subsets of one to three SMMR channels are obtained by a two step statistical technique. The technique first selects the best subsets of a given size defined by an R2 criterion (coefficient of determination), of a given size by the application of an efficient 'leaps and bounds' technique on a statistical data base. It then performs a regression analysis on the selected subsets. The statistical data base employed a large (600) set of seasonally and geographically diverse atmospheric and surface parameters for radiative transfer calculations. The results of the study of one to three channel subset retrieval algorithms indicate the possibility of using 6.6V, 6.6H and 18V channels for SST determination from SEASAT-SMMR data.

Pandey, P. C.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Global Assessment of Land Surface Temperature From Geostationary Satellites and Model Estimates

Land surface (or 'skin') temperature (LST) lies at the heart of the surface energy balance and is a key variable in weather and climate models. In this research we compare two global and independent data sets: (i) LST retrievals from five geostationary satellites generated at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) and (ii) LST estimates from the quasi-operational NASA GEOS-5 global modeling and assimilation system. The objective is to thoroughly understand both data sets and their systematic differences in preparation for the assimilation of the LaRC LST retrievals into GEOS-5. As expected, mean differences (MD) and root-mean-square differences (RMSD) between modeled and retrieved LST vary tremendously by region and time of day. Typical (absolute) MD values range from 1-3 K in Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude regions to near 10 K in regions where modeled clouds are unrealistic, for example in north-eastern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. Typically, model estimates of LST are higher than satellite retrievals during the night and lower during the day. RMSD values range from 1-3 K during the night to 2-5 K during the day, but are larger over the 50-120 W longitude band where the LST retrievals are derived from the FY2E platform

Reichle, Rolf H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Sea surface temperature of the coastal zones of France

Thermal gradients in French coastal zones for the period of one year were mapped in order to enable a coherent study of certain oceanic features detectable by the variations in the sea surface temperature field and their evolution in time. The phenomena examined were mesoscale thermal features in the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay, and the northwestern Mediterranean; thermal gradients generated by French estuary systems; and diurnal heating in the sea surface layer. The investigation was based on Heat Capacity Mapping Mission imagery.

Deschamps, P. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Estimation of sea surface temperature from remote sensing in the 11-13 micron window region

The Nimbus 3 and 4 IRIS spectral data in the 11-13 micron water vapor window region are analyzed to determine the sea surface temperature (SST). The high spectral resolution data of IRIS are averaged over approximately 1 micron wide intervals to simulate channels of a radiometer to measure the SST. Three channels are utilized to measure SST over cloud-free oceans. However, two of these channels are sufficient in routine SST determination. The differential absorption properties of water vapor in the two channels enable one to determine the water vapor absorption correction without detailed knowledge of the vertical profiles of temperature and water vapor. The feasibility of determining the SST is demonstrated globally with Nimbus 3 data where cloud-free areas can be selected with the help of albedo data from the MRIR experiment on board the same satellite.

Prabhakara, C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

NOAA satellite-derived operational sea surface temperature products

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began processing global measurements of emitted radiation in the 10.5 to 12.5 micron atmospheric window for purposes of deriving weekly composite and mean monthly sea surface temperature fields in the early 1970s. Atmospheric attenuation corrections, begun with empirical means, were accomplished chiefly with the aid of coarser resolution measurements from atmospheric sounders aboard the same polar orbiting spacecraft. Cloud filtering depended heavily upon the use of histogram techniques applied to 11 x 11 arrays of 8 km resolution Scanning Radiometer Infrared (SRIR) data. Details of the SRIR processing for SST are found in a NOAA Technical Memorandum.

Mcclain, E. P.↗