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NASA NTRS2020

Global Distribution and 14-Year Changes in Erythemal Irradiance, UV Atmospheric Transmission, and Total Column Ozone 2005 – 2018 Estimated from OMI and EPIC Observations

Satellite data from the Ozone Measuring Instrument (OMI) and Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) are used to study changes and global distribution of UV erythemal irradiance in mW/m(exp 2) E(ζ,φ,z,t) and the dimensionless UV index (E/25 mWm(exp 2)) over the Earth’s surface as a function of latitude ζ, longitude φ, altitude z, and time t. OMI time series data starting in January 2005 to December 2018 are used to estimate 14-year changes in erythemal irradiance, total column ozone TCO3, scene reflectivity LER, and aerosol absorption τA at specific land sites in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres using publicly available OMI data. Estimates of changes in atmospheric transmission ΔCτ(ζ,φ,z,t) derived from OMI measured cloud and haze reflectivity show an increase between 60°S to 45°S almost no average 14-year change from 55°S to 30°N but show an increase from 35°N to 55°N. This implies increased solar insolation at higher latitudes that suggests positive feedback for global warming. Changes in aerosol absorption of UV irradiance ΔCA(ζ,φ,z,t) derived from changes in τA are mostly in the equatorial region and at higher southern latitudes resulting in correlated changes in E. TCO3 derived from OMI data has increased at a rate of 2% per decade for the latitudes between 60°S to 10°N changing to a decrease of 1% per decade between 40°N to 60°N. The result is an average decrease in E(ζ,φ,z,t) at a rate of 2% per decade in the Southern Hemisphere and an increase between 40°N to 60°N. For some specific sites (latitudes from 55°S to 45°N) there has been little or no change in E(ζ,φ,z,t) for the period 2005 – 2018. Nearly half the sites show strong correlation effects of both short- and long-term cloud and absorbing aerosol change as well as anticorrelation with total column ozone change ΔTCO3. Synoptic EPIC data from the sunlit Earth are used to derive ozone and reflectivity needed for global images of the distribution of E(ζ,φ,z,t) from sunrise to sunset centered on the Americas, Europe-Africa, and Asia. EPIC data are used to show the latitudinal distribution of E(ζ,φ,z,t) from the equator to 75° for specific longitudes. Dangerously high amounts of erythemal irradiance (12 < UV index < 18) are found for many low latitude and high-altitude sites (e.g., San Pedro, Chile (2.45 km), La Paz, Bolivia (3.78 km). Lower UV indices at some equatorial or high-altitude sites (e.g., Quito, Ecuador) are moderated by the presence of persistent cloud effects. High UVI levels (UVI > 6) are also found at most mid-latitude sites during the summer months.

Ozone Measuring Instrument (OMI) and Earth Polychr↗

NASA NTRS1987

The Perseus Flasher and satellite glints

The Perseus Flasher (PF) is claimed to be an astrophysical source which frequently emits bright optical flashes (Katz et al. 1986). These flashes have all been detected by the naked eye, with the exception of one photographed flash for which an accurate position is measured. Notable properties of the PF are its large amplitude (greater than 19 mag), short duration (about 1 s), and frequent occurrence (a flash every 12 hr). Here, evidence is presented that the PF is not an astrophysical source but is merely the observation of glints of reflected sunlight from artificial earth satellites. This conclusion is supported by the following facts: (1) a total of 3400 hr of photographic, video, and CCD observations have detected no flashes in or near the small PF error box, despite the claim of one bright flash every 12 hr; (2) thirteen of the 26 flashes are shown to be nonastrophysical in origin; and (3) both the observational and theoretical glint rates indicate that most, if not all, PF observations are caused by satellite glints.

