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At least 109 records · Page 6

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NASA NTRS1986

Investigation of long-lived eddies on Jupiter

Quasi-geostrophic, two layer models of the Jovian atmosphere are under development; these may be used to simulate eddy phemonena in the atmosphere and include tracer dynamics explicitly. The models permit the investigation of the dynamics of quasi-geostrophic eddies under more controlled conditions than are possible in the laboratory. They can also be used to predict the distribution and behavior of tracer species, and hence to discriminate between different models of the mechanisms forcing the eddies, provided suitable observations can be obtained. At the same time, observational strategies are being developed for the Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer on the Galileo Orbiter, with the objective of obtaining composition measurements for comparison with the models. Maps of features at thermal infrared wavelengths near 5 micron and reflected sunlight maps as a function of wavelength and phase angle will be obtained. These should provide further useful information on the morphology, composition and microstructure of clouds within eddy features. Equilibrium chemistry models which incorporate advection may then be used to relate these results of the dynamical models and provide addtional means of classifying different types of eddies.

Lewis, S. R.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Large Impact Features on Icy Galilean Satellites: Implications for Ice Shell Thickness and Habitability.

Nowhere in the solar system are impact morphologies observed in greater variety than on the icy Galilean satellites. This is very likely a consequence of the structural and thermal state of the crust at the time of impact, and perhaps impact velocity. We have conducted a multi-disciplinary investigation to study how these features formed. The particular combination of geophysical factors and impactor characteristics that is shared by these satellites is likely responsible for these features. We have derived Digital Terrain Models for a number of these features, which have been used as a tool for producing facies maps. Impact features on Ganymede and Callisto are relatable to impact features on Europa, with implications for its ice shell history. We have identified two broad classes of these impact features: (a) Crater forms, which variously include pits, central domes, and crater rims; and (b) Palimpsests (including pene-palimpsests), which all have smooth enclosed central plains, an extensive outer undulating plains unit, concentric arcuate ridges(in the case of pene-palimpsests), and no recognizable rim. The very large, measured volume of the undulating plains unit of the pene-palimpsest Buto, Ganymede, substantially exceeds the amount of target material that could have been both melted and excavated by the impact event itself. Therefore, we conclude that the undulating plains material was derived from a fluid or “slushy” layer in the near-surface target at the time of impact. The recognition of undulating plains as the dominant unit in Memphis and Nidaba, two other palimpsests on Ganymede that we have mapped(which display highly variable crater counts, with Buto being the least cratered),leads us to a working hypothesis that these plains only form where and when the target has substantial near surface fluid or “slush.” By extension, all other impact features on Ganymede and Callisto, such as those with central pits and central domes, formed in targets with no pre-existing, or at most inconsequential, amounts of fluid or “slush.” Supporting this conclusion, modeling by members of our group indicates that the present topography of impact features with central pits and domes can be largely explained by the behavior of ice alone, with no or little contribution from fluids. Our study supports explanations for the formation and final appearance of palimpsests (and pene-palimpsests) that are entirely applicable to this feature class, and sharply distinct from explanations for other impact features (crater forms) on Ganymede and Callisto.

Jeffrey M Moore↗

NASA NTRS1976

A new computer approach to mixed feature classification for forestry application

A computer approach for mapping mixed forest features (i.e., types, classes) from computer classification maps is discussed. Mixed features such as mixed softwood/hardwood stands are treated as admixtures of softwood and hardwood areas. Large-area mixed features are identified and small-area features neglected when the nominal size of a mixed feature can be specified. The computer program merges small isolated areas into surrounding areas by the iterative manipulation of the postprocessing algorithm that eliminates small connected sets. For a forestry application, computer-classified LANDSAT multispectral scanner data of the Sam Houston National Forest were used to demonstrate the proposed approach. The technique was successful in cleaning the salt-and-pepper appearance of multiclass classification maps and in mapping admixtures of softwood areas and hardwood areas. However, the computer-mapped mixed areas matched very poorly with the ground truth because of inadequate resolution and inappropriate definition of mixed features.

Kan, E. P.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Visualizing Geospatial Data through ESRI Story Maps for Earth Science Education: Lessons Learned from My NASA Data

