Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “feature”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Thermal structure and dynamics of the Jovian atmosphere. 2: Visible cloud features

Voyager IRIS data reveal strong similarities among a broad range of features which differ considerably in visual appearance. The atmosphere above anticyclonic features, including the major white ovals, the Great Red Spot, and a zone, are cold relative to the immediate surroundings in the upper troposphere and tropopause region. These results are consistent with upwelling and divergence in this part of the atmosphere. A hot spot and a barge, which are localized cyclonic features, are found to be warm relative to their surroundings, implying subsidence with accompanying convergence. In all cases, the thermal wind shear associated with the features indicates a decay of the vorticity with height in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Vertical velocities inferred from the observed temperature perturbations imply an upper limit of vertical mixing times near the tropopause of approximately 20 years. Temperatures in the upper stratosphere above the anticyclonic features show considerable variation, but in most cases are found to be relatively warm.

Conrath, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Mars and earth - Comparison of cold-climate features

On earth, glacial and periglacial features are common in areas of cold climate. On Mars, the temperature of the present-day surface is appropriate for permafrost, and the presence of water is suspected from data relating to the outgassing of the planet, from remote-sensing measurements over the polar caps and elsewhere on the Martian surface, and from recognition of fluvial morphological features such as channels. These observations and the possibility that ice could be in equilibrium with the high latitudes north and south of + or - 40 deg latitude suggest that glacial and periglacial features should exist on the planet. Morphological studies based mainly on Viking pictures indicate many features that can be attributed to the action of ice. Among these features are extensive talus aprons; debris avalanches; flows that resemble glaciers or rock glaciers; ridges that look like moraines; various types of patterned ground, scalloped scarps, and chaotically collapsed terrain that could be attributed to thermokarst processes; and landforms that may reflect the interaction of volcanism and ice.

Lucchitta, B. K.↗
NASA NTRS1982

New features and applications of PRESTO, a computer code for the performance of regenerative, superheated steam turbine cycles

The code was designed to analyze performance at valves-wide-open design flow. The code can model conventional steam cycles as well as cycles that include such special features as process steam extraction and induction and feedwater heating by external heat sources. Convenience features and extensions to the special features were incorporated into the PRESTO code. The features are described, and detailed examples illustrating the use of both the original and the special features are given.

Choo, Y. K.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Random walks with the 6420- and 6825-A features of methane: Lost in the wilderness

A feature near 6420 A which appears in the spectra of Uranus and Neptune, and was recently detected in the spectrum of Titan is investigated. When originally identified, it was assigned to the pressure induced 4 to 0 band of molecular hydrogen. Not only did the wavelength agree--a small apparent shift was arm waved away, but when the feature was reduced using a dipole-induced strength, it gave results for H2 column densities consistent with best estimates for the sharp quadrupole lines. In studying the long path spectra of methane, that same feature was also present. A second similar problem exists with a Uranian feature--indeed, a general planetary feature centered near 6825 A.

Lutz, B. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The use of linear feature detection to investigate thematic mapper data performance and processing

The geometric and radiometric characteristics of thematic mapper data through analysis of linear features in the data are investigated. The particular aspects considered are: (1) thematic mapper ground IFOV; (2) radiometric contrast between linear features and background; (3) precision of system geometric correction; (4) band-to-band registration; and (5) potential utility of TM data for linear feature detection especially as compared to MSS data. It is shown that TM data may be used to estimate TM pixel size and to illustrate band-band mis-registration. Further, the geometry and radiometry of the data are sufficiently precise to allow accurate estimation of the widths of linear features. In optimum conditions features one quarter of a pixel in width may be accurately measured. These results have considerable potential for applications for hydrological and topographic mapping.

Gurney, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Voyager 2 observations of Saturn's northern mid-latitude cloud features - Morphology, motions, and evolution

Voyager 2 images provide a basis for detailed study of the morphology and circulation of Saturn's northern midlatitudes. Both Saturn's large-scale cloud bands and the distribution of its local cloud features have a characteristic zonal organization. The region between 30 N and 45 N contains two oppositely directed jets in close proximity, with many bright, active features in the westward jet, and an unusual ribbonlike wave feature encircling the planet in the eastward jet. Several of the smaller features within the westward jet do not remain at fixed latitudes and interact with each other. One group of v-shaped features is found to have periods of high activity correlated with the passage of a cyclonic bright spot. The ribbon wave was Fourier analyzed to determine its spectral composition. The greatest power is near wave number 9, with significant additional peaks appearing at planetary wave numbers 19, 25-27, 35-38, and 47-51. The phase velocity increases with wave number but is not well described by a Rossby-Haurwitz dispersion relation. The curvature of the mean wind profile obtained from cloud tracking indicates that the westward jet exceeds the standard barotropic instability condition, while the eastward jet marginally exceeds the deep-circulation instability condition of Ingersoll and Pollard (1982). The rms eddy velocities on Saturn are less than half as large as those observed on Jupiter.

