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At least 1,009 records · Page 56

A 'special effort' to provide improved sounding and cloud-motion wind data for FGGE

Enhancement and editing of high-density cloud motion wind assessments and research satellite soundings have been necessary to improve the quality of data used in The Global Weather Experiment. Editing operations are conducted by a man-computer interactive data access system. Editing will focus on such inputs as non-US satellite data, NOAA operational sounding and wind data sets, wind data from the Indian Ocean satellite, dropwindsonde data, and tropical mesoscale wind data. Improved techniques for deriving cloud heights and higher resolution sounding in meteorologically active areas are principal parts of the data enhancement program.

Greaves, J. R.↗

Limb-darkening scans of Jupiter

Representative center-limb photometric measurements of several areas on Jupiter are presented in the form of limb-darkening scans taken through narrow-band interference filters which isolate continuum regions near the 3-0 and 4-0 hydrogen quadrupole bands (8200 and 6300 A, respectively). Results of scans measured through filters which isolate two regions dominated by methane absorption (6190 and 7250 A) are also discussed. Limb-darkening curves at all four wavelengths are computed for semiinfinite homogeneous isotropically scattering atmospheres with different values of the single-scattering albedo of the cloud particles. It is found that albedo values between 0.985 and 0.989 match the data over most of the northern component of the South Equatorial Belt. The single-scattering albedo values are used to show that the equatorial regions of Jupiter which emit at 5 microns may be relatively clear while the tropical regions may be relatively cloudy.

Pilcher, C. B.↗

THERMTRAJ: A FORTRAN program to compute the trajectory and gas film temperatures of zero pressure balloons

A FORTRAN computer program called THERMTRAJ is presented which can be used to compute the trajectory of high altitude scientific zero pressure balloons from launch through all subsequent phases of the balloon flight. In addition, balloon gas and film temperatures can be computed at every point of the flight. The program has the ability to account for ballasting, changes in cloud cover, variable atmospheric temperature profiles, and both unconditional valving and scheduled valving of the balloon gas. The program was verified for an extensive range of balloon sizes (from 0.5 to 41.47 million cubic feet). Instructions on program usage, listing of the program source deck, input data and printed and plotted output for a verification case are included.

Horn, W. J.↗

Interactive information processing for NASA's mesoscale analysis and space sensor program

The Atmospheric Sciences Division (ASD) of the Systems Dynamics Laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is currently involved in interactive information processing for the Mesoscale Analysis and Space Sensor (MASS) program. Specifically, the ASD is engaged in the development and implementation of new space-borne remote sensing technology to observe and measure mesoscale atmospheric processes. These space measurements and conventional observational data are being processed together to gain an improved understanding of the mesoscale structure and the dynamical evolution of the atmosphere relative to cloud development and precipitation processes. To satisfy its vast data processing requirements, the ASD has developed a Researcher Computer System consiting of three primary computer systems which provides over 20 scientists with a wide range of capabilities for processing and displaying a large volumes of remote sensing data. Each of the computers performs a specific function according to its unique capabilities.

Parker, K. G.↗

Laboratory measurement of the millimeter wave properties of liquid sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

The methodology and the results of laboratory measurements of the millimeter wave properties of liquid sulfuric acid are presented. Measurements conducted at 30-40 and 90-100 GHz are reported, using different concentrations of liquid H2SO4. The measured data are used to compute the expected opacity of H2SO4 condensates and their effects on the millimeter wave emission from Venus. The cloud condensate is found to have an effect on the emission from Venus. The calculated decrease in brightness temperature is well below the observed decrease in brightness temperature found by de Pater et al. (1991). It is suggested that other constituents such as gaseous H2SO4 also affect the observed variation in the brightness temperature.

Fahd, Antoine K.↗

Properties of ultracompact neutron stars

Some of the effects extreme gravity would have on the propagation of particles inside and around constant density ultracompact stars are examined. The possible observational characteristics due to the gravitational lensing of surface hot spots are examined. The change that would be seen in the Eddington luminosity near such an object is computed. It is shown that such stars would exhibit a 'neutrino' sphere inside the surface and a 'neutrino cloud' partially exterior to the surface.

