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At least 73 records · Page 4

Influence of the Latitudinal Temperature Gradient on Soil Dust Concentration and Deposition in Greenland

To investigate the effects of changes in the latitudinal temperature gradient and the global mean temperature on dust concentration in the Northern Hemisphere, experiments with the Goddard Institute for Space Studies General Circulation Model (GISS GCM) are performed. The dust concentration over Greenland is calculated from sources in central and eastern Asia, which are integrated on-line in the model. The results show that an increase in the latitudinal temperature gradient increases both the Asian dust source strength and the concentration over Greenland. The source increase is the result of increased surface winds, and to a minor extent, the increase in Greenland dust is also associated with increased northward transport. Cooling the climate in addition to this increased gradient leads to a decrease in precipitation scavenging, which helps produce a further (slight) increase in Greenland dust in this experiment. Reducing the latitudinal gradient reduces the surface wind and hence the dust source, with a subsequent reduction in Greenland dust concentrations. Warming the climate in addition to this reduced gradient leads to a further reduction in Greenland dust due to enhanced precipitation scavenging. These results can be used to evaluate the relationship of Greenland ice core temperature changes to changes in the latitudinal and global temperatures.

Tegen, Ina↗

Rapid Prediction of Installed Jet Noise from RANS

A new method of computing jet noise, called mSrc, was developed on the general principles of acoustic analogies. In the method, the problem of translating turbulent flow energy into acoustic energy at a far-field observer is broken into two parts, a calculation of acoustic source strengths and then their propagation. The acoustic sources are related to turbulent quantities in the jet plume in a robust manner. The propagation, which is more properly computed using a Green's function accounting for nonuniform speed of sound and solid surfaces, is instead modeled using commonly observed features of jet acoustic far field directivity, and by diffraction barrier theory for surfaces. The mSrc method does not require gradients of the predicted flow field, allowing it to make use of robust unstructured RANS CFD methods, including embedded boundary codes. Such codes do not require specification of surface meshes, and auto-refine their grid to resolve flow gradients, putting resolution where it is required without a priori user input. The ability of mSrc to use such radically unstructured flow input results in an efficient method of estimating noise from jet flows from complex nozzles installed on aircraft. Many validation cases are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and range of applicability of the mSrc method for representative jet noise applications.

Bridges, James↗

Rapid Prediction of Installed Jet Noise From RANS

A new method of computing jet noise, called mSrc, was developed on the general principles of acoustic analogies. In the method, the problem of translating turbulent flow energy into acoustic energy at a far-field observer is broken into two parts, a calculation of acoustic source strengths and then their propagation. The acoustic sources are related to turbulent quantities in the jet plume in a robust manner. The propagation, which is more properly computed using a Green's function accounting for nonuniform speed of sound and solid surfaces, is instead modeled using commonly observed features of jet acoustic far field directivity, and by diffraction barrier theory for surfaces. The mSrc method does not require gradients of the predicted flow field, allowing it to make use of robust unstructured RANS CFD methods, including embedded boundary codes. Such codes do not require specification of surface meshes, and auto-refine their grid to resolve flow gradients, putting resolution where it is required without a priori user input. The ability of mSrc to use such radically unstructured flow input results in an efficient method of estimating noise from jet flows from complex nozzles installed on aircraft. Many validation cases are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and range of applicability of the mSrc method for representative jet noise applications.

Bridges, James↗

Solutions to the equations for corotating magnetospheric convection

The equations of centrifugally driven convection appropriate to a treatment of the transport of Io plasma in Jupiter's magnetosphere are solved for two special cases of the source distribution. The results show that, in the corotating frame of Jupiter, the mass flows outward from the source, forming spirallike streamlines. It is found that the pitch of a spiral depends on the amount of resident mass and the ionospheric conductivity and that the outflow speed depends on the size of the source region, the resident mass, and the source strength of new ions. An example of a wide source and slow outflow is presented. It is noted that, in the limit of a narrow source, the outflow is rapid and the streamlines are nearly radial.

Summers, D.↗

Modeling Temporal Variability of Plasma Conditions in the Io Torus during the Cassini Era

Observations of ultraviolet (UV) emissions from the major ion species (S(sup +), S(sup ++), S(sup +++), O(sup +), O(sup ++) of the Io Plasma torus made during the Cassini flyby (October 2000 to March 2001) have revealed significant time variability. Using a homogenoeus model for mass and energy flow in the torus parameterized by five input variables (transport timescale, neutral source strength, ratio of oxygen to sulfur atoms in the source, fraction of superthermal electrons, and temperature of the hot electrons), we have investigated the time variability of the torus properties (density, composition, and temperature) during the Cassini era. In order to match the changes in emissions, the model suggests that a significant change in the neutral source occurred near the beginning of the observing period, decreasing from more than 1.8 tons/s to 0.7 tons/s. The changes in the neutral source appear to coincide with the declining phase of a dramatic (i.e., 2-3 order of magnitude) peak in iogenic dust emissions observed by Galileo prior to the Cassini era.

