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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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NASA NTRS2019

MLI Impact Phenomenology Observed on the HST Bay 5 MLI Panel

Multi-layer insulation (MLI) blankets covering the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) electronics bays were removed during HST Servicing Mission 4 and returned to Earth for analysis. The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office obtained HST Bay 5, 8, and 10 MLI blankets to characterize impact features and develop a flux estimate based on those features. This paper reports on the impact feature phenomenology observed during imaging campaigns in 2011 and 2018. Earlier conventions of measuring impacted features by recording the largest diameter to determine impacting particle size do not provide the best subsequent estimation of the impacting particle size. Instead of an impacted feature as a smooth-edged through-hole, a ‘petaling’ phenomenon along with multiple-layering composition in impacted features has been observed in both hypervelocity testing and in the Bay 5 MLI. A new methodology of characterization techniques used during research and analysis of the HST MLI is presented, which will provide greater understanding and a more accurate estimation of impacting particles and their parameters.

Ward, Melissa A.↗
NASA NTRS2020

A Brief Assessment of the Impact of Nearly 40 Years of Assimilated Observations Over the Amazon Basin

Adding a Forecast Sensitivity-based Observation Impact component to Version 2 of the Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications, the present study provides an assessment of the impact of nearly 40 years of observations on short-range (24-hr) forecasts over the Amazon basin. Under self-verification, forecast errors are found to slightly increase from the early data-sparse days to the more recent years, when data dramatically increase. Throughout the reanalysis, satellite radiances dominate in volume, but only before 1999 they dominate the impacts. Beyond 1999, over 50% of forecast error reduction is associated with conventional observations (radiosondes). Atmospheric Motion Vectors are also found to be large contributors to error reduction, but their contribution reduces in dry periods. In opposition to Atmospheric Motion Vectors, satellite radiances tend to contribute more in the dry season. Results provide motivation for additional conventional observations and the use of all-sky treatment of radiances.

F. L. R. Diniz↗
NASA NTRS2013

Detection and Attribution of Anthropogenic Climate Change Impacts

Human-influenced climate change is an observed phenomenon affecting physical and biological systems across the globe. The majority of observed impacts are related to temperature changes and are located in the northern high- and midlatitudes. However, new evidence is emerging that demonstrates that impacts are related to precipitation changes as well as temperature, and that climate change is impacting systems and sectors beyond the Northern Hemisphere. In this paper, we highlight some of this new evidence-focusing on regions and sectors that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC AR4) noted as under-represented-in the context of observed climate change impacts, direct and indirect drivers of change (including carbon dioxide itself), and methods of detection. We also present methods and studies attributing observed impacts to anthropogenic forcing. We argue that the expansion of methods of detection (in terms of a broader array of climate variables and data sources, inclusion of the major modes of climate variability, and incorporation of other drivers of change) is key to discerning the climate sensitivities of sectors and systems in regions where the impacts of climate change currently remain elusive. Attributing such changes to human forcing of the climate system, where possible, is important for development of effective mitigation and adaptation. Current challenges in documenting adaptation and the role of indigenous knowledge in detection and attribution are described.

detection↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha′apai Volcano Impact Model Observation Comparison (HTHH-MOC) project: experiment protocol and model descriptions

The 2022 Hunga volcanic eruption injected a significant amount of water vapor and a moderate amount of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, causing observable responses in the climate system. We have developed a model–observation comparison project to investigate the evolution of volcanic water and aerosols and their impacts on atmospheric dynamics, chemistry, and climate, using several state-of-the-art chemistry climate models. The project goals are (1) to evaluate the current chemistry–climate models to quantify their performance in comparison to observations and (2) to understand atmospheric responses in the Earth system after this exceptional event and investigate the potential impacts in the projected future. To achieve these goals, we designed specific experiments for direct comparisons to observations, for example from balloons and the Microwave Limb Sounder satellite instrument. Experiment 1 consists of two sets of free-running ensemble experiments from 2022 to 2031: one with fixed sea-surface temperatures and sea ice and one with coupled ocean. These experiments will help to understand the long-term evolution of water vapor and aerosols; quantify HTHH effects on stratospheric and mesospheric temperatures, dynamics, and transport; understand the impact of dynamic changes on ozone chemistry; quantify the net radiative forcings; and evaluate any surface climate impact. Experiment 2 is a nudged-run experiment from 2022 to 2023 using observed meteorology. To allow participation of more climate models with varying complexities of aerosol simulation, we include two sets of simulations in Experiment 2: Experiment 2a is designed for models with internally generated aerosol, while Experiment 2b is designed for models using prescribed aerosol surface area density. This experiment will help to analyze H 2 O and aerosol evolution, quantify the net radiative forcings, understand the impacts on mid-latitude and polar O 3 chemistry, and allow close comparisons with observations.