Nemiroff, Robert J.↗

Doppler lidar sampling strategies and accuracies: Regional scale

It has been proposed that a Doppler lidar be placed in a polar orbit and scanned to provide estimates of lower tropospheric winds twice per day and with a spatial resolution of 300 km. Initial feasibility studies conducted primarily by NOAA and NASA presented an optimistic outlook for a space based lidar. The technology appeared within reach and initial computer simulations suggested that acceptable accuracies could be obtained. Those early studies exposed, however, several potential problem areas which included: (1) the algorithms for computing the wind vectors did not perform well when there were coherent gradients in the wind fields; and (2) the lifetime and power requirements of the lidar put severe restrictions on the pulse repetition frequency (PRF). These two basic problems are currently being addressed by a Doppler lidar simulation study focussed upon three primary objectives: (1) to develop optimum scan parameters and shot patterns for a satellite-based Doppler lidar; (2) to develop robust algorithms for computing wind vectors from lidar returns; and (3) to evaluate the impact of coherent mesoscale structures (wind gradients, clouds, aerosols) on up-scale wind estimates. An overview is provided of the simulation efforts with particular emphasis upon rationale and methodology. Since this research is currently underway, any results shown are meant only as evidence of progress.

Emmitt, G. D.↗

Remote Sensing of Aircraft Contrails Using a Field Portable Digital Array Scanned Interferometer

With a Digital Array Scanned Interferometer (DASI), we have obtained proof-of-concept observations with which we demonstrate DASI capabilities for the determination of contrail properties. These include the measurement of the cloud and soot microphysical parameters, as well, the abundances of specific pollutant species such as SO(sub x) or NO(sub x). From high quality hyperspectral data and using radiative transfer methods and atmospheric chemistry analysis in the data reduction and interpretation, powerful inferences concerning cloud formation, evolution and dissipation can be made. Under this sub-topic, we will integrate DASI with computer controlled scanning of the field-of-view to direct the sensor towards contrails and exhaust plumes for tracking the emitting vehicles. The optimum DASI wavelength sensitivity range for sensing contrails is 0.35 - 2.5 micron. DASI deploys on the ground or from aircraft to observe contrails in the vicinity. This enables rapid, accurate measurement of the temporal, spatial, and chemical evolution of contrails (or other plumes or exhaust sources) with a low cost, efficient sensor.

Smith, William Hayden↗

A Melting Layer Model for Passive/Active Microwave Remote Sensing Applications: Simulation of TRMM Observations - Part 2

The one-dimensional, steady-state melting layer model developed in Part I of this study is used to calculate both the microphysical and radiative properties of melting precipitation, based upon the computed concentrations of snow and graupel just above the freezing level at applicable horizontal gridpoints of 3-dimensional cloud resolving model simulations. The modified 3-dimensional distributions of precipitation properties serve as input to radiative transfer calculations of upwelling radiances and radar extinction/reflectivities at the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) frequencies, respectively. At the resolution of the cloud resolving model grids (approx. 1 km), upwelling radiances generally increase if mixed-phase precipitation is included in the model atmosphere. The magnitude of the increase depends upon the optical thickness of the cloud and precipitation, as well as the scattering characteristics of ice-phase precipitation aloft. Over the set of cloud resolving model simulations utilized in this study, maximum radiance increases of 43, 28, 18, and 10 K are simulated at 10.65, 19.35 GHz, 37.0, and 85.5 GHz, respectively. The impact of melting on TMI-measured radiances is determined not only by the physics of the melting particles but also by the horizontal extent of the melting precipitation, since the lower-frequency channels have footprints that extend over 10''s of kilometers. At TMI resolution, the maximum radiance increases are 16, 15, 12, and 9 K at the same frequencies. Simulated PR extinction and reflectivities in the melting layer can increase dramatically if mixed-phase precipitation is included, a result consistent with previous studies. Maximum increases of 0.46 (-2 dB) in extinction optical depth and 5 dBZ in reflectivity are simulated based upon the set of cloud resolving model simulations.

