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A Cartesian, cell-based approach for adaptively-refined solutions of the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations

A Cartesian, cell-based approach for adaptively-refined solutions of the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations in two dimensions is developed and tested. Grids about geometrically complicated bodies are generated automatically, by recursive subdivision of a single Cartesian cell encompassing the entire flow domain. Where the resulting cells intersect bodies, N-sided 'cut' cells are created using polygon-clipping algorithms. The grid is stored in a binary-tree data structure which provides a natural means of obtaining cell-to-cell connectivity and of carrying out solution-adaptive mesh refinement. The Euler and Navier-Stokes equations are solved on the resulting grids using a finite-volume formulation. The convective terms are upwinded: A gradient-limited, linear reconstruction of the primitive variables is performed, providing input states to an approximate Riemann solver for computing the fluxes between neighboring cells. The more robust of a series of viscous flux functions is used to provide the viscous fluxes at the cell interfaces. Adaptively-refined solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations using the Cartesian, cell-based approach are obtained and compared to theory, experiment and other accepted computational results for a series of low and moderate Reynolds number flows.

Coirier, William J.↗

Sensitivity of engine-integrated waverider performance to static margin constraint

The performance of an engine-integrated wedge caret-wing waverider is optimized with respect to a set of geometric and flight attitude variables with constraints for steady state flight and static margin. The optimization is done with different values for the constraint on the static margin, and the resulting performances and geometries compared. This comparison is done for three performance parameters: L/D ratio, range coefficient, and a parameter that measures energy height gain per unit weight of fuel. The vehicle model incorporates a one-dimensional calculation on the forebody, inlet and wings. Fuel injection is done prior to the combustor entrance and flow properties are calculated with a one-dimensional model using a correlation for the shock shape in front of a transverse jet. The combustor is modeled as a shock-induced-combustion scramjet, and the nozzle flow field is calculated using the method of characteristics.

Tarpley, C.↗

Solution-Adaptive Cartesian Cell Approach for Viscous and Inviscid Flows

A Cartesian cell-based approach for adaptively refined solutions of the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations in two dimensions is presented. Grids about geometrically complicated bodies are generated automatically, by the recursive subdivision of a single Cartesian cell encompassing the entire flow domain. Where the resulting cells intersect bodies, polygonal cut cells are created using modified polygon-clipping algorithms. The grid is stored in a binary tree data structure that provides a natural means of obtaining cell-to-cell connectivity and of carrying out solution-adaptive mesh refinement. The Euler and Navier-Stokes equations are solved on the resulting grids using a finite volume formulation. The convective terms are upwinded: A linear reconstruction of the primitive variables is performed, providing input states to an approximate Riemann solver for computing the fluxes between neighboring cells. The results of a study comparing the accuracy and positivity of two classes of cell-centered, viscous gradient reconstruction procedures is briefly summarized. Adaptively refined solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations are shown using the more robust of these gradient reconstruction procedures, where the results computed by the Cartesian approach are compared to theory, experiment, and other accepted computational results for a series of low and moderate Reynolds number flows.

Coirier, William J.↗

Precipitation Recycling in the NASA GEOS Data Assimilation System

Analysis of precipitation recycling can improve the understanding of regional hydrologic anomalies, especially their evolution and maintenance. Diagnostic models of the recycling of precipitation and are applied to 15 years of the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) Data Assimilation System (DAS). Recycled precipitation is defined as the fraction of precipitation within a given region that originated as surface evaporation from the same region. The focus of the present work is on the interannual variability of the central United States hydrologic cycle and precipitation recycling. The extreme years of 1988 (drought) and 1993 (flood) are compared with the 15 year base period mean annual cycle. The results indicate that recycling ratio (the amount of precipitation with a local source relative to the total precipitation) is greater in 1988 than both the base period mean and the 1993 season (with 1993 recycling ratio less than the mean). On the other hand, both the summers of 1988 and 1993 show less total recycled precipitation than the mean. The results also show that precipitation recycling may have been more important in the spring of 1993, when the region was primed for flooding, than the summer, when the sever flooding occurred. The diagnostic approaches to precipitation recycling suffer from some weaknesses. Numerical simulations and assimilation using passive tracers have the potential to provide more accurate calculations of precipitation recycling and the remote sources of water. This ability is being incorporated into the latest GEOS data assimilation system, and some preliminary results will be presented.