Zhu, Yunqian [Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (Unit↗
NASA NTRS1999

Ejecta Pattern of the Impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9

The collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 (SL 9) with Jupiter created crescent-shaped ejecta patterns around impact sites. Although the observed impact plumes rose through a similar height of approx.3000 km, the radii of the created ejects patterns differ from impact to impact and generally are larger for larger impacts. The azimuthal angle of the symmetry axis of the ejects pattern is larger than that predicted by the models of oblique impacts, due to the action of the Coriolis force that rotates ejecta patterns counterclockwise from the south. We study the formation of ejects patterns using a simple model of ballistic plume above a rotating plane. The ejected particles follow ballistic trajectories and slide horizontally for about an hour after reentry into the jovian atmosphere. The lateral expansion of the plume is stopped by the friction force, which is assumed to be proportional to the square of the horizontal velocity. Two different mass-velocity distributions used in the simulations produce qualitatively similar results. The simulated ejecta patterns fit very well the "crescents" observed at the impact sites. The sizes and azimuthal angles of symmetry axis of ejects patterns depend on a parameter L, which has dimension of length and is related to the mass of the fragment. Thus more massive impacts produce larger ejects patterns that are rotated through a wider angle.

Pankine, Alexey A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Shuttle near-field environmental impacts - Conclusions and observations for launching at other locations

Near field and far field environmental monitoring activities extending from the first launch of the Space Shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center have provided a database from which conclusions can now be drawn for short term, acute effects of launch and, to a lesser degree, long term cumulative effects on the natural environment. Data for the first 15 launches of the Space Shuttle from Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A are analyzed for statistical significance and reduced to graphical presentations of individual and collective disposition isopleths, summarization of observed environmental impacts (e.g., vegetation damage, fish kills), and supporting data from specialized experiments and laboratory analyses. Conclusions are drawn with regard to the near field environment at Pad A, the effects on the lagoonal complex, and the relationships of these data and conclusions to upcoming operations at Complex 39 Pad B where the environment is significantly different. The paper concludes with a subjective evaluation of the likely impacts at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 6 for the first Shuttle launch next year.

Koller, A. M., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2022

Predicting Antarctic Net Snow Accumulation at the Kilometer Scale and Its Impact on Observed Height Changes

Sub-grid-scale processes occurring at or near the surface of an ice sheet have a potentially large impact on local and integrated net accumulation of snow via redistribution and sublimation. Given observational complexity, they are either ignored or parameterized over large-length scales. Here, we train random forest (RF) models to predict variability in net accumulation over the Antarctic Ice Sheet using atmospheric variables and topographic characteristics as predictors at 1 km resolution. Observations of net snow accumulation from both in situ and airborne radar data provide the input observable targets needed to train the RF models. We find that local net accumulation deviates by as much as 172% of the atmospheric model mean. The correlation in space between the predicted net accumulation variability and satellite-derived surface-height change indicates that surface processes operate differently through time, driven largely by the seasonal anomalies in snow accumulation.

