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At least 1,279 records · Page 71

Accurate contrast determination for X-ray speckle visibility spectroscopy

X-ray speckle visibility spectroscopy using X-ray free-electron lasers has long been proposed as a probe of fast dynamics in noncrystalline materials. In this paper, numerical modeling is presented to show how the data interpretation of visibility spectroscopy can be impacted by the nonidealities of real-life X-ray detectors. Using simulated detector data, this work provides a detailed analysis of the systematic errors of several contrast extraction algorithms in the context of low-count-rate X-ray speckle visibility spectroscopy and their origins are discussed. Here, it was found that the finite detector charge cloud and pixel size lead to an unavoidable `degeneracy' in photon position determination, and that the contrasts extracted using different algorithms can all be corrected by a simple linear model. The results suggest that experimental calibration of the correction coefficient at the count rate of interest is possible and essential. This allows computationally lightweight algorithms to be implemented for on-the-fly analysis.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

PLAStiCC: Predictive Look-Ahead Scheduling for Continuous dataflows on Clouds

Scalable stream processing and continuous dataflow systems are gaining traction with the rise of big data due to the need for processing high velocity data in near real time. Unlike batch processing systems such as MapReduce and workflows, static scheduling strategies fall short for continuous dataflows due to the variations in the input data rates and the need for sustained throughput. The elastic resource provisioning of cloud infrastructure is valuable to meet the changing resource needs of such continuous applications. However, multi-tenant cloud resources introduce yet another dimension of performance variability that impacts the application’s throughput. In this paper we propose PLAStiCC, an adaptive scheduling algorithm that balances resource cost and application throughput using a prediction-based look-ahead approach. It not only addresses variations in the input data rates but also the underlying cloud infrastructure. In addition, we also propose several simpler static scheduling heuristics that operate in the absence of accurate performance prediction model. These static and adaptive heuristics are evaluated through extensive simulations using performance traces obtained from public and private IaaS clouds. Our results show an improvement of up to 20% in the overall profit as compared to the reactive adaptation algorithm.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Sensing Service Transformer Secondary Currents using Planar Magnetic Pick-up Coils

The rapid deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) is creating stresses on utility assets in the distribution networks. The service transformer, which is the most commonly used utility asset is often not monitored, since the cost of available sensing solutions is as high as the transformer itself. This paper presents a method to use an array of printed circuit board coils to intelligently monitor North American pole top service transformers. The approach, uses a novel, self-calibrating algorithm to infer the fixed geometry of the installation, by recording data over an extended period of time. The proposed method can enable rapid installation of a non-intrusive sensor that can be used to monitor loading levels of the distribution transformer. Furthermore, these sensors can help in planning, prognostics and advanced situational awareness for utilities.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

NREL ASSIST Rhode Island / Thermodynamic retrievals TROPoe

This dataset contains daily files with thermodynamic profiles retrieved with the optimal estimation physical retrieval TROPoe (Turner and Löhnert 2014; Turner and Blumberg 2019; Turner and Löhnert 2021). The profiles are retrieved every 10 minutes from instantaneous observations from the NREL ASSIST-II (SN 11) infrared spectrometer. Observations are noise-filtered but not averaged in time to minimize errors due to non-uniform clouds. Additional input data in TROPoe are cloud base height from a collocated NREL Upgraded Galion lidar #1212-60 and temperature, RH, and pressure from collocated PNNL met station. The lidar beta is used to estimate the cloud base height through a modified algorithm by Newsom et al., 2019 used at ARM SGP. The full pipeline for running the retrieval is available at https://github.com/StefanoWind/TROPoe_processor. In addition to these temporally resolved input data, TROPoe requires an a priori dataset (prior) which provides mean climatological estimates of thermodynamic profiles and specifies how temperature and humidity covary with height as an input (for details see e.g. Djalalova et al. 2022). The prior is a key component of the retrieval and provides a constraint on the ill-posed inversion problem. A monthly prior was computed from operational radiosonde launches at Upton, NY.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

hsrl (01)