Schaefer, Bradley E.↗

NASA NTRS2022

Polarization as a Discriminator of Light-Absorbing Impurities in or Above Snow

This conceptual study presents advanced radiative transfer computations of light polarization originating from a snowpack consisting of nonspherical grains and variable content of light-absorbing impurities, either embedded in the snowpack or (with the same optical properties) lofted above it in the form of atmospheric aerosols. The results highlight the importance of considering shapes other than spherical for the snow grains, which otherwise can lead to non-negligible errors in the retrieval of snow albedo from remote sensing observations. More importantly, it is found that polarimetric measurements provide a means to partition light-absorbing impurities embedded in the snowpack from absorbing aerosols aloft, a task traditionally prohibitive for sensors capable exclusively of measurements of total reflectance. Heritage techniques to obtain snow grain size from shortwave infrared observations of total reflectance are well established, as are those that leverage polarimetric, multiangular observations across the entire optical spectrum to characterize the optical and microphysical properties of atmospheric aerosols. The polarization signatures of near-infrared (e.g., 864 nm) observations carry critical information on snow grain shape. The prospected launch of space-borne polarimeters with proven accuracy, therefore, advocates for the development of data inversion schemes, to boost the accuracy of simultaneous retrievals of atmospheric and surface parameters in the polar and snow-covered regions, critical to climate studies.

light polarization↗

DOE OSTI2020

High-resolution optical micro-spectroscopy extending from the near-infrared to the vacuum-ultraviolet

Optical characterization of small samples over a wide spectral range with rapid data acquisition is essential for the analysis of many material systems, such as 2D van der Waals layers and their heterostructures. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a tabletop micro-spectroscopy system covering the near-infrared to the vacuum-ultraviolet (1.2 eV–6.8 eV or ~1.0 μm to 185 nm) using mostly off-the-shelf components. It can measure highly reproducible local reflectance spectra with a total integration time of a few minutes and a full-width-half-maximum spot size of 2.7 by 5.6 μm. For precise positioning, the design also allows simultaneous monitoring of the measurement location and the wide-field image of the sample. We demonstrate ultra-broadband reflectance spectra of exfoliated thin flakes of several wide-gap 2D materials, including ZnPS 3 , hexagonal BN, and Ca(OH) 2 .

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

NASA NTRS2017

Aeolus -A Mission to Study the Thermal and Wind Environment of Mars

Aeolus is a small satellite mission to observe surface and atmospheric forcing and general circulation of Mars, by measuring surface energy balance, atmospheric temperatures, aerosols and clouds, and winds. Critically, Aeolus will make these measurements at all local times of day, providing information on both seasonal and diurnal variability. To date, direct measurements of Martian wind speeds have only been possible at the surface, only during daylight hours, and over small areas limited by rover traverse capabilities. From orbit, thermal measurements (e.g., estimates from assumed geostrophic balance) as well as images of dust storms and dune migration have provided inputs to derive current data sets on Martian winds. However, Mars General Circulation models demonstrate that wind speeds derived from these indirect measurements may be in error by 50 to 100%. For this reason, direct wind velocity measurements have been deemed "High Priority" by MEPAG (Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group); measuring wind speeds and corresponding thermal data is vital to understanding the climate of Mars. Aeolus will carry four Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometers (SHS), coupled to two orthogonal viewing telescopes. These high-resolution near-infrared spectrometers will measure CO2 (daytime absorption) and O2 (day and night emission) lines in the Martian atmosphere. Doppler shifts in these lines can be measured during Martian day and night, resolving wind speeds down to ~5 m/s. Orthogonal views allow the spectrometers to capture wind vectors over all observation locations. Aeolus will also carry the atmospheric limb-viewing Thermal Limb Sounder (TLS) to measure atmospheric temperatures, water ice clouds, and dust abundances across all altitudes where winds are measured. Finally, the Surface Radiometric Sensor Package (SuRSeP), a nadir viewing radiometer, will measure the total reflected solar and emitted thermal radiance, surface temperature, and water cloud and dust total column abundances. The combined spectral and thermal measurements will provide a new understanding of the global energy balance, dust transport processes, and climate cycles in the Martian atmosphere. Aeolus will consist of a single satellite in a near-polar orbit, allowing it to pass over all local times, with the baseline mission observing all seasons of an entire Martian year (two Earth years). Aeolus was one of two Martian smallsat concepts selected for study through the Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Studies program. This talk will provide an overview of the mission, including science rationale, instruments, spacecraft, and mission operations concept.