Delamere, P. A.↗

Satellite Mapping of PM2.5 Episodes in the Wintertime San Joaquin Valley: A "Static" Model Using Column Water Vapor

The use of satellite Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) from imaging spectrometers has been successful in quantifying and mapping high PM2.5 (particulate matter mass <2.5µm diameter) episodes for pollution abatement and health studies. However, some regions have high PM2.5 but poor estimation success. The challenges in using Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) from imaging spectrometers to characterize PM2.5 worldwide was especially evident in the wintertime San Joaquin Valley (SJV). The SJV's attendant difficulties of high-albedo surfaces and very shallow, variable vertical mixing also occur in other significantly polluted regions around the world. We report on more accurate PM2.5 maps for the whole-winter period in the SJV, Nov 14, 2012?Dec 11, 2013. Intensive measurements by including NASA aircraft were made for several weeks in that winter, the DISCOVER-AQ California mission.We found success with a relatively simple method based on calibration and checking with surface monitors and a characterization of vertical mixing, and incorporating specific understandings of the region's climatology. We estimate PM2.5 to within ~7µgm?3 RMSE and with R values of ~0.9, based on remotely sensed MAIAC (Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction) observations, and that certain further work will improve that accuracy. Mapping is at 1km resolution. This allows a time sequence of mapped aerosols at 1km for cloud-free days. We describe our technique as a "static estimation". Estimation procedures like this one, not dependent on well-mapped source strengths or on transport error, should help full source-driven simulations by deconstructing processes. They also provide a rapid method to create a long-term climatology.Essential features of the technique are (a) daily calibration of the AOT to PM2.5 using available surface monitors, and (b) characterization of mixed-layer dilution using column water vapor (CWV, otherwise "precipitable water"). We noted that on multi-day timescales both water vapor and particles share near-surface sources and both fall to very low values with altitude; indeed, both are largely removed by precipitation. The existence of layers of H2O or aerosol not within the mixed layer adds complexity, but mixed-effects statistical regression captures essential proportionality of PM2.5 and the ratio variable (AOT/CWV). Accuracy is much higher than previous statistical models, and can be extended to the whole Aqua-satellite data record. The maps and time-series we show suggest a repeated pattern for large valleys like the SJV ? progressive stabilization of the mixing height after frontal passages: PM2.5 is somewhat more determined by day-by-day changes in mixing than it is by the progressive accumulation of pollutants (revealed as increasing AOT).

Chatfield, Robert B.↗

Source Identification and Location Techniques

Mr. Weir presented source location results obtained from an engine test as part of the Engine Validation of Noise Reduction Concepts program. Two types of microphone arrays were used in this program to determine the jet noise source distribution for the exhaust from a 4.3 bypass ratio turbofan engine. One was a linear array of 16 microphones located on a 25 ft. sideline and the other was a 103 microphone 3-D "cage" array in the near field of the jet. Data were obtained from a baseline nozzle and from numerous nozzle configuration using chevrons and/or tabs to reduce the jet noise. Mr. Weir presented data from two configurations: the baseline nozzle and a nozzle configuration with chevrons on both the core and bypass nozzles. This chevron configuration had achieved a jet noise reduction of 4 EPNdB in small scale tests conducted at the Glenn Research Center. IR imaging showed that the chevrons produced significant improvements in mixing and greatly reduced the length of the jet potential core. Comparison of source location data from the 1-D phased array showed a shift of the noise sources towards the nozzle and clear reductions of the sources due to the noise reduction devices. Data from the 3-D array showed a single source at a frequency of 125 Hz. located several diameters downstream from the nozzle exit. At 250 and 400 Hz., multiple sources, periodically spaced, appeared to exist downstream of the nozzle. The trend of source location moving toward the nozzle exit with increasing frequency was also observed. The 3-D array data also showed a reduction in source strength with the addition of chevrons. The overall trend of source location with frequency was compared for the two arrays and with classical experience. Similar trends were observed. Although overall trends with frequency and addition of suppression devices were consistent between the data from the 1-D and the 3-D arrays, a comparison of the details of the inferred source locations did show differences. A flight test is planned to determine if the hardware tested statically will achieve similar reductions in flight.

Weir, Donald↗

Atomic and molecular hydrogen from Titan in the Kronian magnetosphere

The question of the neutral gas and plasma population in the region of the Kronian magnetosphere, outside the plasma mantle and inside the magnetopause, dominated by the efflux of Titan's atmosphere is considered. A model that has been used successfully to describe the inner magnetosphere is applied to this region under constraints derived from the plasma science and ultraviolet spectrometer experiments on Voyager. It is shown that it is not possible to reconcile the results of these two experiments simultaneously with the values of the atomic and molecular source strengths of the atmosphere of Titan extant in the literature. The possible sources of the discrepancy are delineated.

