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At least 991 records · Page 55

AICCA: AI-Driven Cloud Classification Atlas

Clouds play an important role in the Earth’s energy budget, and their behavior is one of the largest uncertainties in future climate projections. Satellite observations should help in understanding cloud responses, but decades and petabytes of multispectral cloud imagery have to date received only limited use. This study describes a new analysis approach that reduces the dimensionality of satellite cloud observations by grouping them via a novel automated, unsupervised cloud classification technique based on a convolutional autoencoder, an artificial intelligence (AI) method good at identifying patterns in spatial data. Our technique combines a rotation-invariant autoencoder and hierarchical agglomerative clustering to generate cloud clusters that capture meaningful distinctions among cloud textures, using only raw multispectral imagery as input. Cloud classes are therefore defined based on spectral properties and spatial textures without reliance on location, time/season, derived physical properties, or pre-designated class definitions. We use this approach to generate a unique new cloud dataset, the AI-driven cloud classification atlas (AICCA), which clusters 22 years of ocean images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua and Terra instruments—198 million patches, each roughly 100 km × 100 km (128 × 128 pixels)—into 42 AI-generated cloud classes, a number determined via a newly-developed stability protocol that we use to maximize richness of information while ensuring stable groupings of patches. AICCA thereby translates 801 TB of satellite images into 54.2 GB of class labels and cloud top and optical properties, a reduction by a factor of 15,000. The 42 AICCA classes produce meaningful spatio-temporal and physical distinctions and capture a greater variety of cloud types than do the nine International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) categories—for example, multiple textures in the stratocumulus decks along the West coasts of North and South America. We conclude that our methodology has explanatory power, capturing regionally unique cloud classes and providing rich but tractable information for global analysis. AICCA delivers the information from multi-spectral images in a compact form, enables data-driven diagnosis of patterns of cloud organization, provides insight into cloud evolution on timescales of hours to decades, and helps democratize climate research by facilitating access to core data.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Oxidation of TD nickel at 1050 C and 1200 C as compared with three grades of nickel of different purity

The isothermal oxidation of three nickels of different purity, Ni-200, Ni-270, and JM-Ni, was compared with that of TD-Ni in air at 1050 and 1200 C. The samples were oxidized as ground, as polished, or as annealed and polished. Weight change, metal loss, scale thickness, oxide morphology, and scale texture were determined. In degree of oxidation, TD-Ni was nearly the same as the higher purity materials, Ni-270 and JM-Ni; and less pure Ni-200 oxidized more than the others. However, in microstructure and scale texture the TD-Ni more closely resembled Ni-200. Grinding only charged the texture of the oxides of Ni_200 and TD-Ni.

Lowell, C. E.↗

Automatic cloud cover mapping.

A method of converting a picture into a 'cartoon' or 'map' whose regions correspond to differently textured regions is described. Texture edges in the picture are detected, and solid regions surrounded by these (usually broken) edges are 'colored in' using a propagation process. The resulting map is cleaned by comparing the region colors with the textures of the corresponding regions in the picture, and also by merging some regions with others according to criteria based on topology and size. The method has been applied to the construction of cloud cover maps from cloud cover pictures obtained by satellites.

Strong, J. P., III↗

Petrology of Apollo 11 sample 10071 - A differentiated mini-igneous complex.

Sample 10071,33 is a thin section of Apollo 11 ferrobasalt showing an unusual dual texture. The major portion of the sample is very similar to other fine grained Apollo 11 basalts, but the thin section also includes materials with a distinct variolitic texture. The two areas are separated by a sharp boundary and the mineralogy and composition of the two textural types are quite distinct. The mineralogy and chemistry of the variolitic portion show it to be the product of rapid cooling of a liquid, intermediate between the typical Apollo 11 ferrobasalt and the associated Si and K-rich mesostasis. This liquid is the result of fractional crystallization of a magma of composition closely corresponding to the major portion of the 10071 system, followed by crystal-liquid separation. The sample provides strong and direct evidence for igneous differentiation on the lunar surface.

Drake, M. J.↗

Use of a CO2 laser to prepare chondrule-like spherules from supercooled molten oxide and silicate droplets.

Chondrule-like spherules were formed from individual freely falling subcooled droplets of alumina, enstatite, forsterite, enstatite-albite and forsterite-albite mixtures that had been melted with a focused continuous CO2 laser beam. Their textures (rimmed, excentro-radial, barred, glassy) are strikingly similar to those of many meteoritic chondrules. It is suggested that the phenomena associated with rapid crystallization from the supercooled melt are responsible for the various textures observed in the artificial spherules as well as in similar meteoritic chondrules. It is suggested that the textures observed would also result from rapid crystallization of relatively slowly cooling molten droplets that may have been produced in larger scale events, including condensation from a nebula of solar composition and solidification in an ambient medium of high temperature.