and winds↗

NASA NTRS2013

Application of CO2 Snow Jet Cleaning in Conjunction with Laboratory Based Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence

The Genesis mission was the first mission returning solar material to Earth since the Apollo program [1,2]. Unfortunately the return of the space craft on September 8, 2004 resulted in a crash landing, which shattered the samples into small fragments and exposed them to desert soil and other debris. Thus only small fragments of the original collectors are available, each having different degrees of surface contamination. Thorough surface cleaning is required to allow for subsequent analysis of solar wind material embedded within. An initial cleaning procedure was developed in coordination with Johnson Space Center which focused on removing larger sized particulates and a thin film organic contamination acquired during collection in space [3]. However, many of the samples have additional residues and more rigorous and/or innovative cleaning steps might be necessary. These cleaning steps must affect only the surface to avoid leaching and re-distribution of solar wind material from the bulk of the collectors. To aid in development and identification of the most appropriate cleaning procedures each sample has to be thoroughly inspected before and after each cleaning step. Laboratory based total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometry lends itself to this task as it is a non-destructive and surface sensitive analytical method permitting analysis of elements from aluminum onward present at and near the surface of a flat substrate [4]. The suitability of TXRF has been demonstrated for several Genesis solar wind samples before and after various cleaning methods including acid treatment, gas cluster ion beam, and CO2 snow jet [5 - 7]. The latter one is non-invasive and did show some promise on one sample [5]. To investigate the feasibility of CO2 snow jet cleaning further, several flown Genesis samples were selected to be characterized before and after CO2 snow application with sample 61052 being discussed below.

Schmeling, M.↗

NASA NTRS2021

Responses of Florida Scrub Vegetation to Water Additions from a Groundwater Treatment Project and to Hurricane Disturbance

Florida scrub is a fire-maintained shrub vegetation of well-drained, sandy soils; dominant species include several species of Quercus and Serenoa repens. In a remediation project, treated groundwater was distributed through an exfiltration gallery into intact scrub. We established eight permanent line-intercept transects (15 m length) in the site in April 2002, four close to the exfiltration gallery and four more distant from it. We sampled vegetation, < 0.5 m and ≥ 0.5 m, along each transect and measured vegetation height at four points (0, 5, 10, 15 m) annually through 2019. The initial phase of the project operated from October 2002 to early March 2004 (494 days) and distributed 1.74 x 10^8 L of water. The final phase of the project occurred from March 2005 through August 2008 (1251 days) and distributed 1.90 x 10^8 L of water. Pumping raised the water table near the exfiltration gallery. Vegetation height did not differ between the near and far transects initially. Vegetation height increased in the near transects by 2004 with the greatest percent change in 2003 and 2004 as did total cover ≥ 0.5 m. Total cover < 0.5 m and bare ground were similar initially in the near and far transects and declined in the near transects by 2004. Scrub species, particularly the dominant scrub oaks, increased height and cover in response to water additions with no loss of dominant scrub species and no establishment of mesophytes. Hurricane Frances (September 2004) reduced cover ≥ 0.5 m the following year. Hurricane Matthew (October 2016) and Hurricane Irma (September 2017) caused greater damage including breaking limbs as reflected in reduced height and total cover ≥ 0.5 m probably because the older, taller scrub was more vulnerable to wind damage.

