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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 55 records · Page 3

K-band attenuation by rain at constant reflectivity

The paper considers a radar method of determining rain intensity which uses a dual wavelength system to measure both reflectivity Z and attenuation A and solving for the constants in an assumed exponential drop size distribution. Calculations are confined to the K-band, relations between A and the rain intensity R being determined for different values of Z for wavelengths of 0.86 and 1.24 cm. It is shown that measurements of reflectivity and attenuation by a dual wavelength radar can provide separate derivations of rain intensity. Available data on errors in an A-R relation indicate that the derivation from the attenuation measurement will be no better than from the Z-R relation.

Wexler, R.↗

On the problem of radar effectiveness of discriminating thunderstorms and clouds

Data are presented on the effectiveness of detecting clouds (within a radius of 40 km) and thunderstorms (within a radius of 300 km) with the aid of instrumental (WR) and visual (weather station net) observations in the operational service of aviation. Data obtained on a large statistical sample confirm the very great effectiveness of the radar method of observations for thunderstorms and clouds with precipitation. The origin of certain probabilities for detecting stratiform clouds without precipitation which are small compared with the data of other authors is explained.

Allenov, P. A.↗

An acoustic range for the measurement of the noise signature of aircraft during flyby operations

The remotely operated multiple array acoustic range (ROMAAR), which has been developed to give direct measurement and display of aircraft noise in several measurement units during takeoff, landing, and flyby operations, is described. The ROMAAR, which provides information on the ground noise signature of aircraft, represents a unique combination of state-of-the-art digital and analog noise-recording methods, computer-controlled digital communication methods, radar tracking facilities, quick-look weather (profile) capabilities, and sophisticated data handling routines and facilities. The ROMAAR, which is operated by NASA, allows direct data feedback to the NASA Aircraft Noise Prediction Office. As many as 38 simultaneous noise measurements can be made for each aircraft overflight.

Hilton, D. A.↗

Remote sensing science for the Nineties; Proceedings of IGARSS '90 - 10th Annual International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, University of Maryland, College Park, May 20-24, 1990. Vols. 1, 2, & 3

Various papers on remote sensing (RS) for the nineties are presented. The general topics addressed include: subsurface methods, radar scattering, oceanography, microwave models, atmospheric correction, passive microwave systems, RS in tropical forests, moderate resolution land analysis, SAR geometry and SNR improvement, image analysis, inversion and signal processing for geoscience, surface scattering, rain measurements, sensor calibration, wind measurements, terrestrial ecology, agriculture, geometric registration, subsurface sediment geology, radar modulation mechanisms, radar ocean scattering, SAR calibration, airborne radar systems, water vapor retrieval, forest ecosystem dynamics, land analysis, multisensor data fusion. Also considered are: geologic RS, RS sensor optical measurements, RS of snow, temperature retrieval, vegetation structure, global change, artificial intelligence, SAR processing techniques, geologic RS field experiment, stochastic modeling, topography and Digital Elevation model, SAR ocean waves, spaceborne lidar and optical, sea ice field measurements, millimeter waves, advanced spectroscopy, spatial analysis and data compression, SAR polarimetry techniques. Also discussed are: plant canopy modeling, optical RS techniques, optical and IR oceanography, soil moisture, sea ice back scattering, lightning cloud measurements, spatial textural analysis, SAR systems and techniques, active microwave sensing, lidar and optical, radar scatterometry, RS of estuaries, vegetation modeling, RS systems, EOS/SAR Alaska, applications for developing countries, SAR speckle and texture.

Source record↗

Effects of Uncertainty in TRMM Precipitation Radar Path Integrated Attenuation on Interannual Variations of Tropical Oceanic Rainfall

Considerable uncertainty surrounds the issue of whether precipitation over the tropical oceans (30 deg N/S) systematically changes with interannual sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies that accompany El Nino (warm) and La Nina (cold) events. Time series of rainfall estimates from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) over the tropical oceans show marked differences with estimates from two TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) passive microwave algorithms. We show that path-integrated attenuation derived from the effects of precipitation on the radar return from the ocean surface exhibits interannual variability that agrees closely with the TMI time series. Our analysis of discrepancies between the PR rainfall and attenuation suggests that uncertainty in the assumed drop size distribution and associated attenuation/reflectivity/rainfall relationships inherent in single-frequency radar methods is a serious issue for studies of interannual variability.