Bosilovich, Michael G.↗

Hamilton's Equations with Euler Parameters for Rigid Body Dynamics Modeling

A combination of Euler parameter kinematics and Hamiltonian mechanics provides a rigid body dynamics model well suited for use in strongly nonlinear problems involving arbitrarily large rotations. The model is unconstrained, free of singularities, includes a general potential energy function and a minimum set of momentum variables, and takes an explicit state space form convenient for numerical implementation. The general formulation may be specialized to address particular applications, as illustrated in several three dimensional example problems.

Shivarama, Ravishankar↗

Satellite Sounder-Based OLR-, Cloud- and Atmospheric Temperature Climatologies for Climate Analyses

Global energy balance of the Earth-atmosphere system may change due to natural and man-made climate variations. For example, changes in the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) can be regarded as a crucial indicator of climate variations. Clouds play an important role -still insufficiently assessed in the global energy balance on all spatial and temporal scales, and satellites provide an ideal platform to measure cloud and large-scale atmospheric variables simultaneously. The TOVS series of satellites were the first to provide this type of information since 1979. OLR [Mehta and Susskind], cloud cover and cloud top pressure [Susskind et al] are among the key climatic parameters computed by the TOVS Pathfinder Path-A algorithm using mainly the retrieved temperature and moisture profiles. AIRS, regarded as the new and improved TOVS , has a much higher spectral resolution and greater S/N ratio, retrieving climatic parameters with higher accuracy. First we present encouraging agreements between MODIS and AIRS cloud top pressure (C(sub tp) and effective (A(sub eff), a product of infrared emissivity at 11 microns and physical cloud cover or A(sub c)) cloud fraction seasonal and interannual variabilities for selected months. Next we present validation efforts and preliminary trend analyses of TOVS-retrieved C(sub tp) and A(sub eff). For example, decadal global trends of the TOVS Path-A and ISCCP-D2 P(sub c), and A(sub eff)/A(sub c), values are similar. Furthermore, the TOVS Path-A and ISCCP-AVHRR [available since 19831 cloud fractions correlate even more strongly, including regional trends. We also present TOVS and AIRS OLR validation effort results and (for the longer-term TOVS Pathfinder Path-A dataset) trend analyses. OLR interannual spatial variabilities from the available state-of-the-art CERES measurements and both from the AIRS [Susskind et al] and TOVS OLR computations are in remarkably good agreement. Global monthly mean CERES and TOVS OLR time series show very good agreement in absolute values also. Finally, we will assess correlations among long-term trends of selected parameters, derived simultaneously from the TOVS Pathfinder Path-A datase

Molnar, Gyula I.↗

A Study of Mesoscale Gravity Waves over the North Atlantic with Satellite Observations and a Mesoscale Model

Satellite microwave data are used to study gravity wave properties and variabilities over the northeastern United States and the North Atlantic in the December-January periods. The gravity waves in this region, found in many winters, can reach the stratopause with growing amplitude. The Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) observations show that the wave occurrences are correlated well with the intensity and location of the tropospheric baroclinic jet front systems. To further investigate the cause(s) and properties of the North Atlantic gravity waves, we focus on a series of wave events during 19-21 January 2003 and compare AMSU-A observations to simulations from a mesoscale model (MM5). The simulated gravity waves compare qualitatively well with the satellite observations in terms of wave structures, timing, and overall morphology. Excitation mechanisms of these large-amplitude waves in the troposphere are complex and subject to further investigations.

mesoscale gravity waves↗

Atmospheric Parameter Climatologies from AIRS: Monitoring Short-, and Longer-Term Climate Variabilities and 'Trends'