For 20 years My NASA Data (MND) has curated NASA Earth science data and provided the data to educators in engaging learner-centered resources. MND has recently featured story maps as an innovative way to engage students in NASA Earth data. A story map is a cloud-based lesson that engages the learner in interactive geospatial maps using NASA data, and other multimedia content, text, and tasks that can be seamlessly incorporated in classroom instruction. This immersive technology eliminates the need for the user to move among tricky interfaces to access and visualize Earth science data, and no special software is required to be downloaded. Each story map integrates data from different NASA satellite missions, retrieved from Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs). Story maps also employ data analysis tools, such as time series options and swipe tools that allow learners to view and analyze relationships between scientific variables. MND has produced 25 story map lesson plans on the topics of air quality, the urban heat island effect, Earth’s energy budget, phytoplankton distribution, hurricane formation, solar eclipses, ocean circulation patterns, sea ice extent, and volcanic eruptions. Nine of them are extended story maps and written in the 5E format, which is internationally recognized as best practice based on how children learn science. Each story map resource is developed by the MND team featuring a GIS programming specialist, a lead scientist, and educational specialist/s to ensure the context, content, and methods are scientifically and educationally sound. The MND story maps are written for middle and high school science teachers and students as they connect with the Earth Systems Science phenomena featured in the Next Generation Science Standards. Each story map includes supporting resources for smooth integration in the classroom. During Fiscal Year 2023, The My NASA Data website received over 100,000 story map engagements during. These metrics highlight the interest in story maps as an Earth Science educational resource.

Desiray Wilson↗

NASA NTRS2014

Decomposition Technique for Remaining Useful Life Prediction

The prognostic tool disclosed here decomposes the problem of estimating the remaining useful life (RUL) of a component or sub-system into two separate regression problems: the feature-to-damage mapping and the operational conditions-to-damage-rate mapping. These maps are initially generated in off-line mode. One or more regression algorithms are used to generate each of these maps from measurements (and features derived from these), operational conditions, and ground truth information. This decomposition technique allows for the explicit quantification and management of different sources of uncertainty present in the process. Next, the maps are used in an on-line mode where run-time data (sensor measurements and operational conditions) are used in conjunction with the maps generated in off-line mode to estimate both current damage state as well as future damage accumulation. Remaining life is computed by subtracting the instance when the extrapolated damage reaches the failure threshold from the instance when the prediction is made.

Saha, Bhaskar↗

NASA NTRS2005

A Forecast of Reduced Solar Activity and Its Implications for NASA

The "Solar Dynamo" method of solar activity forecasting is reviewed. Known generically as a 'precursor" method, insofar as it uses observations which precede solar activity generation, this method now uses the Solar Dynamo Amplitude (SODA) Index to estimate future long-term solar activity. The peak amplitude of the next solar cycle (#24), is estimated at roughly 124 in terms of smoothed F10.7 Radio Flux and 74 in terms of the older, more traditional smoothed international or Zurich Sunspot number (Ri or Rz). These values are significantly smaller than the amplitudes of recent solar cycles. Levels of activity stay large for about four years near the peak in smoothed activity, which is estimated to occur near the 2012 timeflame. Confidence is added to the prediction of low activity by numerous examinations of the Sun s weakened polar field. Direct measurements are obtained by the Mount Wilson Solar Observatory and the Wilcox Solar Observatory. Further support is obtained by examining the Sun s polar faculae (bright features), the shape of coronal soft X-ray "holes," and the shape of the "source surface" - a calculated coronal feature which maps the large scale structure of the Sun s field. These features do not show the characteristics of well-formed polar coronal holes associated with typical solar minima. They show stunted polar field levels, which are thought to result in stunted levels of solar activity during solar cycle #24. The reduced levels of solar activity would have concomitant effects upon the space environment in which satellites orbit. In particular, the largest influences would affect orbit determination of satellites in LEO (Low Earth Orbit), based upon the altered thermospheric and exospheric densities. A decrease in solar activity would result in smaller satellite decay rates, as well as fewer large solar events that can destroy satellite electronic functions. Other effects of reduced solar activity upon the space environment include enhanced galactic cosmic rays and more space debris at low altitudes (from the decay of old satellite parts, etc.). The reasons are well known: namely, solar activity serves to sweep the inner heliosphere of galactic cosmic rays, and lower exospheric densities result in decreased drag on LEO debris, allowing longer lifetimes.

Schatten, Kenneth↗

NASA NTRS1999

Preliminary Assessment of JERS-1 SAR to Discriminating Boreal Landscape Features for the Boreal Forest Mapping Project

This paper presents an overview of the JERS-1 North American Boreal Forest Mapping Project and a preliminary assessment of JERS-1 SAR imagery for application to discriminating features applicable to boreal landscape processes. The present focus of the JERS-1 North American Boreal Forest Mapping Project is the production of continental scale wintertime and summertime SAR mosaics of the North American boreal forest for distribution to the science community. As part of this effort, JERS-1 imagery has been collected over much of Alaska and Canada during the 1997-98 winter and 1998 summer seasons. To complete the mosaics, these data will be augmented with data collected during previous years. These data will be made available to the scientific community via CD ROM containing these and similar data sets compiled from companion studies of Asia and Europe. Regional landscape classification with SAR is important for the baseline information it will provide about distribution of woodlands, positions of treeline, current forest biomass, distribution of wetlands, and extent of major rivercourses. As well as setting the stage for longer term change detection, comparisons across several years provides additional baseline information about short-term landscape change. Rapid changes, including those driven by fire, permafrost heat balance, flooding, and insect outbreaks can dominate boreal systems. We examine JERS-1 imagery covering selected sites in Alaska and Canada to assess quality and applicability to such relevant ecological and hydrological issues. The data are generally of high quality and illustrate many potential applications. A texture-based classification scheme is applied to selected regions to assess the applicability of these data for distinguishing distribution of such landcover types as wetland, tundra, woodland and forested landscapes.