High-spectral-resolution lidar (HSRL) systems collect data about clouds and aerosols. These systems provide vertical profiles of optical depth, backscatter cross-section, depolarization, and backscatter phase function. All HSRL measurements are absolutely calibrated by reference to molecular scattering, which is measured at each point in the lidar profile. Like the Raman lidar, but unlike simple backscatter lidars such as the micropulse lidar, the HSRL can measure backscatter cross-sections and optical depths without prior assumptions about the scattering properties of the atmosphere. The depolarization observations also allow robust discrimination between ice and water clouds. In addition, rigorous error estimates can be computed for all measurements. A very narrow, angular field of view reduces multiple scattering contributions. The small field of view, coupled with a narrow optical bandwidth, nearly eliminates noise due to scattered sunlight. ARM operates two HSRL systems, one at the Barrow, North Slope of Alaska (NSA) site and the other in the second ARM Mobile Facility (AMF2), which is deployed at various locations on field campaigns.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Automatic Computer Mapping of Terrain

Computer processing of 17 wavelength bands of visible, reflective infrared, and thermal infrared scanner spectrometer data, and of three wavelength bands derived from color aerial film has resulted in successful automatic computer mapping of eight or more terrain classes in a Yellowstone National Park test site. The tests involved: (1) supervised and non-supervised computer programs; (2) special preprocessing of the scanner data to reduce computer processing time and cost, and improve the accuracy; and (3) studies of the effectiveness of the proposed Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) data channels in the automatic mapping of the same terrain, based on simulations, using the same set of scanner data. The following terrain classes have been mapped with greater than 80 percent accuracy in a 12-square-mile area with 1,800 feet of relief; (1) bedrock exposures, (2) vegetated rock rubble, (3) talus, (4) glacial kame meadow, (5) glacial till meadow, (6) forest, (7) bog, and (8) water. In addition, shadows of clouds and cliffs are depicted, but were greatly reduced by using preprocessing techniques.

Smedes, H. W.↗

An improved Venus cloud model

An inhomogeneous cloud model for Venus is presented in which a (transparent) sulfuric acid aerosol extends above the tropopause, but an (absorbing) sulfur aerosol consisting of much larger particles does not. It is shown that the temperature dependence of the absorption spectrum of sulfur, combined with the lapse rate in the planet's atmosphere, can explain the color of Venus. A simple 'black-white' radiative-transfer model is developed, the spectral reflectance of the cloud model is computed for the 60-km level in Marov's (1972) model atmosphere, and strong evidence is obtained that sulfur is the UV absorber on Venus. The wavelength variation of contrast in UV cloud features is analyzed, and absorption is found to increase with depth at every wavelength due to the inward increase in temperature. The black-white model is applied to CO2 absorption, variations in CO2 and UV absorption with phase angle are compared, and line profiles are calculated for pressure-broadened CO2 lines. The theoretical results are compared with Venera 9 and 10 data.

Young, A. T.↗

Ice water path estimation and characterization using passive microwave radiometry

Model computations of top-of-atmospheric microwave brightness temperatures T(B) from layers of precipitation-sized ice of variable bulk density and ice water content (IWC) are presented. It is shown that the 85-GHz T(B) depends essentially on the ice optical thickness. The results demonstrate the potential usefulness of scattering-based channels for characterizing the ice phase and suggest a top-down methodology for retrieval of cloud vertical structure and precipitation estimation from multifrequency passive microwave measurements. Attention is also given to radiative transfer model results based on the multiparameter radar data initialization from the Cooperative Huntsville Meteorological Experiment (COHMEX) in northern Alabama. It is shown that brightness temperature warming effects due to the inclusion of a cloud liquid water profile are especially significant at 85 GHz during later stages of cloud evolution.