The AIRS instrument is currently the best space-based tool to simultaneously monitor the vertical distribution of key climatically important atmospheric parameters as well as surface properties, and has provided high quality data for more than 5 years. AIRS analysis results produced at the GODDARD/DAAC, based on Versions 4 & 5 of the AIRS retrieval algorithm, are currently available for public use. Here, first we present an assessment of interrelationships of anomalies (proxies of climate variability based on 5 full years, since Sept. 2002) of various climate parameters at different spatial scales. We also present AIRS-retrievals-based global, regional and 1x1 degree grid-scale "trend"-analyses of important atmospheric parameters for this 5-year period. Note that here "trend" simply means the linear fit to the anomaly (relative the mean seasonal cycle) time series of various parameters at the above-mentioned spatial scales, and we present these to illustrate the usefulness of continuing AIRS-based climate observations. Preliminary validation efforts, in terms of intercomparisons of interannual variabilities with other available satellite data analysis results, will also be addressed. For example, we show that the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) interannual spatial variabilities from the available state-of-the-art CERES measurements and from the AIRS computations are in remarkably good agreement. Version 6 of the AIRS retrieval scheme (currently under development) promises to further improve bias agreements for the absolute values by implementing a more accurate radiative transfer model for the OLR computations and by improving surface emissivity retrievals.

Molnar, Gyula↗

What We've Learned from Approximately 12 Years of MISR Aerosol Observations

The NASA Earth Observing System's Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) has been imaging the planet about once per week for nearly 12 years. These data contain a wealth of information about the current state, as well as the variability of Earth's surface and atmosphere. For airborne particles specifically, horizontal distributions of aerosol optical depth, aerosol type, and near-source aerosol plume height are now routinely derived. The results are being applied to a wide range of problems, from constraining aerosol direct radiative forcing of climate and assessing its seasonal and secular trends, to material transports of smoke and dust, to mapping volcanic ash plumes and near-surface aerosol pollution. The value of these data is multiplied many times by combining it with data from other sources, and using the aggregate to constrain models. This talk will summarize the latest developments, and will also discuss current work aimed at making further advancements in these areas.

Kahn, Ralph↗

Human and Natural Influences on the Changing Thermal Structure of the Atmosphere

Since the late 1970s, satellite-based instruments have monitored global changes in atmospheric temperature. These measurements reveal multidecadal tropospheric warming and stratospheric cooling, punctuated by short-term volcanic signals of reverse sign. Similar long- and short-term temperature signals occur in model simulations driven by human-caused changes in atmospheric composition and natural variations in volcanic aerosols. Most previous comparisons of modeled and observed atmospheric temperature changes have used results from individual models and individual observational records. In contrast, we rely on a large multimodel archive and multiple observational datasets. We show that a human-caused latitude/altitude pattern of atmospheric temperature change can be identified with high statistical confidence in satellite data. Results are robust to current uncertainties in models and observations. Virtually all previous research in this area has attempted to discriminate an anthropogenic signal from internal variability. Here, we present evidence that a human-caused signal can also be identified relative to the larger "total" natural variability arising from sources internal to the climate system, solar irradiance changes, and volcanic forcing. Consistent signal identification occurs because both internal and total natural variability (as simulated by state-of-the-art models) cannot produce sustained global-scale tropospheric warming and stratospheric cooling. Our results provide clear evidence for a discernible human influence on the thermal structure of the atmosphere.

Santer, Benjamin D.↗

A Correction Method for Unsteady Transonic Aerodynamics

This paper presents a new method for transonic pitching airfoils based on a RANS CFD study and the Theodorsen model of an oscillating pitching flat plate. This study quantifies the deviation of the lift coefficient predictions using CFD from that obtained using the Theodorsen model, which is based on the incompressible potential flow assumption. The present method corrects this theoretical model by modulating the Theodorsen functions by coefficient functions that depend on the reduced frequency and the Mach number. It is demonstrated that the modified theoretical model predicts lift coefficient in good agreement with the CFD results in the Mach number range from incompressible (M =0.2) to transonic (M =0.755) flow for a range of reduced frequencies typical of transonic flutter. The simulations are first validated by comparing pitching NACA0012 airfoil results with experimental results at transonic flight conditions, which establishes the requirements for a grid converged unsteady transonic solution. The hysteresis loop, Cl versus α, attains a grid independent solution that compares well with experiment. The present correction method will guide the development of a new state space model for the Variable Camber Continuous Trailing Edge Flap (VCCTEF) system and eventually a new transfer function that will be incorporated in a new aeroelastic framework leading to an appropriate transonic flutter model for use in the future aircraft systems in development under the NASA Advanced Air Transportation Technologies (AATT) project.