Sromovsky, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Global map of eolian features on Mars

A variety of common eolian features on Mars have been identified from a survey of Mariner 9 and Viking orbiter images, and their regional and global distributions and orientations are discussed. Ten features have been mapped including: light and dark streaks, splotches, barchan and transverse dunes, crescentric and anomalous dunes, yardangs, wind grooves, and deflation pits. The north polar region shows a complex wind regime. Dunes and other ephemeral features reveal winds from the northwest and northeast. In the middle and low northern latitudes, northeasterly winds are the most effective winds. Southeast winds are the effective winds in most southern latitudes. Erosional features in bedrock indicate long-term and perhaps ancient wind trends, whereas depositional features may record relatively more recent winds. Deflation pits in the mantled terrain may contain the best record of both ancient and present-day winds.

Ward, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

On interstellar Fe X forbidden line absorption. III - The lambda 6367 feature

Echelle spectra of Zeta Oph and HD 190603 are reported which show a weak interstellar absorption feature near 6367 A. The feature had been previously detected only toward two members of the Cepheus OB2 association in an extensive search for interstellar Fe X forbidden line absorption (lambda 6375). On the basis of the resulting radial velocities, the two new detections exclude the preliminary identification of the lambda 6367 feature with high-velocity Fe X ions in the hot, X-ray-emitting gas and demonstrate that the feature arises instead in the ordinary diffuse clouds. This unidentified feature may be either a molecular transition or a very weak diffuse interstellar band.

Hobbs, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A new emission feature in IRAS spectra and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon spectrum

IRAS spectra of those sources which show strong 7.7 and 11.3 micron emission features also show a plateau of emission extending from 11.3 to about 13.0 microns. Like the 11.3 micron feature, this new feature is attributed to the CH out-of-plane bending mode in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Its discovery reinforces the identification of the 'unidentified infrared emission features' as emission from PAHs. The wavelength of this new feature suggests that interstellar PAHs are not as partially hydrogenated as hitherto thought. It also constrains their molecular structure.

Cohen, M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

High-resolution spectroscopy of the 3 micron emission features in NGC 7027 and IRAS 21282+5050

High-resolution 3 micron spectra of NGC 7027 and IRAS 21282+5050 are presented. The well-known 3.29 micron emission feature has very similar shapes in the two objects, but a small shift is present between them. The emission features at 3.46 and 3.52 microns recently found in IRAS 21282+5050 are also present in the spectrum of NGC 7027. In addition, there may be two other weak features at 3.55 and 3.58 microns in NGC 7027. These emission features might be related to saturated hydrocarbons. The spectra provide further constraints on the origin of the 'unidentified' emission features.

Nagata, Tetsuya↗
NASA NTRS1989

Spatial variations of the 3 micron emission features within UV-excited nebulae - Photochemical evolution of interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Spectra at 3 microns have been obtained at several positions in the Orion Bar region and in the nebula surrounding HD 44179. Weak emission features at 3.40, 3.46, 3.51, and 3.57 microns are prominent in the Orion Bar region. The 3.40- and 3.51-micron features increase in intensity relative to the dominant 3.29-micron feature. The spectrum obtained in the Red Rectangle region 5 arcsecs north of HD 44179 are similar to those in the Orion Bar, with a weak, broad 3.40-micron feature at the position of HD 44179. The spatial behavior of the weak emission features is explained in terms of hot bands of the CH stretch and overtones, and combination bands of other fundamental vibrations in simple PAHs. Based on the susceptibility of PAHs to destruction by the far UV fields in both regions, PAH sizes are estimated at 20-50 carbon atoms.

Geballe, T. R.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Spectroscopic images of NGC 7027 in the near-infrared dust emission features

Isophote maps derived from spatially resolved moderate spectral resolution images of the planetary nebula NGC 7027 in the 3.28-micron and 3.4-micron 'unidentified' emission features, and in the Br-alpha hydrogen recombination line are presented. Comparison of these images clearly shows that the 3.28-micron emission is spatially more extended than the ionized gas. Analysis and modeling of the spatial distribution of the 3.28-micron feature strength suggest that roughly equal amounts of feature emission appear to come from within the H II region and from a shell outside the H II region. The spatial distribution of the 3.4-micron feature emission is found to be similar to that of the 3.28-micron feature emission.

Woodward, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Finding curvilinear features in speckled images

A method for finding curves in digital images with speckle noise is described. The solution method differs from standard linear convolutions followed by thresholds in that it explicitly allows curvature in the features. Maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation is used, together with statistical models for the speckle noise and for the curve-generation process, to find the most probable estimate of the feature, given the image data. The estimation process is first described in general terms. Then, incorporation of the specific neighborhood system and a multiplicative noise model for speckle allows derivation of the solution, using dynamic programming, of the estimation problem. The detection of curvilinear features is considered separately. The detection results allow the determination of the minimal size of detectable feature. Finally, the estimation of linear features, followed by a detection step, is shown for computer-simulated images and for a SAR image of sea ice.