Vivekanandan, J.↗

Modeling of Commercial Turbofan Engine With Ice Crystal Ingestion: Follow-On

The occurrence of ice accretion within commercial high bypass aircraft turbine engines has been reported under certain atmospheric conditions. Engine anomalies have taken place at high altitudes that have been attributed to ice crystal ingestion, partially melting, and ice accretion on the compression system components. The result was degraded engine performance, and one or more of the following: loss of thrust control (roll back), compressor surge or stall, and flameout of the combustor. As ice crystals are ingested into the fan and low pressure compression system, the increase in air temperature causes a portion of the ice crystals to melt. It is hypothesized that this allows the ice-water mixture to cover the metal surfaces of the compressor stationary components which leads to ice accretion through evaporative cooling. Ice accretion causes a blockage which subsequently results in the deterioration in performance of the compressor and engine. The focus of this research is to apply an engine icing computational tool to simulate the flow through a turbofan engine and assess the risk of ice accretion. The tool is comprised of an engine system thermodynamic cycle code, a compressor flow analysis code, and an ice particle melt code that has the capability of determining the rate of sublimation, melting, and evaporation through the compressor flow path, without modeling the actual ice accretion. A commercial turbofan engine which has previously experienced icing events during operation in a high altitude ice crystal environment has been tested in the Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) altitude test facility at NASA Glenn Research Center. The PSL has the capability to produce a continuous ice cloud which is ingested by the engine during operation over a range of altitude conditions. The PSL test results confirmed that there was ice accretion in the engine due to ice crystal ingestion, at the same simulated altitude operating conditions as experienced previously in flight. The computational tool was utilized to help guide a portion of the PSL testing, and was used to predict ice accretion could also occur at significantly lower altitudes. The predictions were qualitatively verified by subsequent testing of the engine in the PSL. In a previous study, analysis of select PSL test data points helped to calibrate the engine icing computational tool to assess the risk of ice accretion. This current study is a continuation of that data analysis effort. The study focused on tracking the variations in wet bulb temperature and ice particle melt ratio through the engine core flow path. The results from this study have identified trends, while also identifying gaps in understanding as to how the local wet bulb temperature and melt ratio affects the risk of ice accretion and subsequent engine behavior.

Jorgenson, Philip C. E.↗

Modeling of Commercial Turbofan Engine with Ice Crystal Ingestion; Follow-On

The occurrence of ice accretion within commercial high bypass aircraft turbine engines has been reported under certain atmospheric conditions. Engine anomalies have taken place at high altitudes that have been attributed to ice crystal ingestion, partially melting, and ice accretion on the compression system components. The result was degraded engine performance, and one or more of the following: loss of thrust control (roll back), compressor surge or stall, and flameout of the combustor. As ice crystals are ingested into the fan and low pressure compression system, the increase in air temperature causes a portion of the ice crystals to melt. It is hypothesized that this allows the ice-water mixture to cover the metal surfaces of the compressor stationary components which leads to ice accretion through evaporative cooling. Ice accretion causes a blockage which subsequently results in the deterioration in performance of the compressor and engine. The focus of this research is to apply an engine icing computational tool to simulate the flow through a turbofan engine and assess the risk of ice accretion. The tool is comprised of an engine system thermodynamic cycle code, a compressor flow analysis code, and an ice particle melt code that has the capability of determining the rate of sublimation, melting, and evaporation through the compressor flow path, without modeling the actual ice accretion. A commercial turbofan engine which has previously experienced icing events during operation in a high altitude ice crystal environment has been tested in the Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) altitude test facility at NASA Glenn Research Center. The PSL has the capability to produce a continuous ice cloud which is ingested by the engine during operation over a range of altitude conditions. The PSL test results confirmed that there was ice accretion in the engine due to ice crystal ingestion, at the same simulated altitude operating conditions as experienced previously in flight. The computational tool was utilized to help guide a portion of the PSL testing, and was used to predict ice accretion could also occur at significantly lower altitudes. The predictions were qualitatively verified by subsequent testing of the engine in the PSL. In a previous study, analysis of select PSL test data points helped to calibrate the engine icing computational tool to assess the risk of ice accretion. This current study is a continuation of that data analysis effort. The study focused on tracking the variations in wet bulb temperature and ice particle melt ratio through the engine core flow path. The results from this study have identified trends, while also identifying gaps in understanding as to how the local wet bulb temperature and melt ratio affects the risk of ice accretion and subsequent engine behavior.