Eviatar, Aharon↗

The location of the source of high-frequency solar acoustic oscillations

Recently Libbrecht and Jefferies et al. have reported regular peaks in the solar oscillation power spectrum extending well above 5.3 mHz, the maximum frequency of trapped acoustic modes. Kumar et al. argued that these peaks are primarily due to the interference of traveling waves which are excited due to acoustic emission from turbulent convection. In contrast with the standing wave P-mode frequencies below 5.3 mHz, the positions of the high-frequency interference peaks (HIPs) are dependent on the location of the source of the acoustic oscillations. In the present work, Kumar et al.'s argument is strengthened, and more importantly, use is made of the above dependence to determine the acoustic source strength as a function of depth. It is found that the acoustic source profile, and thus the convective velocity, is peaked about 200 km deeper than what is expected from standard mixing length theory.

Kumar, Pawan↗

Aircraft-derived particle fluxes distinguish entrainment zone and decoupled layer nucleation in marine boundary layers

The vertical distribution of freshly nucleated aerosol particles in the marine boundary layer remains poorly constrained, limiting our ability to represent new particle formation in climate models. Here we characterize 3–10 nm particle events, termed small particle events (SPEs), by deriving their vertical turbulent fluxes from aircraft measurements during the Aerosol and Cloud Experiments in the Eastern North Atlantic (ACE-ENA) campaign. To overcome stationarity limitations of traditional eddy covariance methods, we applied continuous wavelet transform analysis to data collected during June–July 2017 and January–February 2018 flights over the Azores. Our flux-based analysis revealed two distinct SPE scenarios with different vertical structures and spatial extents. The first featured nucleation in the entrainment zone, where free tropospheric air entrains into the boundary layer. The second showed nucleation in the decoupled layer, a stratified region between the well-mixed surface layer and cloud-topped upper boundary layer. In both cases, convergence of air masses from different layers diluted preexisting aerosol surface area to very low levels, creating conditions favorable for nucleation and generating strong downward particle fluxes. SPEs occurred in 15 % of flights, challenging prevailing theoretical expectations that new particle formation should rarely occur in marine boundary layers due to high condensation and coagulation sink capacity of sea spray aerosols. Aircraft-derived particle fluxes provide first observational constraints on the vertical location and source strength of likely nucleation regions in the remote marine boundary layer, improving aerosol source representations in climate models and reducing uncertainties in aerosol-cloud interactions.

Rasheeda Satheesh, Ajmal [North Carolina State Uni↗

Direct Measurement of Wave Kernels in Time-Distance Helioseismology

Solar f-mode waves are surface-gravity waves which propagate horizontally in a thin layer near the photosphere with a dispersion relation approximately that of deep water waves. At the power maximum near 3 mHz, the wavelength of 5 Mm is large enough for various wave scattering properties to be observable. Gizon and Birch (2002,ApJ,571,966)h ave calculated kernels, in the Born approximation, for the sensitivity of wave travel times to local changes in damping rate and source strength. In this work, using isolated small magnetic features as approximate point-sourc'e scatterers, such a kernel has been measured. The observed kernel contains similar features to a theoretical damping kernel but not for a source kernel. A full understanding of the effect of small magnetic features on the waves will require more detailed modeling.

Duvall, T. L., Jr.↗

Noise Generation in Hot Jets

A prediction method based on the generalized acoustic analogy is presented, and used to evaluate aerodynamic noise radiated from high speed hot jets. The set of Euler equations are split into their respective non-radiating and residual components. Under certain conditions, the residual equations are rearranged to form a wave equation. This equation consists of a third-order wave operator, plus a number of nonlinear terms that are identified with the equivalent sources of sound and their statistical characteristics are modeled. A specialized RANS solver provides the base flow as well as turbulence quantities and temperature fluctuations that determine the source strength. The main objective here is to evaluate the relative contribution from various source elements to the far-field spectra and to show the significance of temperature fluctuations as a source of aerodynamic noise in hot jets.

Khavaran, Abbas↗

Nitrogen oxides in the troposphere - Global and regional budgets

The cycle of nitrogen oxides in the troposphere is discussed from both global and regional perspectives. Global sources for NO(x) are estimated to be of magnitude 50 (+ or - 25) x 10 to the 12th gm N/yr. Nitrogen oxides are derived from combustion of fossil fuels (40 percent) and biomass burning (25 percent) with the balance from lightning and microbial activity in soils. Estimates for the rate of removal of NOx based on recent atmospheric and precipitation chemistry data are consistent with global source strengths derived here. Industrial and agricultural activities provide approximately two thirds of the global source for NOx. In North America, sources from combustion of fossil fuels exceed natural sources by a factor of 3-13. Wet deposition removes about one third of the combustion source of NOx over North America, while dry deposition removes a similar amount. The balance is exported from the continent. Deposition of nitrate in precipitation over eastern Canada and the western Atlantic is clearly influenced by sources of NOx in the eastern United States.

