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At least 811 records · Page 45

Precise GPS orbits for geodesy

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become, in recent years, the main space-based system for surveying and navigation in many military, commercial, cadastral, mapping, and scientific applications. Better receivers, interferometric techniques (DGPS), and advances in post-processing methods have made possible to position fixed or moving receivers with sub-decimeter accuracies in a global reference frame. Improved methods for obtaining the orbits of the GPS satellites have played a major role in these achievements; this paper gives a personal view of the main developments in GPS orbit determination.

Colombo, Oscar L.↗

Aerosol analysis techniques and results from micro pulse lidar

The effect of clouds and aerosol on the atmospheric energy balance is a key global change problem. Full knowledge of aerosol distributions is difficult to obtain by passive sensing alone. Aerosol and cloud retrievals in several important areas can be significantly improved with active remote sensing by lidar. Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL) is an aerosol and cloud profilometer that provides a detailed picture of the vertical structure of boundary layer and elevated dust or smoke plume aerosols. MPL is a compact, fully eyesafe, ground-based, zenith pointing instrument capable of full-time, long-term unattended operation at 523 nm. In October of 1993, MPL began taking full-time measurements for the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program at its Southern Great Plains (SGP) site and has since expanded to ARM sites in the Tropical West Pacific (TWP) and the North Slope of Alaska (NSA). Other MPL's are moving out to some of the 60 world-wide Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sites which are already equipped with automatic sun-sky scanning spectral radiometers providing total column optical depth measurements. Twelve additional MPL's have been purchased by NASA to add to the aerosol and cloud database of the EOS ground validation network. The original MPL vertical resolution was 300 meters but the newer versions have a vertical resolution of 30 meters. These expanding data sets offer a significant new resource for atmospheric radiation analysis. Under the direction of Jim Spinhirne, the MPL analysis team at NASA/GSFC has developed instrument correction and backscatter analysis techniques for ARM to detect cloud boundaries and analyze vertical aerosol structures. A summary of MPL applications is found in Hlavka (1997). With the aid of independent total column optical depth instruments such as the Multifilter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) at the ARM sites or sun photometers at the AERONET sites, the MPL data can be calibrated, and time-resolved vertical profiles of aerosol optical depth as well as aerosol extinction can be calculated. The techniques used to calibrate the lidar, calculate the aerosol extinction-to-backscatter ratio, and produce profiles of aerosol extinction and aerosol optical depths, will be described. Results using these techniques will be presented for case studies at the ARM site in the Tropical West Pacific and later in the Southern Great Plains.

Hlavka, Dennis L.↗

On some numerical schemes for transonic flow problems

New second-order-accurate finite-difference approximations for a class of nonlinear PDEs of mixed type, which includes the two-dimensional low-frequency transonic small-disturbance equation (TSD) and full-potential equation (FP), are presented. For the TSD equation, the scheme is implemented via a time-splitting algorithm; the inclusion of flux limiters keeps the total variation nonincreasing and eliminates spurious oscillations near shocks. Global-linear-stability, TVD, and entropy-stability results are proved. Numerical results for the flow over a thin airfoil are presented. Current techniques used to solve the TSD equation may easily be extended to second-order accuracy by this method. For the FP equation, the new scheme requires no subsonic/supersonic switching and no numerical flux biasing. Global linear stability for all values of the Mach number is proved.

Mostrel, Marco Mosche↗

Local Inversion Symmetry Breaking and Thermodynamic Evidence for Ferrimagnetism in Fe 3 GaTe 2

The layered compound Fe 3 GaTe 2 is attracting attention due to its high Curie temperature, low dimensionality, and the presence of topological spin textures above room temperature, making Fe 3 GaTe 2 a good candidate for applications in spintronics. Here, in this study, we show, through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques, that Fe 3 GaTe 2 single crystals break local inversion symmetry while maintaining global inversion symmetry according to X-ray diffraction. Coupled to the observation of Néel skyrmions via Lorentz-TEM, our structural analysis provides a convincing explanation for their presence in centrosymmetric materials. Magnetization measurements as a function of the temperature displays a sharp first-order thermodynamic phase-transition leading to a reduction in the magnetic moment. This implies that the ground state of Fe 3 GaTe 2 is globally ferrimagnetic and not a glassy magnetic state composed of ferrimagnetic, and ferromagnetic domains as previously claimed. Neutron diffraction studies indicate that the ferromagnetic to ferrimagnetic transition upon reducing the external magnetic field is associated with a change in the magnetic configuration/coupling between Fe1 and Fe2 moments. We observe a clear correlation between the hysteresis observed in both the skyrmion density and the magnetization of Fe 3 GaTe 2 . This indicates that its topological spin textures are affected by the development of ferrimagnetism upon cooling. Observation, via magnetic force microscopy, of magnetic bubbles at the magnetic phase boundary suggests skyrmions stabilized by the competition among magnetic phases and distinct exchange interactions. Our study provides an explanation for the observation of Néel skyrmions in centrosymmetric systems, while exposing a correlation between the distinct magnetic phases of Fe 3 GaTe 2 and topological spin textures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Using Large Language Models to help customers monitor global threat data

Large Language Models have proven adept at answering general knowledge questions. To make these generative AI tools useful to our mission customers for monitoring global threats, the data sciences team at Sandia is utilizing retrieval augmented generation (RAG) techniques to customize these models with local data. The local data we use consists of data such as research articles and patent abstracts that we've collected over the last several years using automated pipelines.

