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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.

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At least 1,603 records · Page 89

Satellite cloud climatology of summertime cumulus research areas

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program data available for the summer of 1974 was used to construct a cloud climatology of areas where weather modification experiments are currently being conducted or planned; the three High Plains Experiment sites at Colby, Kansas, Big Springs, Texas, and Miles City, Montana; South Park, Colorado, where the South Park Area Cumulus Experiment is being conducted; and the National Hail Research Experiment area in northeastern Colorado. Digital data tapes were produced from the transparencies, obtained from the sun-synchronous polar-orbiting satellite passing over the study areas at about 1200 local time, and a computer analysis was carried out, producing areas and numbers of clouds for each area and day as well as providing data for cumulative averages over selected time periods for each study area.

Stodt, R. W.↗

Communications Link Characterization Experiment (CLCE)

Results of the data which were acquired, reduced, and analyzed from the Communications Link Characterization Experiment (CLCE) while utilizing the CTS satellite are presented. The test data obtained from the stations consisted of the results of various TV tests, attenuation and rain rate data. An additional meteorological parameter was measured and it consists of the back scatter returns of the multifrequency weather radar.

Source record↗

Briefing Materials for Technical Presentations, Volume B: The LACIE Symposium

Tables, charts, and LACIE segments are used to demonstrate the accuracy of estimated crop conditions and yield from 1974 to 1976, and to demonstrate the benefits of meteorological and LANDSAT data. Developments in data acquisition, sampling, and reduction are reviewed. The USDA application test system is highlighted with emphasis on user requirements, technology transfer, data base design, and cost data models for data base operation and management.

Source record↗

Flight effects on fan noise with static and wind tunnel comparisons

A flight test program utilizing a JT15D-1 turbofan engine has been conducted with the objectives of studying flight effects on fan noise and evaluating the simulation effectiveness of both a wind tunnel and a static test configuration that incorporated an inlet control device (ICD). In conjunction with synchronized laser-radar tracking and meteorological profile information, data obtained from a linear array of ground microphones was narrowband-analyzed and ensemble-averaged to yield highly accurate far-field flight acoustic results. Utilizing appropriate corrections, flight, wind tunnel, and static acoustic data were normalized to a static-equivalent, 100-foot radius, lossless reference condition. Data comparisons showed that both the static test with ICD and wind tunnel were generally very effective in simulating flight blade-passage-frequency (BPF) noise levels. However, differences were observed in broadband noise levels and in the details of the multiple-pure-tone harmonics.

Preisser, J. S.↗

Interannual variability of Indian monsoon rainfall

The interannual variability of the Indian summer monsoon and its relationships with other atmospheric fluctuations were studied in hopes of gaining some insight into the predicability of the rainfall. Rainfall data for 31 meteorological subdivisions over India were provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Fifty-three years of seasonal mean anomaly sea-level pressure (SLP) fields were used to determine if any relationships could be detected between fluctuations in Northern Hemisphere surface pressure and Indian monsoon rainfall. Three month running mean sea-level pressure anomalies at Darwin (close to one of the centers of the Southern Oscillation) were compiled for months preceding and following extreme years for rainfall averaged over all of India. Anomalies are small before the monsoon, but are quite large in months following the summer season. However, there is a large decrease in Darwin pressure for months preceding a heavy monsoon, while a deficient monsoon is preceded by a sharp increase in Darwin pressure. If a time series is constructed of the tendency of Darwin SLP between the Northern Hemisphere winter (DJF) and spring (MAM) and a correlation coefficient is computed between it and 81 years of rainfall average over all of India, one gets a C. C. of -.46, which is higher than any other previously computed predictor of the monsoon rainfall. This relationship can also be used to make a qualitative forecast for rainfall over the whole of India by considering the sign of the tendency in extreme monsoon years.

Paolino, D. A.↗

Future Air Force space power needs

The requirements for future power for AF satellite mission vehicles, fall into two categories. The first category is in the 1 to 50 kW range for missions of a continuous nature such as communication, navigation, surveillance, data relay and meteorology. The second category is in the multi-megawatt range for either continuous or burst power durations and are for other than solar power sources. Requirements for longer life and survivability in varying degrees are there for all systems. While the power levels do not appear difficult to achieve in view of the large array developments pursued by NASA Space Station technology, the other military requirements are very challenging and continue to be system drivers. The development of solar cells arrays should be in conjunction with other power supply technologies such as regulation and control components and energy storage subsystems.