Olson, William S.↗

Surface Emissivity Derived From Multispectral Satellite Data

Surface emissivity is critical for remote sensing of surface skin temperature and infrared cloud properties when the observed radiance is influenced by the surface radiation. It is also necessary to correctly compute the longwave flux from a surface at a given skin temperature. Surface emissivity is difficult to determine because skin temperature is an ill-defined parameter. The surface-emitted radiation may arise from a range of surface depths depending on many factors including soil moisture, vegetation, surface porosity, and heat capacity. Emissivity can be measured in the laboratory for pure surfaces. Transfer of laboratory measurements to actual Earth surfaces, however, is fraught with uncertainties because of their complex nature. This paper describes a new empirical approach for estimating surface skin temperature from a combination of brightness temperatures measured at different infrared wavelengths with satellite imagers. The method uses data from the new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) imager to determine multispectral emissivities from the skin temperatures derived over the ARM Southern Great Plains domain.

Minnis, P.↗

Suborbital Telepresence and Over-the-Horizon Networking

A viewgraph presentation describing the suborbital telepresence project utilizing in-flight network computing is shown. The topics include: 1) Motivation; 2) Suborbital Telepresence and Global Test Range; 3) Tropical Composition, Cloud, and Climate Coupling Experiment (TC4); 4) Data Sets for TC4 Real-time Monitoring; 5) TC-4 Notional Architecture; 6) An Application Integration View; 7) Telepresence: Architectural Framework; and 8) Disruption Tolerant Networks.

Freudinger, Lawrence C.↗

The Sensitivity of Simulated Ocean Biogeochemistry to Forcing Fields Derived from NCEP and MERRA Reanalysis Products

Ocean biogeochemistry models are typically forced by atmospheric and oceanic data derived from reanalysis products. For the NASA Ocean Biogeochemistry Model (NOBM) such reanalysis forcing fields include: surface wind stress, sea surface temperature, ice distributions, shortwave radiation, surface wind speeds and surface atmospheric pressure. Additionally, proper computation of ocean irradiance requires reanalysis products of relative humidity and precipitable water (in addition to aerosol and cloud information which is derived from satellite data). The question posed here is, does the choice of reanalysis products make a difference in the representation of ocean biology and biogeochemistry? NOBM was forced by NCEP and MERRA reanalysis products for the period 2002-2009. We find that in 2009 global distributions and abundances of biological variables (total chlorophyll and nutrients) and carbon (dissolved inorganic and organic carbon and surface pCO2) were similar between the two different forcing fields. Global statistical comparisons with satellite and in situ data also showed negligible differences.

Gregg, Watson↗

AAM NC Tech Talk: Intro to Amazon Web Services

The purpose of this Tech Talk is to engage with the Advance Air Mobility National Campaign community on the use of a cloud provider to promote public confidence and accelerate the realization of emerging aviation markets for passenger and cargo transportation in urban, suburban, rural, and regional environments.

AWS↗

Final Technical Report

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Cloud Modeling

Numerical cloud models have been developed and applied extensively to study cloud-scale and mesoscale processes during the past four decades. The distinctive aspect of these cloud models is their ability to treat explicitly (or resolve) cloud-scale dynamics. This requires the cloud models to be formulated from the non-hydrostatic equations of motion that explicitly include the vertical acceleration terms since the vertical and horizontal scales of convection are similar. Such models are also necessary in order to allow gravity waves, such as those triggered by clouds, to be resolved explicitly. In contrast, the hydrostatic approximation, usually applied in global or regional models, does allow the presence of gravity waves. In addition, the availability of exponentially increasing computer capabilities has resulted in time integrations increasing from hours to days, domain grids boxes (points) increasing from less than 2000 to more than 2,500,000 grid points with 500 to 1000 m resolution, and 3-D models becoming increasingly prevalent. The cloud resolving model is now at a stage where it can provide reasonably accurate statistical information of the sub-grid, cloud-resolving processes poorly parameterized in climate models and numerical prediction models.