Samadani, Ramin↗
NASA NTRS1989

The detection of a broad interstellar extinction feature near 1700 A

A statistical examination of 126 extinction curves has revealed the presence of a second broad absorption feature similar in nature to the 2200 A feature. The feature is centered on wavelength 1706 A, has a full half-width of 350 A, and a mean central height of 0.21 magnitudes. The strength of the feature increases with E(B-V) supporting an interstellar origin, and on average it is 18 times weaker than the 2200 A feature.

Carnochan, David J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Spectral structure near the 11.3 micron emission feature

If the 11.3 micron emission feature seen in the spectra of many planetary nebulae, H II regions, and reflection nebulae is attributable to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), then additional features should be present between 11.3 and 13.0 microns. Moderate resolution spectra of NGC 7027, HD 44179, BD+30 deg 3639, and IRAS 21282+5050 are presented which show evidence for new emission features centered near 12.0 and 12.7 microns. These are consistent with an origin from PAHs and can be used to constrain the molecular structure of the family of PAHs responsible for the infrared features. There is an indication that coronene-like PAHs contribute far more to the emission from NGC 7027 than to the emission from HD 44179. The observed asymmetric profile of the 11.3 micron band in all the spectra is consistent with the slight anharmonicity expected in the C-H out-of-plane bending mode in PAHs. A series of repeating features between 10 and 11 microns in the spectrum of HD 44179 suggests a simple hydride larger than 2 atoms is present in the gas phase in this object.

Witteborn, Fred C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Ion microprobe elemental analyses of impact features on interplanetary dust experiment sensor surfaces

Hypervelocity impact features on several of the electro-active dust sensors utilized in the Interplanetary Dust Experiment (IDE) were subjected to elemental analysis using an ion microprobe. The negatively biased dust sensor surfaces acted as ion traps for cations produced in the plasma plumes of impacting particles. Impactor residue surrounds most impact features to two or three feature diameters. After etching away a layer of carbonaceous/silicaceous surface contamination, low mass resolution elemental survey scans are used to tentatively identify the presence of impactor debris. High mass resolution two-dimensional elemental maps and three dimensional depth profiling of the feature and surrounding area show the distribution and relative composition of the debris. The location of these sensors on the six primary Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) sides provides a unique opportunity to further define the debris environment. Researchers applied the same techniques to impact and contaminant features on a set of ultra-pure, highly polished single crystal germanium wafer witness plates that were mounted on row 12 and exposed to the environment during the entire mission.

Hunter, Jerry L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Detection of the 3.4 micron emission feature in Comets P/Brorsen-Metcalf and Okazaki-Levy-Rudenko (1989r) and an observational summary

The 3.4 micron emission feature due to cometary organics was detected in Comets P/Brorsen-Metcalf and Okazaki-Levy-Rudenko (1989r). Features-to-continuum ratios in these two comets were higher than those expected from the trend seen in other comets to date. Three micron spectra of eight comets are reviewed. The 3.4 micron band flux is better correlated with the water production rate than with the dust production rate in this sample of comets. High feature-to-continuum ratios in P/Brorsen-Metcalf and Okazaki-Levy-Rudenko can be explained by the low dust-to-gas ratios of these two comets. The observations to date are consistent with cometary organics being present in all comets (even those for which no 3.4 micron feature was evident) at comparable abundances with respect to water. The emission mechanism and absolute abundance of the organics are not well determined; either gas-phase fluorescence or thermal emission from hot grains is consistent with the heliocentric distance dependence of the 3.4 micron band flux. There is an overall similarity in the spectral profiles of the 3.4 micron feature in comets; however, there are some potentially significant differences in the details of the spectra.

Brooke, T. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Unusual 3 micron emission features in three proto-planetary nebulae

Medium-resolution 3-4 micron spectra have been obtained of three objects, IRAS 04296 + 3429, IRAS 22272 + 5435, and CRL 2688, which are in transition between the asymptotic red giant branch and the planetary nebula phase. All three show unusual 3-micron emission features. The two IRAS objects, already unusual in having 21 micron features, have remarkably strong 3.4-3.5 micron emission relative to the usually dominant 3.3-micron feature, with the spectrum of IRAS 04296 + 3429 being nearly identical to that of IRAS 05341 + 0852 (previously published). CRL 2688's spectrum bears some resemblance to those of the IRAS objects, but its 3.4-3.5 micron emission is not as strong. The relationships between the various emission features are discussed. CRL 2688 may be completing a transition between the '21-micron phase' and the 'normal phase', which is associated with dominant 3.3-micron emission, weak 3.4-3.6 micron features and plateau, and a lack of 21-micron emission.

Geballe, T. R.↗