Nelson, L. S.↗

Ilmenite-orthopyroxene intergrowths from the moon and the Skaergaard intrusion

Myrmekitic or eutectic-like intergrowths of ilmenite and orthopyroxene, which texturally resemble intergrowths from nodules in kimberlites have been observed in lunar breccia 60016,92 and in 'Lower Zone' a of the Skaergaard intrusion. The lunar sample is similar in mineral chemistry to kimberlife occurrences, while the Skaergaard sample is not as Mg-rich. In all cases, however, there is a systematic distribution of Mg between orthopyroxene and ilmenite. The similar textures were formed by different processes: the lunar intergrowth is probably a eutectic-type texture resulting from crystallization of a melt, while the Skaergaard intergrowth formed by a process of sub-solidus oxidation.

Haselton, J. D.↗

Ion beam sputter modification of the surface morphology of biological implants

The surface chemistry and texture of materials used for biological implants may significantly influence their performance and biocompatibility. Recent interest in the microscopic control of implant surface texture has led to the evaluation of ion beam sputtering as a potentially useful surface roughening technique. Ion sources, similar to electron bombardment ion thrusters designed for propulsive applications, are used to roughen the surfaces of various biocompatible alloys or polymer materials. These materials are typically used for dental implants, orthopedic prostheses, vascular prostheses, and artificial heart components. Masking techniques and resulting surface textures are described along with progress concerning evaluation of the biological response to the ion beam sputtered surfaces.

Weigand, A. J.↗

Heterogeneity in titaniferous lunar basalts

Small but real chemical differences exist between subsamples of fine-grained quench-textured titaniferous lunar basalts. The existence of different textural domains with different chemistries is thought to account for most of this variation. In addition to the textural domains, lunar sample 74275 has a population of olivine 'megacrysts' as well as dunite fragments. These materials are thought to be extraneous and to compromise the primary nature of 74275. Recognition of the small chemical variations present may aid in understanding some discrepancies in the experimental-petrology literature. However, these small variations have a distressing petrogenetic significance since they severely limit resolution in recognizing the number and depth of origin of primary magmas.

Walker, D.↗

Ion-beam-sputter modification of the surface morphology of biological implants

The surface chemistry and texture of materials used for biological implants may significantly influence their performance and biocompatibility. Recent interest in the microscopic control of implant surface texture has led to the evaluation of ion-beam sputtering as a potentially useful surface roughening technique. Ion sources, similar to electron-bombardment ion thrusters designed for propulsive applications, are used to roughen the surfaces of various biocompatible alloys or polymer materials. These materials are typically used for dental implants, orthopedic prostheses, vascular prostheses, and artificial heart components. Masking techniques and resulting surface textures are described along with progress concerning evaluation of the biological response to the ion-beam-sputtered surfaces.

Weigand, A. J.↗

Adaptation of ion beam technology to microfabrication of solid state devices and transducers

It was found that ion beam texturing of silicon surfaces can be used to increase the effective surface area of MOS capacitors. There is, however, a problem with low dielectric breakdown. Preliminary work was begun on the fabrication of ion implanted resistors on textured surfaces and the potential improvement of wire bond strength by bonding to a textured surface. In the area of ion beam sputtering, the techniques for sputtering PVC were developed. A PVC target containing valinomycin was used to sputter an ion selective membrane on a field effect transistor to form a potassium ion sensor.

Topich, J. A.↗

Compression of rehydratable vegetables and cereals

Characteristics of freeze-dried compressed carrots, such as rehydration, volatile retention, and texture, were studied by relating histological changes to textural quality evaluation, and by determining the effects of storage temperature on freeze-dried compressed carrot bars. Results show that samples compressed with a high moisture content undergo only slight structural damage and rehydrate quickly. Cellular disruption as a result of compression at low moisture levels was the main reason for rehydration and texture differences. Products prepared from carrot cubes having 48% moisture compared favorably with a freshly cooked product in cohesiveness and elasticity, but were found slightly harder and more chewy.

Burns, E. E.↗

Hot forming of silicon sheet, silicon sheet growth development for the large area silicon sheet task of the low cost silicon solar array project

The hot workability of polycrystalline silicon was studied. Uniaxail stress-strain curves are given for strain rates in the range of .0001 to .1/sec and temperatures from 1100 to 1380 C. At the highest strain rates at 1380 C axial strains in excess of 20% were easily obtainable without cracking. After deformations of 36%, recrystallization was completed within 0.1 hr at 1380 C. When the recrystallization was complete, there was still a small volume fraction of unrecyrstallized material which appeared very stable and may degrade the electronic properties of the bulk materials. Texture measurements showed that the as-produced vapor deposited polycrystalline rods have a 110 fiber texture with the 110 direction parallel to the growth direction and no preferred orientation about this axis. Upon axial compression perpendicular to the growth direction, the former 110 fiber axis changed to 111 and the compression axis became 110 . Recrystallization changed the texture to 110 along the former fiber axis and to 100 along the compression axis.