Robertson, Franklin R.↗

A computational method to model radar return range in a polygonally based, computer-generated-imagery simulation

Described is a method for modeling a ground-mapping radar system for use in simulations where the terrain is in a polygonal form commonly used with computer generated imagery (CGI). The method employs a unique approach for rapidly rejecting polygons not visible to the radar to facilitate the real-time simulation of the radar return. This rapid rejection of the nonvisible polygons requires the precalculation and storage of a set of parameters that do not vary during the simulation. The calculation of a radar range as a function of the radar forward-looking angle to the CGI terrain is carried out only for the visible polygons. This method was used as part of a simulation for terrain-following helicopter operations on the vertical motion simulator at the NASA Ames Research Center. It proved to be an efficient means for returning real-time simulated radar range data.

Moran, F. J.↗

Infrared and radar fusion detection method based on heterogeneous data preprocessing

The difficulty in infrared and radar fusion target detection lies in the pre-processing steps such as sample reduction and feature reduction of heterogeneous sensors. For the problem of data volume redundancy, HVS sample reduction is proposed to reduce the amount of data in the infrared data set. Infrared and radar joint feature vectors are constructed through nearest neighbor data association. For the problem of feature redundancy, a weighted mutual information feature selection method based on prior information is proposed according to the difference of feature sources. The fusion data set is then used for classification. The experiments show that the HVS-based sample reduction and the prior weighted feature selection achieved a higher detection probability and a shorter detection time, and improved the robustness in the case of large differences between the training set and the test set.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Image processing for hazard recognition in on-board weather radar

A method of providing weather radar images to a user includes obtaining radar image data corresponding to a weather radar image to be displayed. The radar image data is image processed to identify a feature of the weather radar image which is potentially indicative of a hazardous weather condition. The weather radar image is displayed to the user along with a notification of the existence of the feature which is potentially indicative of the hazardous weather condition. Notification can take the form of textual information regarding the feature, including feature type and proximity information. Notification can also take the form of visually highlighting the feature, for example by forming a visual border around the feature. Other forms of notification can also be used.

Kelly, Wallace E.↗

A method for detection of deformations in large phase array antennas for spaceborne synthetic aperture radars

A method to measure deformations in large, planar phased array antennas used in spaceborne synthetic aperture radars (SAR) is described. This method has the advantages that the deformation measurements can be performed anywhere in orbit and that no additional sensor is required. Indirect test results using the SEASAT SAR data indicate that this technique can detect deformations of small fractions of a wavelength.

Li, F. K.↗

Apparatus and method for using radar to evaluate wind flow fields for wind energy applications

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for obtaining data to determine one or more characteristics of a wind flow field using one or more radars. Data is collected from the one or more radars, and analyzed to determine the one or more characteristics of the wind flow field. The one or more radars are positioned to have a portion of the wind flow field within a scanning sector of the one or more radars.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Mode-expansion method for predicting radar signature above rough ocean surfaces at low-grazing angle

The Mode-Expansion Method (MEM) is introduced to calculate the electromagnetic (EM) waves scattered by 2-D rough water surfaces at low-grazing angles. The Electric Field Integral Equation (EFIE) is used in defining the problem and is simplified by using the Impedance Boundary Condition (IBC). The surface currents are expressed as the sum of modes expanded as the Fourier series with incident wave as the dominant mode. It is shown that, by the MEM and for the geometry with transmitting and receiving waves at low-grazing angles, very few modes are needed in solving the forward scattering field with reasonable accuracy.

electromagnetic (EM)↗

Orbit Determination of LEO Satellites for a Single Pass through a Radar: Comparison of Methods