Kaul, Upender K.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-26965-DND

A comprehensive understanding of the spatial and temporal distributions of clouds on a global scale can be best achieved when the vertical distributions and multi-layer occurrence frequencies obtained from active remote sensors are fully integrated with the horizontal distributions currently provided by passive sensors. The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) satellite lidar onboard the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) spacecraft was specially designed to acquire aerosol and cloud profiles with unprecedented high vertical resolution and accuracy. As a part of the A-Train satellite constellation, CALIPSO has been operating routinely for more than 10 years and continues to provide a wealth of cloud observations to describe the mean state and inter-annual variability. Recently a suite of level 3 (L3) cloud products has been under development by the CALIPSO lidar science working group at the NASA Langley Research Center. These products describe 3-dimensional (3D) cloud occurrence and 3D ice cloud extinction coefficients and ice water content. Future evolution of the products will add observations from the Imaging Infrared Radiometer onboard CALIPSO. Here we present a brief introduction and provide results from a product prototype. We will characterize the inter-annual vertical variability of zonal cloud occurrence and ice water content during the last 10 years. Suggestions and comments are welcome to help us design and provide better cloud climatology products using CALIOP observations for our cloud community.

Xia Cai↗

Reflection and Timing Study of the Transient Black Hole X-Ray Binary MAXI J1803-298 with NuSTAR

The transient black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1803−298 was discovered on 2021 May 1, as it went into outburst from a quiescent state. As the source rose in flux it showed periodic absorption dips and fit the timing and spectral characteristics of a hard-state accreting black hole. We report on the results of a Target-of-Opportunity observation with NuSTAR obtained near the peak outburst flux beginning on 2021 May 13, after the source had transitioned into an intermediate state. MAXI J1803−298 is variable across the observation, which we investigate by extracting spectral and timing products separately for different levels of flux throughout the observation. Our timing analysis reveals two distinct potential quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) which are not harmonically related at 5.4 ± 0.2 Hz and 9.4 ± 0.3 Hz, present only during periods of lower flux. With clear relativistic reflection signatures detected in the source spectrum, we applied several different reflection models to the spectra of MAXI J1803−298. Here we report our results, utilizing high-density reflection models to constrain the disk geometry, and assess changes in the spectrum dependent on the source flux. With a standard broken power-law emissivity, we find a near-maximal spin for the black hole, and we are able to constrain the inclination of the accretion disk at 75° ± 2°, which is expected for a source that has shown periodic absorption dips. We also significantly detect a narrow absorption feature at 6.91 ± 0.06 keV with an equivalent width between 4 and 9 eV, which we interpret as the signature of a disk wind.

Benjamin M. Coughenour↗

Hardware Aware Mitigation of Timing Side-Channel Vulnerabilities in Critical Infrastructure Software

Program runtime/timing attacks exploit variations in a program’s execution times to extract sensitive information from the program (e.g. encryption keys, sensitive variable data, intellectual property). State-of-the-art solutions to runtime sidechannel attacks attempt to balance the execution time of the sensitive code for different control flow paths to eliminate the timing leakage. However, during the mitigation process, most techniques do not consider the underlying hardware/device on which the target program is supposed to run on. This can lead to over-fixing (unnecessary extra operations), under-fixing (not solving the imbalance properly), and even failures. We propose DISARM, a joint hardware-software methodology (unlike any existing solution) for mitigating runtime side-channel vulnerabilities that utilizes timing values from real embedded devices to generate targeted software fixes. We implement DISARM to support C/C++/Java source codes and validate it across 22 standard benchmarks. DISARM outperforms state-of-the-art solutions such as PENDULUM and DifFuzzAR in terms of execution time overhead (up to −46%), code size overhead (up to −10%), and correctness (no failures) on five different embedded/edge devices.