Wise, J. F.↗

Results from two recent ovserving system experiments

Two Observing System Experiments were carried out at (ECMWF). The European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasting impact of various observing systems were examined for two periods during the EGGE year: November 8 to 9, 1979 (OSE-1) and February 22 to March 7, 1979 (OSE-II). Attempts were made to understand the effect of the observing systems on both the analyses and the quality of the short and medium range forecasts. The results confirm that the impact of a particular observing system (e.g., SATEM) is dependent on the level of synoptic activity present in the areas where this particular observing system is the main soruce of meteorological information. SATOB data are also shown to be improtant for the analyses of tropical regions, whereas SATEM data are of paramount importance for the extratropical analyses over ocean areas. Aircraft data, where available, are an invaluable addition to the global observational data base. These results therefore demonstrate clearly the value of each of the observing systems. The fact that, in particular circumstances, there may be some redundancy between the systems is a strength rather than a weakness of the composite global observing system.

Uppala, S.↗

Measurements of precipitating atmosphere by the MU radar

Sensitive VHF Doppler radars have the capability to detect echoes from precipitation particles as well as refractive index irregularities. Researchers used the middle and upper (MU) atmosphere radar at Shigaraki, Japan for tropospheric observations of precipitating atmosphere. They detected precipitation motions simultaneously with the ambient air motion and showed the capabilities of the MU radar in investigating mesoscale structures of meteorological phenomena such as air precipitation motions within a cold frontal system. More recently, a direct method for deducing the drop size distribution of precipitation particles was developed using Doppler spectra of the MU radar. This method is free from errors inherent in conventional measurements using microwave Doppler spectra. Meteorological microwave radar data are also utilized for monitoring vertical and horizontal structures of precipitation.

Wakasugi, K.↗

Cloud cover estimation using bispectral satellite measurements

An algorithm has been developed for cloud cover estimation using bispectral satellite measurements. Based on the distribution of pixels in albedo-brightness temperature space, a number of threshold values are applied to identify those pixels which are most likely totally cloud filled. Mean cloudy-column albedo in a region much larger than a single pixel is then estimated and cloud cover computed. The algorithm has been applied to the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project Geostationary Meteorological Satellite B2 data. Locations of tropical convective cells and the passage of fronts in higher latitudes are identified. Since these features represent the states of large-scale atmospheric circulations, it is concluded that the algorithm can yield consistent cloud data sets useful for climate studies.

Chou, M.-D.↗

An analysis of tropopause pressure and total ozone correlations

A study of the relationship between total ozone and tropopause pressure was carried out using Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data and National Meteorological Center (NMC) global analyses. The medium scales generally show correlations greater than 0.6 throughout the middle latitudes of both hemispheres with some regions exceeding 0.8. The areas of highest correlations seem to be associated with the storm track regions of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. A detailed spectral analysis is performed for the medium scales on five pairs of time series of area averaged tropopause pressure and total ozone. In middle latitudes, total ozone and tropopause pressure exhibit generally similar distributions in the power spectrum. In the subtropics and tropics the power in ozone drops off more rapidly with increasing frequency than the power in tropopause pressure. Only in the Northern Hemisphere middle latitudes does one find a clear association between increased power in ozone and tropopause pressure and maxima in the coherency spectrum. Results for large scales are more complicated, showing generally positive correlations at middle latitudes.

Schubert, Siegfried D.↗

A climatology of gravity waves and other coherent disturbances at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory during March-April 1984

Gravity waves and other coherent disturbances observed at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) during the period between mid-March and mid-April 1984 were studied using data collected by an array of microbarographs located around the 300-m meteorological tower, together with data from the tower. Five passbands were considered in the period range 1-20 min; it was found that, for most of the time, the atmospheric state at these passbands displayed highly coherent structure. For disturbances of up to 5-min periods, a relationship was found between the turbulent kinetic energy measured on the tower and the amplitude of the rms pressure field at the ground, but, for longer periods, no such relationship was found.

Einaudi, F.↗

Temperature and horizontal wind measurements on the ER-2 aircraft during the 1987 Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment

The accuracy of temperature, pressure, potential temperature, and horizontal wind measurements is discussed in connection with the use of Meteorological Measurement System data in the AAOE. The vertical distribution of temperature measurements and latitudinal variations of the zonal wind for 12 flights over Antarctica during the 1987 AAOE campaign are summarized. Model atmospheres from 0 to 32 km at 70 deg and 55 deg S for the August-September period are constructed. Above the 420 K isentropic surface, the polar vortex remains strong throughout August and September of 1987.