Florida scrub↗

DOE OSTI2021

A refraction correction for buried interfaces applied to in situ grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction studies on Pd electrodes

In situ characterization of electrochemical systems can provide deep insights into the structure of electrodes under applied potential. Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) is a particularly valuable tool owing to its ability to characterize the near-surface structure of electrodes through a layer of electrolyte, which is of paramount importance in surface-mediated processes such as catalysis and adsorption. Corrections for the refraction that occurs as an X-ray passes through an interface have been derived for a vacuum–material interface. In this work, a more general form of the refraction correction was developed which can be applied to buried interfaces, including liquid–solid interfaces. Furthermore, the correction is largest at incidence angles near the critical angle for the interface and decreases at angles larger and smaller than the critical angle. Effective optical constants are also introduced which can be used to calculate the critical angle for total external reflection at the interface. This correction is applied to GIXRD measurements of an aqueous electrolyte–Pd interface, demonstrating that the correction allows for the comparison of GIXRD measurements at multiple incidence angles. This work improves quantitative analysis of d-spacing values from GIXRD measurements of liquid–solid systems, facilitating the connection between electrochemical behavior and structure under in situ conditions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1988

Geologic and remote sensing studies of Rima Mozart

Geologic, photographic, and remote sensing data on Rima Mozart are analyzed to study the processes responsible for the formation of lunar sinuous rilles. The results show that it is unlikely that a complete lava tube could have existed along the Rima Mozart rille. A total eruptive volume of 6372 cu km has been determined for an open channel or tube with an eruption rate of about 80,000 cu m/s and a duration of 947 days. Near-infrared spectral reflectance data and 2.8-cm and 70-cm radar observations indicate that volcanic activity was responsible for the formation of the rille and that pyroclastic deposits are present around Kathleen and Ann as well as at the base of the Apennines.

Coombs, Cassandra R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

MODIS - A global ocean facility for the Earth Observing System

A Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) is being planned as a NASA furnished facility for the Earth Observing System (Eos). This sensor will be the primary source of optical global ocean data for a ten-year period following the Eos launch in the mid-1990's. During this period, the MODIS will survey the Earth's surface continuously once every three days in over 100 spectral bands ranging from 0.4 to 14.2 micrometers at a spatial resolution of 1 kilometer. The system is to be divided into two units, MODIS-T which consists of 64 visible and near-infrared channels and which is capable of tilting to avoid specular reflectance from the ocean surface, and MODIS-N with 31-40 spectral channels including ocean color, ocean temperature and atmospheric characterization bands. The total system is anticipated to be a powerful tool for studying global ocean productivity, dynamics and long-term trends.

Barnes, W. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The observation of atmospheric structure with TOMS and some potential advancements

An overview is given of the Nimbus 7 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) which was designed to observe the spatial characteristics of total ozone that were not resolved by the nadir-viewing Nimbus BUV and SBUV instruments. At the wavelengths suitable for total ozone measurements, the radiance is large enough that the entire daytime atmosphere could be surveyed with about 50-km resolution from a polar orbiting satellite. The resulting high spatial resolution TOMS ozone images are found to reflect the internal dynamic structure of the lower atmosphere. Features which can be identified and tracked include: planetary wave scale troughs and ridges, mesoscale cutoff lows and rapidly moving troughs, jet stream confluence and difluence areas, hurricanes, and polar night lows. These features control the ozone above any given location and account for nearly all the variance in the total ozone. The instrument has been used to track the volcanic eruption clouds from El Chichon, Mount St. Helens, Alaid, and smaller eruptions such as Galunggung. It would be feasible to use a similar instrument on a geostationary platform to obtain half-hourly maps. Determination of the vertical ozone distribution in the lower stratosphere using Radon transform principles would be of importance in measuring jet stream folds and the related troposphere-stratosphere exchange.