Graham, C. D., Jr.↗

Thermomechanical processing of HAYNES alloy No. 188 sheet to improve creep strength

Improvements in the low strain creep strength of HAYNES alloy No. 188 thin gauge sheet by means of thermomechanical processing were developed. Processing methods designed to develop a sheet with strong crystallographic texture after recrystallization and to optimize grain size were principally studied. The effects of thickness-to-grain diameter ratio and prestrain on low strain creep strength were also briefly examined. Results indicate that the most significant improvements were obtained in the sheets having a strong crystallographic texture. The low strain creep strength of the textured sheets was observed to be superior to that of standard production sheets in the 922 K to 1255 K temperature range. Tensile, stress rupture, fabricability, and surface stability properties of the experimental sheets were also measured and compared to property values reported for the baseline production sheets.

Klarstrom, D. L.↗

The Inman, McPherson County, Kansas meteorite

The Inman meteorite (find, 1966) is a single relatively unweathered stone of 7.25 kg that contains fresh metal and only a few weathering products away from fractures. It has a pronounced chondritic texture, with 38 vol% of the meteorite being made up of chondrules of virtually all textural types. The recalculated bulk analysis, in particular ratios involving iron content, indicate that Inman is an L-group chondrite. The pronounced chondritic texture; the compositional variation of olivine, pyroxene, chromite, and ilmenite; and the presence of a fine-grained nearly opaque matrix, glass, and twinned monoclinic low-Ca pyroxene indicate that the chondrite belongs to petrologic type 3.

Keil, K.↗

Manicouagan impact melt, Quebec. I - Stratigraphy, petrology, and chemistry

A sheet of clast-laden impact melt 230 m thick and 55 km in diameter forms an annular plateau surrounding an uplift of shocked anorthosite within the moderately eroded Manicouagan structure. Three gradational units of the melt sheet are characterized with respect to grain size, inclusions, texture, and mineralogy. The melt rocks as a group are chemically homogeneous with a bulk composition similar to that of latite and with no statistically significant regional chemical variations. The melt is not completely chemically homogeneous as a local mafic variant represented by two samples with poikilitic texture was found. These poikilitic rocks texturally resemble some Apollo 17 impact melt rocks and are inferred to have had a similar origin and thermal history.

Floran, R. J.↗

Industrial ion source technology

An analytical model was developed to describe the development of a coned surface texture with ion bombardment and simultaneous deposition of an impurity. A mathematical model of sputter deposition rate from a beveled target was developed in conjuction with the texturing models to provide an important input to that model. The establishment of a general procedure that will allow the treatment of manay different sputtering configurations is outlined. Calculation of cross sections for energetic binary collisions was extened to Ar, Kr.. and Xe with total cross sections for viscosity and diffusion calculated for the interaction energy range from leV to 1000eV. Physical sputtering and reactive ion etching experiments provided experimental data on the operating limits of a broad beam ion source using CF4 as a working gas to produce reactive species in a sputtering beam. Magnetic clustering effects are observed when Al is seeded with Fe and sputtered with Ar(?) ions. Silicon was textured at a micron scale by using a substrate temperature of 600 C.

Kaufman, H. R.↗

Physical processes in directed ion beam sputtering

The general operation of a discharge chamber for the production of ions is described. A model is presented for the magnetic containment of both primary and secondary or Maxwellian electrons in the discharge plasma. Cross sections were calculated for energy and momentum transfer in binary collisions between like pairs of Ar, Kr, and Xe atoms in the energy range from about 1 eV to 1000 eV. These calculations were made from available pair interaction potentials using a classical model. Experimental data from the literature were fit to a theoretical expression for the Ar resonance charge exchange cross section over the same energy range. A model was developed that describes the processes of conical texturing of a surface due to simultaneous directed ion beam etching and sputter deposition of an impurity material. This model accurately predicts both a minimum temperature for texturing to take place and the variation of cone density with temperature. It also provides the correct order of magnitude of cone separation. It was predicted from the model, and subsequently verified experimentally, that a high sputter yield material could serve as a seed for coning of a lower sputter yield substrate. Seeding geometries and seed deposition rates were studied to obtain an important input to the theoretical texturing model.

Robinson, R. S.↗

Solar cell module

An improved solar cell module for use in terrestrial environments is disclosed. It is characterized by: (1) an internally reflective plate having a planar surface of incidence and an opposed textured surface (2) a plurality of uniformly spaced silicon solar cells having the active surfaces thereof bonded to portions of the textured surface, and (3) a layer of diffusely reflective matter applied to the textured surface in surrounding relation with the solar cells for reflecting solar energy. The solar energy then strikes the surface of incidence at such angles as to be internally re-reflected and caused to progress toward the active surfaces of the solar cells, whereby concentration of incident flux on the solar cell is achieved without increased module depth.

Shepard, N. F., Jr.↗