Herzer, John Andrew [Sandia National Laboratories ↗

Global sensing of gaseous and aerosol trace species using automated instrumentation on 747 airliners

The Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) by NASA is collecting and analyzing data on gaseous and aerosol trace species in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Measurements are obtained from automated systems installed on four 747 airliners flying global air routes. Advances were made in airborne sampling instrumentation. Improved instruments and analysis techniques are providing an expanding data base for trace species including ozone, carbon monoxide, water vapor, condensation nuclei and mass concentrations of sulfates and nitrates. Simultaneous measurements of several trace species obtained frequently can be used to uniquely identify the source of the air mass as being typically tropospheric or stratospheric. A quantitative understanding of the tropospheric-stratospheric exchange processes leads to better knowledge of the atmospheric impact of pollution through the development of improved simulation models of the atmosphere.

Perkins, P. J.↗

The Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (SAMS) experiment

Thermal emission and solar resonance fluorescence from the atmospheric limb are reported. Global measurements are made of radiation from the molecular species. The gas correlation spectroscopy technique based on the use of gas cells to select emission from chosen spectral lines or from particular parts of spectral lines is used. The source function and departure from the thermodynamic equilibrium between 80 and 130 kilometers associated with CO2 emission bands were investigated. The zonal wind velocity component along the line of sight is measured.

Drummond, J. R.↗

Progress report on the ATMOS sensor - Design description and development status

The Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy program is a multiflight shuttle borne investigation designed to determine, on a global scale, the compositional structure and spatial variability of the upper atmosphere using the technique of high resolution infrared absorption spectroscopy. The measurement approach is based on an advanced Fourier Transform Spectrometer capable of obtaining high sensitivity spectral measurements of the atmosphere over a wide spectral region (625-5000 kaysers; 2-16 microns) at high spectral resolution (0.01 kaysers) and vertical height spatial resolution (2 km). Additional elements of the sensor system include a suntracker, a telescope, a mechanically cooled (Hg,Cd)Te detector, and a data handling subsystem with a 16 Mbit/s PCM output. A description is given of the sensor design, including performance predictions, followed by a brief summary of the current technical status of the development effort.

Morse, P. G.↗

Broadcasting satellite service synthesis using gradient and cyclic coordinate search procedures

Two search techniques are considered for solving satellite synthesis problems. Neither is likely to find a globally optimal solution. In order to determine which method performs better and what factors affect their performance, we design an experiment and solve the same problem under a variety of starting solution configuration-algorithm combinations. Since there is no randomization in the experiment, we present results of practical, rather than statistical, significance. Our implementation of a cyclic coordinate search procedure clearly finds better synthesis solutions than our implementation of a gradient search procedure does with our objective of maximizing the minimum C/I ratio computed at test points on the perimeters of the intended service areas. The length of the available orbital arc and the configuration of the starting solution are shown to affect the quality of the solutions found.

Reilly, C. H.↗

Broadcasting satellite service synthesis using gradient and cyclic coordinate search procedures

Two search techniques are considered for solving satellite synthesis problems. Neither is likely to find a globally optimal solution. In order to determine which method performs better and what factors affect their performance, an experiment is designed and the same problem is solved under a variety of starting solution configuration-algorithm combinations. Since there is no randomization in the experiment, results of practical, rather than statistical, significance are presented. Implementation of a cyclic coordinate search procedure clearly finds better synthesis solutions than implementation of a gradient search procedure does with the objective of maximizing the minimum C/I ratio computed at test points on the perimeters of the intended service areas. The length of the available orbital arc and the configuration of the starting solution are shown to affect the quality of the solutions found.

Reilly, C. H.↗

Measurements of turbulence and its evolution and variability during MAP

The understanding of turbulence in the middle atmosphere has improved considerably during the MAP period. For a theoretical viewpoint, several advances were made including understanding the ways in which turbulence is generated, and the differences between the rates of diffusion of momentum and heat. Experimentally, a proper understanding of how radars can be used to measure turbulence has emerged, and turbulent energy dissipation rates in the middle atmosphere were measured with MF, HF, and VHF radars. New rocket techniques were developed which have enabled detailed studies of the fine structure of turbulence to be made. While some discrepancies between techniques still exist, these will undoubtedly be resolved soon, and these different techniques are already providing a great improvement in the understanding of turbulence on a global scale.