Jorgenson, Philip C. E.↗

A Lagrangian Study of the Transition from Shallow to Deep Convection Using ASR Observations and Les Simulations (Final Report)

With the support from this grant, we have made the following accomplishments. We have found that a formula for fractional entrainment rate, a key aspect for parameterization moist convection, that works for both shallow and deep convection, which provide a promising direction for unified treatment of entrainment for both shallow and deep convection. We also examined the formulation of vertical velocity and showed that the effect of non-hydrostatic pressure and entrainment on vertical velocity are not constants, as assumed in past studies, but can be computed using a simple model for the cloudy updrafts. These results also apply to both deep and shallow convection, which opens the door for a more physically based parameterization of the updraft vertical velocity. We have also conducted extensive analysis of the RACORO aircraft data and have published the results in Wei et al. (2020). We have made extensive effort scrutinizing the data in detail and examining the various hypotheses with the aid of the LES simulations. This was the first application of the modified Paluch diagram on modern aircraft data and the first comprehensive analysis of mixing in clouds using real data (instead of only LES output) in a very long time. These analyses enhanced the science return of the ASR aircraft measurements. This grant also supported a study of the collisions among cold pools and an effort to build parameterizations of moist convection using tools developed in control theory.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The global distribution of ozone destruction rates obtained from 13 years of Nimbus/TOMS data (1979-1991)

Long-term ozone trends (percentage change) have been computed from 13 years of Nimbus/TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) data as a function of latitude, longitude, and month for the period January 1, 1979 to December 31, 1991. In both hemispheres, the ozone column content has decreased at latitudes above 30 deg by amounts that are larger than predicted by homogeneous chemistry models for the 13-year time period. The largest rates of ozone decrease occur in the Southern Hemisphere during winter and spring, with recovery during the summer and autumn. The large winter ozone loss rates are consistent with observed low stratospheric temperatures, ice-cloud formation, and heterogeneous chemistry at middle and high latitudes. There are similar, but smaller changes observed in the Northern Hemisphere. At midlatitudes, (40 deg N to 50 deg N) there are increased zonal average ozone depletion rates that correspond to 5 geographically localized regions of increased ozone depletion rates. Only the equatorial band between plus or minus 20 deg shows little or no long-term ozone change since January, 1979. The long-term winter ozone depletion rate data for both hemispheres suggests that heterogeneous chemistry processes may operate over a wide range of latitudes during half of the year.

Herman, Jay R.↗

Clear-Sky Closure Studies of Tropospheric Aerosol and Water Vapor During ACE-2 Using Airborne Sunphotometer, Airborne In-Situ, Space-Borne, and Ground-Based Measurements