McDonald, Kyle↗

NASA NTRS1971

Inventory and analysis of natural vegetation and related resources from space and high altitude photography

A high altitude photomosaic resource map of Site 29 was produced which provided an opportunity to test photo interpretation accuracy of natural vegetation resource features when mapped at a small (1:133,400) scale. Helicopter reconnaissance over 144 previously selected test points revealed a highly adequate level of photo interpretation accuracy. In general, the reasons for errors could be accounted for. The same photomosaic resource map enabled construction of interpretive land use overlays. Based on features of the landscape, including natural vegetation types, judgements for land use suitability were made and have been presented for two types of potential land use. These two, agriculture and urbanization, represent potential land use conflicts.

Poulton, C. E.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Laws in Order: An Inventory of State Renewable Energy Siting Policies

This report identifies which government entity or entities in each state or territory have the jurisdictional authority to make siting and permitting decisions about large scale wind and solar projects. The report also covers established timelines for siting and permitting processes, requirements for public involvement in those processes, and the availability of permitting guides and model ordinances designed to assist local jurisdictions. It details state renewable energy siting policies and permitting authorities across the United States, profiling all 50 states plus Puerto Rico. The report release also includes an interactive map that allows users to easily explore each state’s authorities and policy features. The map, hosted by DOE, includes high-level information on each state’s siting and permitting processes and link directly to the profiles in the report.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

NASA NTRS1980

Korean coastal water depth/sediment and land cover mapping /1:25,000/ by computer analysis of Landsat imagery

Computer analysis was applied to single data Landsat MSS imagery of a coastal area near Seoul, Korea equivalent to a 1:50,000 topographic map, and featuring large dynamic sediment transport processes. Supervised image processing yielded a test classification map containing five water depth/sediment classes, two shoreline/tidal classes and five coastal land cover classes at a scale of 1:25,000 and with a training set accuracy of 76%; the training sets were selected by direct examination of the digitally displayed imagery. The unsupervised ISOCLAS (Senkus, 1976) clustering analysis was performed to assess the relative value of this approach to image classification in areas of sparse or nonexistent ground control. Results indicate that it is feasible to produce quantitative maps for detailed study of dynamic coastal processes given a Landsat image data base at sufficiently frequent time intervals.

Park, K. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Research on recognition of the geologic framework of porphyry copper deposits on ERTS-1 imagery

The author has identified the following significant results. Many new linear and circular features were found. These features prompted novel tectonic classification and analysis especially in the Ray and Ely areas. Tectonic analyses of the Ok Tedi, Tanacross, and Silvertone areas follow conventional interpretations. Circular features are mapped in many cases and are interpreted as exposed or covered intrusive centers. The small circular features reported in the Ok Tedi test area are valid and useful correlations with tertiary intrusion and volcanism in this remote part of New Guinea. Several major faults of regional dimensions, such as the Denali fault in Alaska and the Colorado mineral belt structures in Colorado are detected in the imagery. Many more faults and regional structures are found in the imagery than exist on present maps.

Wilson, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Characterization of Martian surface materials from earth-based radar - The Memnonia Fossae region

The 1971 and 1973 Goldstone radar data on the Memnonia Fossae region of Mars is used as a test case for the characterization of surface materials. In addition to the discovery of greater relief in the radar-derived topographic measurements of this area than had been inferred from Mariner 9 estimates, and although a tendency for the radar measurements to break down over very rugged terrain has been observed, good correlation is found between radar topography and surface features. Photogeological mapping has identified six surface units which have distinctive radar properties that correlate well with surface features observed in the Viking Orbiter's 10 m/pixel resolution images

Mouginis-Mark, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Thermal infrared satellite data for the study of tectonic features

Multispectral thermal infrared data from the NOAA-7 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) have been processed to evaluate their potential for mapping tectonic features. Day/night ratio data from 3 thermal bands between 3.7 and 12.0 microns were used to construct a thermal infrared color image that emphasizes heat retention differences in surface materials as a function of wavelength. The study area is an arid region of the Arabian Peninsula where lithologic units are widely exposed to satellite detectors. In spite of the coarse resolution of 1.1 km at nadir, the image of emitted radiation data contains prominent features that appear to relate to fault systems, unmapped extensions of fault systems, and drainage patterns that are lacking in AVHRR reflected radiation data.