Tao, Wei-Kuo↗

Percentage Contributions from Atmospheric and Surface Features to Computed Brightness Temperatures

Over the past few years, a few solid precipitation detection and retrieval algorithms have been developed and shown to be applicable for snowing clouds and blizzards. Current precipitating snow retrieval algorithms require the use of millimeter-wave radiometer observations. The millimeter-wave frequencies are especially sensitive to the scattering and emission properties of frozen particles due to the ice particle refractive index. These channels can also be used to discern information about the frozen particles above the melting layer. Passive radiometric channels respond to both the integrated particle mass throughout the volume and field of view, and to the amount, location, and size distribution of the frozen (and liquid) particles with the sensitivity varying for different frequencies and hydrometeor types. This work will show the percentage of the brightness temperature resulting from the liquid hydrometeor, frozen hydrometeor, relative humidity, and surface contributions. The focus will be on precipitating snow events and millimeter-wave frequencies however, other events and frequencies will be included in the analysis.

SkofronickJackson, Gail↗

Effect of Thin Cirrus Clouds on Dust Optical Depth Retrievals From MODIS Observations

The effect of thin cirrus clouds in retrieving the dust optical depth from MODIS observations is investigated by using a simplified aerosol retrieval algorithm based on the principles of the Deep Blue aerosol property retrieval method. Specifically, the errors of the retrieved dust optical depth due to thin cirrus contamination are quantified through the comparison of two retrievals by assuming dust-only atmospheres and the counterparts with overlapping mineral dust and thin cirrus clouds. To account for the effect of the polarization state of radiation field on radiance simulation, a vector radiative transfer model is used to generate the lookup tables. In the forward radiative transfer simulations involved in generating the lookup tables, the Rayleigh scattering by atmospheric gaseous molecules and the reflection of the surface assumed to be Lambertian are fully taken into account. Additionally, the spheroid model is utilized to account for the nonsphericity of dust particles In computing their optical properties. For simplicity, the single-scattering albedo, scattering phase matrix, and optical depth are specified a priori for thin cirrus clouds assumed to consist of droxtal ice crystals. The present results indicate that the errors in the retrieved dust optical depths due to the contamination of thin cirrus clouds depend on the scattering angle, underlying surface reflectance, and dust optical depth. Under heavy dusty conditions, the absolute errors are comparable to the predescribed optical depths of thin cirrus clouds.

Feng, Qian↗

Cloud-top pressure retrieval with DSCOVR EPIC oxygen A- and B-band observations

An analytic transfer inverse model for Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) observations is proposed to retrieve the cloud-top pressure (CTP) with the consideration of in-cloud photon penetration. In this model, an analytic equation was developed to represent the reflection at the top of the atmosphere from above cloud, in cloud, and below cloud. The coefficients of this analytic equation can be derived from a series of EPIC simulations under different atmospheric conditions using a nonlinear regression algorithm. With estimated cloud pressure thickness, the CTP can be retrieved from EPIC observation data by solving the analytic equation. To simulate the EPIC measurements, a program package using the double-k approach was developed. Compared to line-by-line calculation, this approach can calculate high-accuracy results with a 100-fold computation time reduction. During the retrieval processes, two kinds of retrieval results, i.e., baseline CTP and retrieved CTP, are provided. The baseline CTP is derived without considering in-cloud photon penetration, and the retrieved CTP is derived by solving the analytic equation, taking into consideration in-cloud and below-cloud interactions. The retrieved CTPs for the oxygen A and B bands are smaller than their related baseline CTP. At the same time, both baseline CTP and retrieved CTP at the oxygen B band are larger than those at the oxygen A band. Compared to the difference in baseline CTP between the B band and A band, the difference in retrieved CTP between these two bands is generally reduced. Out of around 10 000 cases, in retrieved CTP between the A and B bands we found an average bias of 93 mb with a standard deviation of 81 mb. The cloud layer top pressure from Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) measurements is used for validation. Under single-layer cloud situations, the retrieved CTPs for the oxygen A band agree well with the CTPs from CALIPSO, the mean difference of which within 5 mb in the case study. Under multiple-layer cloud situations, the CTPs derived from EPIC measurements may be larger than the CTPs of high-level thin clouds due to the effect of photon penetration.

DSCOVR↗