Hocking, W. K.↗

An efficient, explicit finite-rate algorithm to compute flows in chemical nonequilibrium

An explicit finite-rate code was developed to compute hypersonic viscous chemically reacting flows about three-dimensional bodies. Equations describing the finite-rate chemical reactions were fully coupled to the gas dynamic equations using a new coupling technique. The new technique maintains stability in the explicit finite-rate formulation while permitting relatively large global time steps.

Palmer, Grant↗

Adaptive control: Stability, convergence, and robustness

The deterministic theory of adaptive control (AC) is presented in an introduction for graduate students and practicing engineers. Chapters are devoted to basic AC approaches, notation and fundamental theorems, the identification problem, model-reference AC, parameter convergence using averaging techniques, and AC robustness. Consideration is given to the use of prior information, the global stability of indirect AC schemes, multivariable AC, linearizing AC for a class of nonlinear systems, AC of linearizable minimum-phase systems, and MIMO systems decouplable by static state feedback.

Sastry, Shankar↗

Effect of chemical kinetics uncertainties on calculated constituents in a tropospheric photochemical model

Random photochemical reaction rates are employed in a 1D photochemical model to examine uncertainties in tropospheric concentrations and thereby determine critical kinetic processes and significant correlations. Monte Carlo computations are used to simulate different chemical environments and their related imprecisions. The most critical processes are the primary photodissociation of O3 (which initiates ozone destruction) and NO2 (which initiates ozone formation), and the OH/methane reaction is significant. Several correlations and anticorrelations between species are discussed, and the ozone/transient OH correlation is examined in detail. One important result of the modeling is that estimates of global OH are generally about 25 percent uncertain, limiting the precision of photochemical models. Techniques for reducing the imprecision are discussed which emphasize the use of species and radical species measurements.

Thompson, Anne M.↗

A three dimensional view of velocity using lasers

The use of laser light sheet flow visualization, fringe-type laser velocimetry, and Doppler global velocimetry to make flow field investigations is described. The complementary nature of the techniques is demonstrated by using them to examine the vortical flow fields above a 75 deg swept delta wing and a YF-17 model in a low-speed wind tunnel. The characteristics of these systems are described and their capability to provide fundamental velocity databases for CFD validation is assessed.

Meyers, James F.↗

Remote sensing of wetland biomass and productivity for global biosystem research

The study of ecosystem function and the contributions of particular ecosystems to global elemental cycling will require data collection from orbital platforms. Presently used ground sampling techniques are not adequate for large area vegetation assessments. The research was directed toward an understanding of the relationship between spectral radiance and plant canopy biomass. Changes in the architecture of the canopy alters the observed spectral radiance patterns. The green components of a plant canopy interacts most strongly with incident radiation and usually reflect edaphic conditions as they relate to plant vigor. Plant biomass serves as an excellent integrator of the environmental factors encountered by the plant and can be used as an indicator for predicting soil redox, nutrient status, microbial activity, etc. The use was examined of TM spectral data to discriminate biomass classes and, in turn, to relate the biomass classes to the chemical status of the soil. Several preliminary studies have indicated that solar angle can be used to improve biomass predictions. This important observation also suggests that latitudinal extrapolation of the biomass predicting models will be possible if selected characteristics of the incident radiation are known.

Hardisky, M. A.↗

Testing and management of flight instruments and their data

Hardware activities were concentrated on the Low Energy Ion Facility (LEIF), which is used for testing and calibration of most of the flight instruments for near-Earth observations. The ion beam generated by the ion source in the LEIF has been required for the proper testing and calibration of the primary components of the Thermal Ion Dynamics Experiment (TIDE) to be flown on the POLAR spacecraft of the Global Geospace Science (GGS) flight program. Additional work has been done on equipment and techniques for diagnosing and testing microchannel plates. These plates are used in the imager as well as the flight instruments.

Comfort, Richard H.↗

Nonlinear structural analysis on distributed-memory computers

A computational strategy is presented for the nonlinear static and postbuckling analyses of large complex structures on massively parallel computers. The strategy is designed for distributed-memory, message-passing parallel computer systems. The key elements of the proposed strategy are: (1) a multiple-parameter reduced basis technique; (2) a nested dissection (or multilevel substructuring) ordering scheme; (3) parallel assembly of global matrices; and (4) a parallel sparse equation solver. The effectiveness of the strategy is assessed by applying it to thermo-mechanical postbuckling analyses of stiffened composite panels with cutouts, and nonlinear large-deflection analyses of HSCT models on Intel Paragon XP/S computers. The numerical studies presented demonstrate the advantages of nested dissection-based solvers over traditional skyline-based solvers on distributed memory machines.

Watson, Brian C.↗