Suha, Tasneem [University of Maine]↗

Evaluating Subgrid-Scale Properties of Low Clouds over the Beaufort Sea in Arctic System Reanalysis using ARISE Airborne In Situ Observations

Arctic low clouds influence the evolution of the Arctic system through their effects on radiative fluxes, boundary layer mixing, stability, turbulence, humidity, and precipitation. Unfortunately, atmospheric models and retrospective analysis (reanalysis) products struggle to accurately simulate the occurrence and properties of low clouds in the Arctic. To better understand the magnitude and possible causes of this problem, we analyze the disagreements between the Arctic System Reanalysis version 2 (ASR) and data taken during the September 2014 Arctic Radiation-IceBridge Sea and Ice Experiment (ARISE) airborne campaign conducted over the Beaufort Sea. Previous analysis of grid scale-averaged meteorological variables revealed a lack of cloud water produced in ASR, related to warm/dry biases, a failure to produce sufficient cloud water in conditions that are observed to be favorable for large cloud water values, and sampling issues with the ARISE flight paths. However, ARISE collected meteorological observations at one second intervals, offering spatial data resolution comparable to the subgrid scale of ASR. Subgrid scale properties and processes must be parameterized in conventional atmospheric models and reanalyses such as ASR, and often rely on assumed distributions of meteorological variables about the grid box mean state. To enable an examination of the realism of ASR’s subgrid scale properties, we use high resolution data from ARISE determine the “subgrid scale” distributions of cloud water and thermodynamic variables in the real atmosphere. Preliminary results show that the subgrid scale distribution of thermodynamic variables about the grid scale mean resembles the triangular distribution assumed in many bulk microphysical parameterization schemes, but also with tails resembling Gaussian distributions. The main goal is to understand the partitioning of the total available atmospheric water into water vapor and cloud water. Models typically covert some percentage of total water in a grid box to cloud water based on the estimated amount of supersaturation from the assumed vapor distribution. The ARISE measurements can reveal the relationship between subgrid scale supersaturation and the partition between cloud water and water vapor.

Jason Brant Dodson↗

Towards a numu CC exclusive cross section measurement with one proton and one muon in the final state at the NOvA near detector

NOvA is a long-baseline neutrino experiment at Fermilab that studies neutrino oscillations via electron neutrino appearance and muon neutrino disappearance. The NOvA Near Detector, located 1 km from the NuMI target, records a high rate of neutrino interactions in the energy range of 1-5 GeV. One of the limitations in precise extraction of oscillations is the large systematic uncertainty on neutrino-nucleus interactions. The high rate of neutrino interactions in the NOvA Near Detector provides the opportunity to probe various neutrino interaction processes and nuclear models, via the extraction of cross sections of particular final states. Nuclear models can be improved by measuring neutrino-nucleus cross sections with respect to kinematic variables which are known to be more sensitive to nuclear effects, such as transverse kinematic imbalance (TKI) variables. Usage of TKI variables allows for more direct constraints on models of neutrino scattering, as these variables can more directly investigate, for instance, effects of Fermi motion and final state interactions. In this work, we describe progress towards a method of identifying and reconstructing protons in the NOvA near detector to enable the cross section measurement of charged current neutrino interactions with a visible muon and a proton in the final state, reported in TKI variables.

Weber, Colin [Minnesota U.] (ORCID:000000031117067↗

High-Frequency Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in the Black Hole X-Ray Transient XTE J1650-500

We report the detection of high-frequency variability in the black hole X-ray transient XTE 51650-500. A quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) was found at 250 Hz during a transition from the hard to the soft state. We also detected less coherent variability around 50 Hz that disappeared when the 250 Hz QPO showed up. There are indications that when the energy spectrum hardened the QPO frequency increased from approx. 110 to approx. 270 Hz, although the observed frequencies are also consistent with being 1 : 2 : 3 harmonics of each other. Interpreting the 250 Hz as the orbital frequency at the innermost stable orbit around a Schwarzschild black hole leads to a mass estimate of 8.2 solar mass. The spectral results by Miller et al., which suggest considerable black hole spin, would imply a higher mass.