The problem of determining the orbit of a space object from measurements based on one pass through the field of view of a radar is not a new one. Extensive research in this area has been carried out in the USA and Russia since the late 50s when these countries started the development of ballistic missile defense (BMD) and Early Warning systems. In Russia these investigations got additional stimulation in the early 60s after the decision to create a Space Surveillance System, whose primary task would be the maintenance of the satellite catalog. These problems were the focus of research interest until the middle 70s when the appropriate techniques and software were implemented for all radars. Then for more than 20 years no new research papers appeared on this subject. This produced an impression that all the problems of track determination based on one pass had been solved and there was no need for further research. In the late 90s interest in this problem arose again in relation to the following. It was estimated that there would be greater than 100,000 objects with size greater than 1-2 cm and collision of an operational spacecraft with any of these objects could have catastrophic results. Thus, for prevention of hazardous approaches and collisions with valuable spacecraft the existing satellite catalog should be extended by at least an order of magnitude This is a very difficult scientific and engineering task. One of the issues is the development of data fusion procedures and the software capable of maintaining such a huge catalog in near real time. The number of daily processed measurements (of all types, radar and optical) for such a system may constitute millions, thus increasing the number of measurements by at least an order of magnitude. Since we will have ten times more satellites and measurements the computer effort required for the correlation of measurements will be two orders of magnitude greater. This could create significant problems for processing data close to real time even for modern computers. Preliminary "compression" of data for one pass through the field of view of a sensor can significantly reduce the requirements to computers and data communication. This compression will occur when all the single measurements of the sensor are replaced by the orbit determined on their basis. The single measurement here means the radar parameters (range, azimuth, elevation, and in some cases range rate) measured by a single pulse.

Khutorovsky, Z.↗

Lunar topography - Global determination by radar.

Previous methods used for two-dimensional radar mapping of the moon are contrasted with new techniques that add altitude information to the radar map. Delay-Doppler stereoscopy and delay-Doppler interferometry are shown to provide surface-height variations with higher accuracy and better global fidelity than has been possible previously. Sample results are presented for altitude contours on the moon as obtained with the Haystack and Westford radar systems of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. An appendix describes the mathematical principles of delay-Doppler interferometry in determining the position of an arbitrary reflecting region of the lunar surface from measurements of the time delay, Doppler shift, and fringe phase of radar echoes from that region.

Shapiro, I. I.↗

On a possible method for daily adjustment of severe storm radar criteria

A method is proposed of adjusting the radar criteria for severe storms, taking into account the height of the minus 22 C isotherm, the minimum value of the maximum magnitude of the radar reflectivity in thunderstorms at the same level for a specific region, and the various types of homogeneous air masses in the air. Formulas for the criteria are presented which take into account specified errors of discrimination.

Brylev, G. B.↗

Antarctic Firn Compaction Rates from Repeat-Track Airborne Radar Data: I. Methods

While measurements of ice-sheet surface elevation change are increasingly used to assess mass change, the processes that control the elevation fluctuations not related to ice-flow dynamics (e.g. firn compaction and accumulation) remain difficult to measure. Here we use radar data from the Thwaites Glacier (West Antarctica) catchment to measure the rate of thickness change between horizons of constant age over different time intervals: 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2009-11. The average compaction rate to approximately 25m depth is 0.33ma(exp -1), with largest compaction rates near the surface. Our measurements indicate that the accumulation rate controls much of the spatio-temporal variations in the compaction rate while the role of temperature is unclear due to a lack of measurements. Based on a semi-empirical, steady-state densification model, we find that surveying older firn horizons minimizes the potential bias resulting from the variable depth of the constant age horizon. Our results suggest that the spatiotemporal variations in the firn compaction rate are an important consideration when converting surface elevation change to ice mass change. Compaction rates varied by up to 0.12ma(exp -1) over distances less than 6km and were on average greater than 20% larger during the 2010-11 interval than during 2009-10.

polar firn↗

Method for the Absolute Calibration of the Location and Orientation of Large-Format Detectors Using Laser Radar

A method of mapping pixel locations of a detector array includes measuring a location on the detector array, initiating a frame readout of the detector array, measuring a location of one or more metrology targets on the detector array, analyzing the frame readout to identify a pixel at the location on the detector array, and defining a location of the identified pixel with respect to the location of the one or more metrology targets. Subsequent measurement of the metrology targets alone by another metrology system allows one to infer the six degree of freedom alignment of the detector array in space.

Coulter, Phillip↗