Andre, C. G.↗

NASA NTRS2003

A P-band Radar Mission to Mars

Large regions of Mars are covered by dust that obscures geological evidence for fluvial channels, the extent of volcanic flows, and features associated with near-surface ground ice. We describe a Mars orbiting mission carrying a P-band SAR to map these hidden surface features. Mapping would be carried out in HH and VV polarizations, with the comparison of the two expected to yield a distinction between surface echoes and subsurface features beneath up to 5 m of dust. Repeat-pass interferometry data would also be collected to characterize volatile migration at the poles, aeolian shifting of the dust mantle, and possible volcanic deformation. This paper describes the technical design of a P-band SAR for global mapping of Mars, and the characteristics of the proposed mission.

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)↗

NASA NTRS1991

Dynamics of the Ross Ice Shelf

The changing flow of the Ross Ice Shelf is described based on AVHRR data from 18 cloud-free images which evince flow stripes and form the data for a glaciological map. The discharge region of the valley glaciers in the Transantarctic Mountains is found to have curvilinear stripes, and the brightness contrast is enhanced to examine the feature. The map of the region also shows rifts, ridge crests, surface folds, and large-scale lineaments.

Casassa, Gino↗

NASA NTRS1978

LANDSAT survey of near-shore ice conditions along the Arctic coast of Alaska

The author has identified the following significant results. Winter and spring near-shore ice conditions were analyzed for the Beaufort Sea 1973-77, and the Chukchi Sea 1973-76. LANDSAT imagery was utilized to map major ice features related to regional ice morphology. Significant features from individual LANDSAT image maps were combined to yield regional maps of major ice ridge systems for each year of study and maps of flaw lead systems for representative seasons during each year. These regional maps were, in turn, used to prepare seasonal ice morphology maps. These maps showed, in terms of a zonal analysis, regions of statistically uniform ice behavior. The behavioral characteristics of each zone were described in terms of coastal processes and bathymetric configuration.

Stringer, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Separation of lithospheric, external, and core components of the south polar geomagnetic field at satellite altitudes

We present a new approach to producing scalar Magsat magnetic anomaly maps based on correlation coefficient filtering and the use of almost all of the available orbits. Our method differs from earlier techniques with respect to the following: (1) Passes are selected based on their variance properties rather than planetary indices such as Kp. (2) The core field model is least squares fit to individual passes and subsequently removed instead of substracting the model directly. This technique replaces band pass filtering or polynomial trend removal methods. (3) Each selected pass is sorted geographically and by local time, placed into one of four different altitude bands, and correlation coefficient filtered with the two adjacent passes. The filtering is the second step toward isolating the static lithospheric signal from the more dynamic external field signals. (4) Least squares collocation is used to grid the correlated passes; subsequently, the dawn and dusk maps are also correlation filtered providing another step toward removal of external fields. (5) The four resultant total field maps are continued to a common altitude and again correlation filtered for the static lithospheric anomalies. (6) The filtered results are then averaged together to provide a new total field map of the lithosphere south of 40 deg S latitude. Our total field map differs from previous efforts over the crustal blocks of West Antarctica. We obtained a positive anomaly over Edward VII Peninsula, extending into the Byrd subglacial basin and obtained a negative anomaly over the Ellsworth Mountains and parts of the Byrd subglacial basin. Also, a positive anomaly extending from the Ross Sea to offshore Wilkes Land is present in our map; however, this feature is absent in other maps. Positive anomalies marking the Weddell Sea in previous efforts are not present in our map. Prominent external field anomalies in the quadrant offshore of Wilkes Land are present in all previous efforts; however, these signatures are reduced in our total field map. This map significantly advances efforts for the identification and interpretation of magnetic anomalies of the south polar lithosphere.

Alsdorf, Douglas E.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Evaluation of ERTS-1 data applications to geologic mapping, structural analysis and mineral resource inventory of South America with special emphasis on the Andes Mountain region

The author has identified the following significant results. The La Paz Mosaic and its attendant overlays serve as a model for geologic studies elsewhere in the world. The P.I. and two geologists are mapping the conterminous states at scales of 1:5000,000 and 1:1,000,000. The 1:5 million band 5 mosaic was completed in two days of analysis. The 1:1 million band sheets are being completed at the rate of one per day. Comparison of the preliminary results of the three investigators shows a high correlation of linear and curvilinear features. Comparison with magnetic and gravity data indicates that many features being mapped are deep seated structures that have been active through long periods of geologic time, perhaps dating back to the Precambrian period. A detailed analysis of the El Salvador mining district has been completed. The interpretation is extremely detailed showing a complex pattern of linear features and bedrock outcrop patterns. This is the first product from ERTS-1 to be provided by Chile and shows a high degree of expertise in image interpretation. The Chileans are enthusiastic about their results and are anxious to map the entire country using ERTS.

Carter, W. D.↗