Antarctic↗
NASA NTRS2005

Observed Land Impacts on Clouds, Water Vapor, and Rainfall at Continental Scales

How do the continents affect large-scale hydrological cycles? How important can one continent be to the climate system? To address these questions, 4-years of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) observations, and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) global precipitation analysis, were used to assess the land impacts on clouds, rainfall, and water vapor at continental scales. At these scales, the observations illustrate that continents are integrated regions that enhance the seasonality of atmospheric and surface hydrological parameters. Specifically, the continents of Eurasia and North America enhance the seasonality of cloud optical thickness, cirrus fraction, rainfall, and water vapor. Over land, both liquid water and ice cloud effective radii are smaller than over oceans primarily because land has more aerosol particles. In addition, different continents have similar impacts on hydrological variables in terms of seasonality, but differ in magnitude. For example, in winter, North America and Eurasia increase cloud optical thickness to 17.5 and 16, respectively, while in summer, Eurasia has much smaller cloud optical thicknesses than North America. Such different land impacts are determined by each continent s geographical condition, land cover, and land use. These new understandings help further address the land-ocean contrasts on global climate, help validate global climate model simulated land-atmosphere interactions, and help interpret climate change over land.

Jin, Menglin↗
NASA NTRS1986

Groundbased infrared imaging of Comet Giacobini-Zinner - The distribution of dust during the ICE flyby

A thermal-infrared image of Comet Giacobini-Zinner has been used to determine the spatial distribution of dust grains in the Comet's coma. In the present paper the results of this imaging which bear on the expected impact rate of dust grains on the International Cometary Explorer (ICE) are emphasized. The expected impact rate is calculated for a range of grain radii. For particle sizes comparable to those inferred for most comets, the impact rate is on the order of several hundred per second. This rate is in agreement with the predictions by Divine (1985), but it is more than two orders of magnitude larger than the rate observed by ICE if the observed impacts were on the spacecraft body. However, the observed impact rate is roughly comparable to that inferred from the infrared imaging if, as suggested by Gurnett et al. (1986), the impacts were on the ICE antennae, which had a much smaller cross-sectional area than the spacecraft body.

Campins, H.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Orbital Variations and Impacts on Observations from SNPP, NOAA 18-20, and AQUA Sun-Synchronous Satellites

The AQUA, SNPP, and NOAA 18-20 PM sun-synchronous satellites were designed with similar local time, local solarzenith angles, and overlapping temporal coverage. Although the satellites are expected to have fixed local equator-crossing time, during the satellite lifetime, the equator-crossing times of these satellites drift. For NOAA 18-19, the driftin equator-crossing time is significant (few hours) and no correction has been done over the lifetime. For SNPP andAQUA, correction in the orbital inclination angle was periodically performed to maintain the equator-crossing timearound the designed value. The impact of systematic drift of the local observation time during the satellite life cycle canbe significant and should be accounted for when using multi-year time series of satellite products in long-termenvironmental studies. In this paper, the equator-crossing time drift of AQUA, SNPP, and NOAA 18-20, the correctionof SNPP and AQUA equator-crossing time via orbital inclination angle change, and the consequent local solar zenithangle variation are evaluated. The impact of such drift on low-latitude mean brightness temperature trend derived fromthe similar ~11 μm thermal emissive channel of AQUA MODIS CH31, SNPP Visible Infrared Imaging RadiometerSuite (VIIRS) CH15 and NOAA 18-19 HIRS CH08 are analyzed. The drift in the mean brightness temperature measuredby these sensors is combined as a function of local time and analyzed using diurnal cycle analysis. The mean brightnesstemperature drift for SNPP VIIRS is reconciled within the context of much larger temperature drift of NOAA 18-19.

Shao, Xi↗
NASA NTRS2005

Mars Exploration Rover Field Observations of Impact Craters at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum and Implications for Climate Change

The Mars Exploration Rovers have provided a field geologist's perspective of impact craters in various states of degradation along their traverses at Gusev crater and Meridiani Planum. This abstract will describe the craters observed and changes to the craters that constrain the erosion rates and the climate [l]. Changes to craters on the plains of Gusev argue for a dry and desiccating environment since the Late Hesperian in contrast to the wet and likely warm environment in the Late Noachian at Meridiani in which the sulfate evaporites were deposited in salt-water playas or sabkhas.