Chan, K. R.↗

Rainfall and surface kinematic conditions over central amazonia during ABLE 2B

Rainfall, rainfall systems, and surface kinematics of the central Amazon basin wet season are investigated using meteorological and chemical data collected during the wet season Amazon Boundary Layer Experiment (ABLE) near Manaus, Brazil. Through analysis of (GOES-West) imagery, it is determined that, based on location of the initial development, there are three main types of convective systems which influence a mesoscale network near Manaus, namely the Coastal Occurring Systems (COS), the Basin Occurring Systems (BOS), and the Locally Occurring Systems (LOS). Chemical analysis of rainwater delivered by these systems shows significant differences in concentrations of formate, acetate, pyruvate, sulfate, and hydrogen ion, and measurements of aerosol concentrations near Manaus show large influxes of aerosols into central Amazonia after passage of BOS and COS. Results of satellite based classification of the rain-producing systems are discussed.

Greco, Steven↗

A mesoscale analysis of the pre-storm environment on the 17 June 1986 COHMEX day

The study presented utilized special mesoscale Cooperative Huntsville Meteorological Experiment (COHMEX) data to understand the evolution of the preconvective environment on June 17, 1986. Using the special mesoscale COHMEX data, several mechanisms for triggering the convection are investigated. Afternoon heating probably was a major factor as observed noontime temperatures were near the sounding-derived convection temperatures. The special surface network revealed a quasi-stationary area of convergence not aligned with the front that may be associated with the orography of the area. This study demonstrates that rapid, small scale atmospheric variations preceded convective development on June 17, 1986.

Fuelberg, Henry E.↗

Terrestrial water storage and polar motion

This study compares observed polar motion for the period 1900-1985 with meteorologic and hydrologic data for the world over the same period, in an effort to determine whether water storage, in combination with air mass redistribution, can account for the observed variance of polar motion. Monthly time series of estimated continental water storage and air mass excitation functions have been compared at the annual frequency and at the Chandler frequency using power, coherence, multiple coherence, and phase spectra. There is a discrepancy in accounting for more than half the variance of polar motion across a broad range of frequencies. Similar results have been obtained in recent studies of polar motion at frequencies above 1 cycle per year using modem space geodetic determinations of polar motion. The persistence of the discrepancey at the annual frequency and its broadband nature suggest a source of polar motion excitation due to air and water motion which has either not been correctly estimated or not yet identified.

Kuehne, John↗

Quasi-biennial modulation of planetary-wave fluxes in the Northern Hemisphere winter

Using 25 years of National Meteorological Center (NMC) data for 1964-88 the relation between tropical and extratropical quasi-biennial oscillations (QBOs) was examined for zonally averaged quantities and planetary-wave Eliassen-Palm fluxes in the Northern Hemisphere winter. The extratropical QBO discussed by Holton and Tan (1980) existed in both temporal halves of the dataset. Autocorrelation analysis demonstrated that it was an important mode of interannual variability in the extratropical winter stratosphere. Correlation with the tropics was strongest when 40-mb equatorial winds were used to define the tropical QBO. Easterly phase at 40 mb implied a weaker than normal polar night jet and warmer than normal polar temperature and vice versa. An opposite relationship was obtained using 10-mb equatorial winds. The association between tropical and extratropical QBOs was observed in about 90 percent of the winters and was statistically significant. It is shown that planetary-wave Eliassen-Palm fluxes were generally consistent with the extratropical QBO. These fluxes were more (less) convergent in the midlatitude (subtropical) upper stratosphere in the 40-mb east (= easterly) phase category relative to the west category.

Dunkerton, Timothy J.↗

Earth's variable rotation

Recent improvements in geodetic data and practical meteorology have advanced research on fluctuations in the earth's rotation. The interpretation of these fluctuations is inextricably linked with studies of the dynamics of the earth-moon system and dynamical processes in the liquid metallic core of the earth (where the geomagnetic field originates), other parts of the earth's interior, and the hydrosphere and atmosphere. Fluctuations in the length of the day occurring on decadal time scales have implications for the topographay of the core-mantle boundary and the electrical, magnetic, ande other properties of the core and lower mantle. Investigations of more rapid fluctuations bear on meteorological studies of interannual, seasonal, and intraseasonal variations in the general circulation of the atmosphere and the response of the oceans to such variations.

Hide, Raymond↗

Interactive interface for National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Graphics

NCAR Graphics is a FORTRAN 77 library of over 30 high-level graphics modules which are heavily used by science and engineering researchers at over 1500 sites world-wide including many universities and government agencies. These Earth science oriented modules now have a FORTRAN callable subroutine interface which excludes their use by non-programming researchers. This proposal outlines the development of a fully interactive 'point and click' menu-based interface using the prevailing toolkit standard for the X-window systems. Options for direct output to the display window and/or output to a Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM) will be provided. X, PEX, and PHIGS will be implemented as the underlying windowing and graphics standards. Associated meteorological and geometric data sets would exploit the network extended NASA Common Data Format, netCDF.

Buzbee, William↗