Logan, J. A.↗

Correlated flux densities from VLBI observations with the DSN

Correlated flux densities of extragalactic radio sources in the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) astrometric catalog are required for the VLBI tracking of Galileo, Mars Observer, and future missions. A system to produce correlated and total flux density catalogs was developed to meet these requirements. A correlated flux density catalog of 274 sources, accurate to about 20 percent, was derived from more than 5000 DSN VLBI observations at 2.3 GHz (S-band) and 8.4 GHz (X-band) using 43 VLBI radio reference frame experiments during the period 1989-1992. Various consistency checks were carried out to ensure the accuracy of the correlated flux densities. All observations were made on the California-Spain and California-Australia DSN baselines using the Mark 3 wideband data acquisition system. A total flux density catalog, accurate to about 20 percent, with data on 150 sources, was also created. Together, these catalogs can be used to predict source strengths to assist in the scheduling of VLBI tracking passes. In addition, for those sources with sufficient observations, a rough estimate of source structure parameters can be made.

Coker, R. F.↗

RWF rotor-wake-fuselage code software reference guide

The RWF (Rotor-Wake-Fuselage) code was developed from first principles to compute the aerodynamics associated with the complex flow field of helicopter configurations. The code is sized for a single, multi-bladed main rotor and any configuration of non-lifting fuselage. The mathematical model for the RWF code is based on the integration of the momentum equations and Green's theorem. The unknowns in the problem are the strengths of prescribed singularity distributions on the boundaries of the flow. For the body (fuselage) a surface of constant strength source panels is used. For the rotor blades and rotor wake a surface of constant strength doublet panels is used. The mean camber line of the rotor airfoil is partitioned into surface panels. The no-flow boundary condition at the panel centroids is modified at each azimuthal step to account for rotor blade cyclic pitch variation. The geometry of the rotor wake is computers at each time step of the solution. The code produces rotor and fuselage surface pressures, as well as the complex geometry of the evolving rotor wake.

Berry, John D.↗

The strong UV source in the active E Galaxy NGC 4552

1200-3200 A IUE spectra of the nucleus of NGC 4552 (M89) were obtained in order to investigate the nature of the strong 10 micron source in this Galaxy. There is a strong, extended UV source in NGC 4552 which has a spatial distribution nearly identical with that at optical wavelengths and is undoubedly stellar in origin. Its properties are consistent with the correlation between UV source strength and metallicity pointed out by Faber (1983). There is no evidence for a nonthermal point source in the UV. It appears unlikely that the 10 micron emission is from heated dust grains. Instead, it is believed the 10 micron radiation is nonthermal in origin, implying a remarkably small size of only 0.1 AU for this source.

Oconnell, R. W.↗

Crops for Carbon Farming

Agricultural cropping systems and pasture comprise one third of the world’s arable land and have the potential to draw down a considerable amount of atmospheric CO 2 for storage as soil organic carbon (SOC) and improving the soil carbon budget. An improved soil carbon budget serves the dual purpose of promoting soil health, which supports crop productivity, and constituting a pool from which carbon can be converted to recalcitrant forms for long-term storage as a mitigation measure for global warming. In this perspective, we propose the design of crop ideotypes with the dual functionality of being highly productive for the purposes of food, feed, and fuel, while at the same time being able to facilitate higher contribution to soil carbon and improve the below ground ecology. We advocate a holistic approach of the integrated plant-microbe-soil system and suggest that significant improvements in soil carbon storage can be achieved by a three-pronged approach: (1) design plants with an increased root strength to further allocation of carbon belowground; (2) balance the increase in belowground carbon allocation with increased source strength for enhanced photosynthesis and biomass accumulation; and (3) design soil microbial consortia for increased rhizosphere sink strength and plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A practical approach to helicopter internal noise prediction

A practical and well correlated procedure for predicting helicopter internal noise is presented. It accounts for the propagation of noise along multiple paths on an octave by octave basis. The method is sufficiently general to be applicable to conventional helicopters as well as other aircraft types, when the appropriate structural geometry, noise source strengths, and material acoustic properties are defined. A guide is provided for the prediction of various helicopter noise sources over a wide range of horsepower for use when measured data are not available. The method is applied to the prediction of the interior levels of the Civil Helicopter Research Aircraft (CHRA), both with and without soundproofing installed. Results include good correlation with measured levels and prediction of the speech interference level within 1.5 db at all conditions. A sample problem is also shown illustrating the use of the procedure. This example calculates the engine casing noise observed in the passenger cabin of the CHRA.

Levine, L. S.↗