We report on clear-sky column closure experiments (CLEARCOLUMN) performed in the Canary Islands during the second Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-2) in June/July 1997. We present CLEARCOLUMN results obtained by combining airborne sunphotometer and in-situ (a differential mobility analyzer, three optical particle counters, three nephelometers, and one absorption photometer) measurements taken aboard the Pelican aircraft, space-borne NOAA/AVHRR data and ground-based lidars. A wide range of aerosol types was encountered throughout the ACE-2 area, including background Atlantic marine, European pollution-derived, and (although less frequently than expected) African mineral dust. During the two days discussed here, vertical profiles flown in cloud free air masses revealed three distinctly different layers: a marine boundary layer (MBL) with varying pollution levels, an elevated dust layer, and a very clean layer between the MBL and the dust layer. Based on size-resolved composition information we have established an aerosol model that allows us to compute optical properties of the ambient aerosol using the optical particle counter results. In the dust, the agreement in layer AOD (lambda=380-1060 nm) is 3-8%. In the MBL there is a tendency for the in-situ results to be slightly lower than the sunphotometer measurements (10-17% at lambda=525 nm), but these differences are within the combined error bars of the measurements and computations. Aerosol size-distribudon closure based on in-situ size distributions and inverted sunphotometer extinction spectra has been achieved in the MBL (total surface area and volume agree within 0.2, and 7%, respectively) but not in the dust layer. The fact that the three nephelometers operated at three different relative humidities (RH) allowed to parameterize hygroscopic growth and to therefore estimate optical properties at ambient RH. The parameters derived for different aerosol types are themselves useful for the aerosol modeling community. The fact that the nephelometers and the absorption photometer sampled the aerosol through a cyclone make those measurements less useful for thee closure study carried out here. Large corrections (especially in the dust) had to be applied. Therefore, it is not surprising that closure with the sunphotometer was not always achieved. Agreement within 0.02 in AOD was achieved in the dust layer when the airorne sunphotometer extinction or AOD was compared to ground-based lidar measurements. We found that the presence of the elevated dust layers removes the good agreement between satellite and sunphotometer AOD usually found in the absence of the dust layer. We still compare the scattering phase functions used in the satellite retrieval with those obtained from the aerosol or the sunphotometer measurements.

Schmid, Beat↗

Latest Development in Radiative Transfer Models and Retrieval Algorithms Using Principal Components

The radiative transfer model (RTMs) has a wide range of applications in satellite remote sensing and atmospheric radiation applications. However, millions of line-by-line (LBL) radiative transfer calculations at fine monochromatic frequencies are needed in order to properly calculate spectral contributions of water vapor and trace gases in the atmosphere in infrared and solar spectral regions. Therefore, fast and accurate RTMs are needed to efficiently process large amount of satellite data. A Principal Component-based Radiative Transfer Model (PCRTM) was first developed in 2004 at NASA Langley Research Centre to fulfil this need. By using PC-compression, one can reduce the data dimension significantly while maintaining original information content. The PCRTM can directly compute PC-scores and their derivatives with respect to retrieved parameters. The PCRTM can simulate the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiance or reflectance spectra from 0.250 µm (400000 cm-1) to 2000 µm (50 cm-1) with several orders of magnitude faster speed as compared to a LBL RTM. It is also extremely accurate compared to LBL RTM benchmarks (0.03 K RMS error in IR and 0.05% in solar). The PCRTM model has been developed for hyperspectral sensors such as AIRS, CrIS, IASI, NAST-I, SHIS, FIRST, and CLARREO-IR in thermal IR spectral region and CLARREO-Solar, CPF, TEMPO, EMIT, OMI, and SCIAMACHY in solar spectral region. The PCRTM accuracy has been demonstrated via RTM intercomparisons and with real satellite observations from AIRS, CrIS, IASI, SCHIAMACHY, and EMIT etc. In this presentation, we will describe two PCRTM-based inversion algorithms to retrieve atmospheric temperature, water vapor, and trace gas profiles, as well as cloud and surface properties from hyperspectral sounders such as AIRS, CrIS, IASI, and NAST-I. The first one is called Single Fieldof-view Sounder Atmospheric Product (SiFSAP) algorithm. It provides L2 products with 9-times higher area spatial resolution as compared to current cloud-clearing sounder algorithms. The SiFSAP L2 and L3 products are available at NASA's Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) for public access. The second inversion algorithm is called Climate Fingerprinting Atmospheric Product (ClimFiSP) algorithm. It is designed to produce high quality climate products (trends, anomalies, daily, and monthly profiles of temperature, water vapor, traces, clouds, and surface properties) from multiple satellite sensors such AIRS on Aqua and CrIS on multiple satellites. This product will be available at NASA GES DISC later this year. The PCRTMbased high fidelity simulators for CLARREO and CPF have been used for sensor performance trade studies, algorithm development, and inter-satellite calibrations. We have also used PCRTM generated TOA radiance spectra to train an AI-based algorithm and successfully retrieved cloud properties from EMIT solar hyperspectral imagers.