Holman, Jeroen↗

Multi-Wavelength, Multi-Beam, and Polarization-Sensitive Laser Transmitter for Surface Mapping

A multi-beam, multi-color, polarized laser transmitter has been developed for mapping applications. It uses commercial off-the-shelf components for a lowcost approach for a ruggedized laser suitable for field deployment. The laser transmitter design is capable of delivering dual wavelengths, multiple beams on each wavelength with equal (or variable) intensities per beam, and a welldefined state of polarization. This laser transmitter has been flown on several airborne campaigns for the Slope Imaging Multi-Polarization Photon Counting Lidar (SIMPL) instrument, and at the time of this reporting is at a technology readiness level of between 5 and 6. The laser is a 1,064-nm microchip high-repetition-rate laser emitting energy of about 8 microjoules per pulse. The beam was frequency-doubled to 532 nm using a KTP (KTiOPO4) nonlinear crystal [other nonlinear crystals such as LBO (LiB3O5) or periodically poled lithium niobiate can be used as well, depending on the conversion efficiency requirements], and the conversion efficiency was approximately 30 percent. The KTP was under temperature control using a thermoelectric cooler and a feedback monitoring thermistor. The dual-wavelength beams were then spectrally separated and each color went through its own optical path, which consisted of a beam-shaping lens, quarterwave plate (QWP), and a birefringent crystal (in this case, a calcite crystal, but others such as vanadate can be used). The QWP and calcite crystal set was used to convert the laser beams from a linearly polarized state to circularly polarized light, which when injected into a calcite crystal, will spatially separate the circularly polarized light into the two linear polarized components. The spatial separation of the two linearly polarized components is determined by the length of the crystal. A second set of QWP and calcite then further separated the two beams into four. Additional sets of QWP and calcite can be used to further split the beams into multiple orders of two. The spatially separated beams had alternating linearly polarization states; a half-wave plate (HWP) array was then made to rotate the alternating states of A multi-beam, multi-color, polarized laser transmitter has been developed for mapping applications. It uses commercial off-the-shelf components for a lowcost approach for a ruggedized laser suitable for field deployment. The laser transmitter design is capable of delivering dual wavelengths, multiple beams on each wavelength with equal (or variable) intensities per beam, and a welldefined state of polarization. This laser transmitter has been flown on several airborne campaigns for the Slope Imaging Multi-Polarization Photon Counting Lidar (SIMPL) instrument, and at the time of this reporting is at a technology readiness level of between 5 and 6. The laser is a 1,064-nm microchip high-repetition-rate laser emitting energy of about 8 microjoules per pulse. The beam was frequency-doubled to 532 nm using a KTP (KTiOPO4) nonlinear crystal [other nonlinear crystals such as LBO (LiB3O5) or periodically poled lithium niobiate can be used as well, depending on the conversion efficiency requirements], and the conversion efficiency was approximately 30 percent. The KTP was under temperature control using a thermoelectric cooler and a feedback monitoring thermistor. The dual-wavelength beams were then spectrally separated and each color went through its own optical path, which consisted of a beam-shaping lens, quarterwave plate (QWP), and a birefringent crystal (in this case, a calcite crystal, but others such as vanadate can be used). The QWP and calcite crystal set was used to convert the laser beams from a linearly polarized state to circularly polarized light, which when injected into a calcite crystal, will spatially separate the circularly polarized light into the two linear polarized components. The spatial separation of the two linearly polarized components is determined by the length of the crystal. A cond set of QWP and calcite then further separated the two beams into four. Additional sets of QWP and calcite can be used to further split the beams into multiple orders of two. The spatially separated beams had alternating linearly polarization states; a half-wave plate (HWP) array was then made to rotate the alternating states of

Yu, Anthony W.↗