Krueger, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Composite Reflective Absorptive IR-Blocking Filters Embedded in Metamaterial Antireflection Coated Silicon

Infrared (IR)-blocking filters are crucial for controlling the radiative loading on cryogenic systems and for optimizing the sensitivity of bolometric detectors in the far-IR. We present a new IR filter approach based on a combination of patterned frequency-selective structures on silicon and a thin (2575 micron thick) absorptive composite based on powdered reststrahlen absorbing materials. For a 300 K blackbody, this combination reflects approximately 50% of the incoming light and blocks greater than.99.8% of the total power with negligible thermal gradients and excellent low-frequency transmission. This allows a reduction in the IR thermal loading to negligible levels in a single cold filter. These composite filters are fabricated on silicon substrates, which provide excellent thermal transport laterally through the filter and ensure that the entire area of the absorptive filter stays near the bath temperature. A metamaterial antireflection coating cut into these substrates reduces in-band reflections to below 1%, and the in-band absorption of the powder mix is below 1% for signal bands below 750 GHz. This type of filter can be directly incorporated into silicon refractive optical elements.

Munson, C. D.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Comparison of total emitted solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) and top-of-canopy (TOC) SIF in estimating photosynthesis

We report many studies have shown that solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) has a good potential to predict gross primary production (GPP) of vegetation. What we measured by remote sensing or near-surface platforms is top-of-canopy (TOC) SIF (SIF toc ), which is not necessarily equal or proportional to total emitted SIF (SIF tot ) from the entire canopy due to the (re)absorption and scattering effects. However, photosynthesis, the process that plants use to fix carbon from the atmosphere, occurs at the entire vertical canopy. Here, by using the recollision theory, we calculated SIF tot at 760 nm from the measured SIF toc , hyperspectral reflectance (R), canopy interception (i) and leaf albedo (ω l ). Among them, both SIF toc and R can be obtained from concurrent TOC spectral measurements; i and ω l in the near-infrared region can be estimated from the open access datasets with a good accuracy. Our result confirms that the measured SIF toc only accounts for a small fraction of SIF tot : the above-the-canopy sensor can only “see” on average 22.9% of SIF tot at Harvard Forest. SIF tot has the following advantages over SIF toc in estimating GPP: (1) SIF tot improves the diurnal estimate of canopy GPP, especially capable to capture the midday depression of photosynthesis which may cause the large discrepancies between SIF toc and GPP on a diurnal basis, (2) SIF tot produces a stronger correlation with GPP from plants with complex canopy structure or under sky conditions with more diffuse irradiance, and (3) the SIF tot -GPP relationship shows a stronger resilience to environmental stresses. The fluorescence escape ratio (f esc ), the ratio between SIF toc multiplied by π and SIF tot , is mostly determined by the sun-canopy-sensor geometry and leaf inclination distribution. The effect of LAI and the leaf chlorophyll concentration on f esc is marginal at the 760 nm wavelength. Our results suggest that converting SIF toc into SIF tot provides a better tool to understand and estimate GPP.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2026

Point-scale organic-matter decomposition in streambeds is weakly associated with reach-scale respiration

Stream and river ecosystems play a central role in the movement and decomposition of particulate organic matter, serving as a conduit between terrestrial hillslopes and coastal environments. Microbial-catalyzed decomposition generates simpler organic molecules that fuel respiration, often in the sediments of these ecosystems. However, the degree of connection between sediment-associated respiration (ER??d) and organic-matter decomposition remains poorly understood. How that relationship compares to decomposition’s relationship with whole ecosystem (ERtot) and water column (ERwc) respiration is also not clear. We examined the link between particulate organic matter decomposition—using cellulose-based cotton strips as a standardized substrate—and all three components of respiration across 48 sites in the environmentally diverse Yakima River Basin (Washington State, USA). We hypothesized that decomposition within sediments would be most strongly related to ERsed, but decomposition rates were more closely associated with ERtot, with little connection to ERsed or ERwc. This suggests that particulate organic matter decomposition within stream/river sediments reflects integrated system respiration rather than processes confined to sediments or the water column alone. Further, across the basin, decomposition rates nearly spanned the previously reported global range for streams and rivers and were best explained by total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), sediment grain size, and aridity of the upstream drainage area. These results highlight the strong influence of land cover and basin-scale biophysical variation on sediment-associated decomposition processes and indicate that mechanistic models of organic matter decomposition in streams/rivers should account for coupled sediment–water–land interactions.