Golombek, M.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Observed Land Impacts on Clouds, Water Vapor, and Rainfall at Continental Scales

How do the continents affect large-scale hydrological cycles? How important can one continent be to the climate system? To address these questions, five years of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) observations, and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) global precipitation analysis, were used to assess the land impacts on clouds, ~ainfall, and water vapor at continental scales. At these scales, Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and continentally averaged analyses illustrate that continents as integrated regions enhance the seasonality of atmospheric and surface hydrological parameters. Specifically, the continents of Eurasia and North America enhance the seasonality of cloud optical thickness, cirrus fraction, rainfall, and water vapor. Over land, both liquid water and ice cloud effective radii are smaller than over oceans, primarily because land has more aerosol particles. In addition, different continents have similar impacts on hydrological variables in terms of seasonality, but differ in magnitude. For example, in winter, North America and Eurasia increase cloud optical thickness to 17.5 and 16, respectively, while in summer, Eurasia has much smaller cloud optical thicknesses than North An1erica. Such different land impacts are determined by each continent's geographical condition, land cover, and land use. These new understandings help further address the land-ocean contrasts on global climate, help validate global climate model simulated land-atmosphere interactions, and shed light on interpreting climate change over land.

Jin, Menglin↗
NASA NTRS1986

Comparative analysis of different sensor data (Landsat-TM and MOMS) for earth observation and impact on future sensor development

The missions of the German Modular Optoelectronic Multispectral Scanner (MOMS) aboard two STS flights demonstrated the feasibility of a novel concept with regard to both technical and scientific objectives. On account of the successful missions, a cooperation was agreed between the German Federal Minister for Research nad Technology and NASA for comparing MOMS observations with the more familiar operational Landsat-TM data over selected test sites, as a means of obtaining some relative measure of performance. This paper summarizes the results obtained and presents the MOMS-02, a further experimental representative of the MOMS program aiming at the realization of an operational system for the mid-nineties.

Bodechtel, J.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Remote Sensing of Sea Surface Salinity: Comparison of Satellite and In Situ Observations and Impact of Retrieval Parameters

Since 2009, three low frequency microwave sensors have been launched into space with the capability of global monitoring of sea surface salinity (SSS). The European Space Agency's (ESA's) Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis (MIRAS), onboard the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity mission (SMOS), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Aquarius and Soil Moisture Active Passive mission (SMAP) use L-band radiometry to measure SSS. There are notable differences in the instrumental approaches, as well as in the retrieval algorithms. We compare the salinity retrieved from these three spaceborne sensors to in situ observations from theArgo network of drifting floats, and we analyze some possible causes for the differences. We present comparisons of the long-term global spatial distribution, the temporal variability for a set of regions of interest and statistical distributions. We analyze some of the possible causes for the differences between the various satellite SSS products by reprocessing the retrievals from Aquarius brightness temperatures changing the model for the sea water dielectric constant and the ancillary product for the sea surface temperature. We quantify the impact of these changes on the differences in SSS between Aquarius and SMOS.We also identify the impact of the corrections for atmospheric effectsrecently modified in the Aquarius SSS retrievals. All three satellites exhibit SSS errors with a strong dependence on sea surface temperature, but this dependence varies significantly with the sensor. We show that these differences are first and foremost due to the dielectric constant model, then to atmospheric corrections and to a lesser extent to the ancillary product of the sea surface temperature.

SSS↗
NASA NTRS1995

Doppler Observations of the Impact of Comet SL9 Fragment A

An attempt to detect Doppler effects on Jupiter during the impact of fragment A of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet is discussed. A short description is given of the technique used to observe the impact. Observations are presented, and a theoretical analysis and inter- pretation are given. The instrumentation used is an advanced and more sensitive version of the Magneto-Optical Filter & a 40 cm telescope.

Shoemaker-Levy 9 Jupiter comet fragment A doppler ↗
NASA NTRS1988

Geological observation of impact craters on Mars and the earth using remote-sensing methods

It has been suggested that future multispectral and radar remote sensing of Martian craters can be developed on the basis of studies of multispectral and radar signatures of earth craters which are reasonable analogues of the Martian varieties. The present paper is a contribution toward establishing a methodology for detecting the record of very fresh craters on Mars.

Garvin, J. B.↗