PCRTM↗

H - photodetachment and radiative attachment for astrophysical applications

We combine R-matrix calculations, asymptotic relations, and comparison to available experimental data to construct an H- photodetachment cross section reliable over a large range of photon energies and take into account the series of auto-detaching shape and Feshbach resonances between 10.92 and 14.35 eV. The accuracy of the cross section is controlled by ensuring that it satisfies all known oscillator strength sum rules, including contributions from the resonances and single-photon double-electron photodetachment. From the resulting recommended cross section, spontaneous and stimulated radiative attachment rate coefficients are obtained. Photodetachment rates are also computed for the standard interstellar radiation field, in diffuse and dense interstellar clouds, for blackbody radiation, and for high redshift distortion photons in the recombination epoch. Implications are investigated for these astrophysical radiation fields and epochs.

Optics↗

System albedo as sensed by satellites - Its definition and variability

System albedo, an important climatological and environmental parameter, is considered. Some of the problems and assumptions involved in evaluating albedo from satellite data are discussed. Clear-sky and cloud albedos over the United Kingdom and parts of northwest Europe are treated. Consideration is given to the spectral, temporal, and spatial variations and the effect of averaging. The implications of these results for those using and archiving albedo values and for future monitoring of system albedo are discussed. Normalization is of especial importance since this correction alters many albedo values. The pronounced difference in spectral albedo of the two visible channels reemphasizes the problem of attempting to calculate integrated albedo values from meteorological satellite data. The assumption of isotropic reflection is seen to be invalid, hindering the computation of accurate albedo values.

Hughes, N. A.↗

Is interstellar detection of higher members of the linear radicals CnCH and CnN feasible?

Rotational constants and dipole moments for linear-chain radicals CnCH and CnN are estimated using a combinatiaon of ab initio molecular orbital calculations and observed data on the starting members of the series. CnCH with n = 0-5 have been observed by radioastronomy in carbon-rich interstellar clouds; higher members of the series have 2Pi ground states with large dipole moments and are strong candidates for observation. CN and C3N have also been observed by radioastronomy; higher members of the series, with the possible exception of C5N, have 2Pi ground states with near-zero dipole moments making their interstellar detection hopeless under present observational conditions. C5N can be a strong candidate only if it has a 2Sigma ground state, and best computations so far indicate that this is not the case.

Pauzat, F.↗

Characterization of Polar Stratospheric Clouds With Spaceborne Lidar: CALIPSO and the 2006 Antarctic Season

The role of polar stratospheric clouds in polar ozone loss has been well documented. The CALIPSO satellite mission offers a new opportunity to characterize PSCs on spatial and temporal scales previously unavailable. A PSC detection algorithm based on a single wavelength threshold approach has been developed for CALIPSO. The method appears to accurately detect PSCs of all opacities, including tenuous clouds, with a very low rate of false positives and few missed clouds. We applied the algorithm to CALIPSO data acquired during the 2006 Antarctic winter season from 13 June through 31 October. The spatial and temporal distribution of CALIPSO PSC observations is illustrated with weekly maps of PSC occurrence. The evolution of the 2006 PSC season is depicted by time series of daily PSC frequency as a function of altitude. Comparisons with virtual solar occultation data indicate that CALIPSO provides a different view of the PSC season than attained with previous solar occultation satellites. Measurement-based time series of PSC areal coverage and vertically-integrated PSC volume are computed from the CALIPSO data. The observed area covered with PSCs is significantly smaller than would be inferred from a temperature-based proxy such as TNAT but is similar in magnitude to that inferred from TSTS. The potential of CALIPSO measurements for investigating PSC microphysics is illustrated using combinations of lidar backscatter coefficient and volume depolarization to infer composition for two CALIPSO PSC scenes.

Pitts, Michael C.↗