Stegen, James C. (ORCID:0000000191357424)↗

NASA NTRS1973

The Nimbus-4 backscatter ultraviolet /BUV/ atmospheric ozone experiment Two years' operation.

Review of some of the procedures and results of the double monochromator and colinear photometer Nimbus-4 satellite experiment that measures ultraviolet terrestrial radiance, Lambert reflectivity of the lower boundary of the scattering atmosphere, and extraterrestrial solar irradiance. The experiment has produced nearly three years of almost continuous data which are being used to infer the high-level ozone distribution and total ozone on a global basis. The high-level ozone data have been verified by independent coincident rocket ozone soundings, and the total ozone values show good agreement with Dobson spectrophotometer determinations. An increase has been observed in equatorial radiance at 2550 A relative to 2900 A, which seems to indicate that the amount of ozone in the upper stratosphere is related to the eleven-year solar cycle.

Heath, D. F.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterization of homogeneous solution concentration gradients near a container wall at different temperatures

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopic techniques were used to study the solution concentration gradient in succino nitrile-rich and water-rich homogeneous solutions. The spectroscopic data shows significant concentration dependency. Although FTIR-attenuated total reflectance could not yield surface spectra since the evanescent infrared wave penetrated deep into the bulk solution, it showed that water-rich clusters were decreased at higher temperatures. This result is consistent with the calorimetric results reported earlier.

Loo, B. H.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Satellite estimation of spectral UVB irradiance using TOMS derived total ozone and UV reflectivity

A method for satellite remote sensing of spectral UVB radiation incident at the earth's surface for snow and/or ice free areas has been developed. Measurements of total ozone and UV reflectively from the Nimbus-7 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument have been applied to this technique. Comparison of satellite estimates with ground based measurements of spectral UVB irradiance show differences which are comparable to differences between near simultaneous measurements made with two or more ground based co-located instruments.

Eck, T. F.↗

NASA NTRS2004

A Resonator for Low-Threshold Frequency Conversion

A proposed toroidal or disklike dielectric optical resonator (dielectric optical cavity) would be made of an optically nonlinear material and would be optimized for use in parametric frequency conversion by imposition of a spatially periodic permanent electric polarization. The poling (see figure) would suppress dispersions caused by both the material and the geometry of the optical cavity, thereby effecting quasi-matching of the phases of high-resonance-quality (high-Q) whispering-gallery electromagnetic modes. The quasi-phase-matching of the modes would serve to maximize the interactions among them. Such a resonator might be a prototype of a family of compact, efficient nonlinear devices for operation over a broad range of optical wavelengths. A little background information is prerequisite to a meaningful description of this proposal: (1) Described in several prior NASA Tech Briefs articles, the whispering-gallery modes in a component of spheroidal, disklike, or toroidal shape are waveguide modes that propagate circumferentially and are concentrated in a narrow toroidal region centered on the equatorial plane and located near the outermost edge. (2) For the sake of completeness, it must be stated that even though optical resonators of the type considered here are solid dielectric objects and light is confined within them by total internal reflection at dielectric interfaces without need for mirrors, such components are sometimes traditionally called cavities because their effects upon the light propagating within them are similar to those of true cavities bounded by mirrors. (3) For a given set of electromagnetic modes interacting with each other in an optically nonlinear material (e.g., modes associated with the frequencies involved in a frequency-conversion scheme), the threshold power for oscillation depends on the mode volumes and the mode-overlap integral. (4) Whispering-gallery modes are attractive in nonlinear optics because they maximize the effects of nonlinearities by occupying small volumes and affording high Q values

Iltchenko, Vladimir↗