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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 163 records · Page 9
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NASA NTRS1991

The relationship between aboveground biomass and radar backscatter as observed on airborne SAR imagery

The initial results of an experiment to examine the dependence of radar image intensity on total above-ground biomass in a southern US pine forest ecosystem are presented. Two sets of data are discussed. First, we examine two L-band (VV-polarization) data sets which were collected 5 years apart. These data sets clearly illustrate the change in backscatter resulting from the growth of a young pine stand. Second, we examine the dependence between radar backscatter and biomass as a function of radar frequency using data from the JPL Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR) and ERIM/NADC P-3 SAR systems. These results show that there is a positive correlation between above-ground biomass and radar backscatter and at C-, L-, and P-bands, but very little correlation at C-band. The biomass level for which this positive correlation holds decreases as radar frequency increases. This positive correlation is stronger at HH and HV polarizations that VV polarization at L- and P-bands, but strongest at VV polarization for C-band.

Kasischke, Eric S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The Global Backscatter Experiment Airborne Pulsed Lidar Measurements

The Global Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE) was intended to provide data on prevailing values of atmospheric backscatter cross section. The primary intent was predicting the performance of space-borne lidar systems. A second and related goal was to understand the source and characteristics of atmospheric aerosol particles. In this paper the authors give a summary of measurement results with emphasis on the magnitude, structure, characteristics and variability of the observed atmospheric aerosol and cloud scattering. The GLOBE pulsed lidar measurements provide an extensive data set on the magnitude and variability of aerosol and cloud backscatter of the atmosphere. The data defines atmospheric aerosol scattering characteristics and should prove to be an important resource for determination of the performance and design of laser remote sensing instruments.

Spinhirne, James D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Intercomparisons of Lidar Backscatter Measurements and In-situ Data from GLOBE

The Global Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE) took place during Nov. 1989 and May - Jun. 1990 and involved flight surveys of the Pacific region by the NASA DC-8 aircraft. The experimental instruments were lidars operating at wavelengths ranging from the visible to the thermal infrared and various optical particle counters for in-situ measurements. The primary motivation for GLOBE was the development of spaceborne wind sensing lidar. This paper will concern a comparison of direct backscatter measurements and backscatter calculated from particle counter data. Of special interest is that the particle measurements provided data on composition, and thus refractive index variation may be included in the analysis.

Chudamani, S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Comparison of calculated aerosol backscatter at 9.1- and 2.1-micron wavelengths

The paper presents theoretical estimates of aerosol backscatter in the middle and upper troposphere at 9.1 and 2.1 microns, currently the primary and alternative Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder wavelengths, respectively. It is shown that, in the middle and upper troposphere for low backscatter conditions, beta is higher at 2.1 microns than at 9.1 microns; for high backscatter conditions it is almost comparable.

Srivastava, Vandana↗
NASA NTRS1992

Dependence of the surface backscattering coefficients on roughness, frequency and polarization states

This paper summarizes the properties of the surface backscattering coefficient as a function of roughness, incidence angle, frequency and polarization state. Results are presented in the form of like- and cross-polarized backscattering coefficient curves versus the incidence angle and the polarization state for different values of the surface roughness parameters and frequency. It is seen that there is a gradual transition from the standard small perturbation scattering model into the Kirchhoff scattering model as frequency increases. It is also shown that in the intermediate frequency region neither the small perturbation nor the Kirchhoff model is applicable. The maximum value of the polarized backscattering coefficient occurs at VV polarization and its two minimum values occur at zero ellipticity and orientation angles between 0 deg and 45 deg and between 135 deg and 180 deg. The cross-polarized scattering coefficient has two maximum values which occur in the same polarization state regions as the minima of the polarized coefficients.

Fung, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

CO2 lidar backscatter profiles over Hawaii during fall 1988

Aerosol and cloud backscatter data, obtained over a 24-day period in fall 1988 with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Doppler lidar at 10.59-micron wavelength, are analyzed by using a new technique to lessen biases that are due to dropouts. Typical backscatter cross sections were significantly lower than those routinely observed over the continental United States, although episodic backscatter enhancements caused by cirrus and mineral dust also occurred. Implications of these data on the proposed Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder wind profiling satellite sensor are discussed.

Post, Madison J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Radar backscatter measurements from Arctic sea ice during the fall freeze-up

Radar backscatter measurements from sea ice during the fall freeze-up were performed by the United States Coast Guard Icebreaker Polar Star as a part of the International Arctic Ocean Expedition (IAOE'91) from Aug. to Sep. 1991. The U.S. portion of the experiment took place on board the Polar Star and was referred to as TRAPOLEX '91 (Transpolar expedition) by some investigators. Before prematurely aborting its mission because of mechanical failure of her port shaft, the Polar Star reached 84 deg 57 min N latitude at 35 deg E longitude. The ship was in the ice (greater than 50 percent coverage) from 14 Aug. until 3 Sep. and was operational for all but 6 days due to two instances of mechanical problems with the port shaft. The second was fatal to the ship's participation in the expedition. During the expedition, radar backscatter was measured at C-band under a variety of conditions. These included measurements from young ice types as well as from multiyear and first-/second-year sea ice during the fall freeze-up. The sea ice types were determined by measurement of the ice properties at several of the stations and by visual inspection on others. Radar backscatter measurements were performed over a large portion of the ship's transit into the Arctic ice pack. These were accompanied by in situ sea ice property characterization by the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) at several stations and, when snow was present, its properties were documented by The Microwave Group, Ottawa River (MWG).

Beaven, S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

GLOBE backscatter - Climatologies and mission results

The Global Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE) goals require intensive study of the global climatology of atmospheric aerosol backscatter at IR wavelengths. Airborne and ground-based lidars have been developed to measure atmospheric backscatter profiles at CO2 laser wavelengths. Descriptions of the calibration techniques and selected measurement results are presented.

Menzies, Robert T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A method for the compensation of the effects of surface cloth impressions on polar backscatter applied to porous epoxy and biaxial graphite/epoxy composites

The anisotropy of polar backscatter from graphite/epoxy composites is a potentially useful parameter for the characterization of porosity levels. However, the effects of release-cloth impressions on measured integrated polar backscatter levels are sufficient to inhibit the detection of porosity with this method. Recently, we developed a theoretical model to predict the frequency distribution of the backscattered power along the high-symmetry directions of release-cloth impressions. This study investigates experimentally the usefulness of limiting the bandwidth to regions not dominated by the scattering from the surface impressions, hence increasing the probability of detecting flaws such as porosity.

Madaras, Eric I.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Development of a global backscatter model for NASA's laser atmospheric wind sounder

During the Contract Period April 1, 1989, to September 30, 1992, the Earth Systems Science Laboratory (ESSL) in the Research Institute at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) conducted a program of basic research on atmospheric backscatter characteristics, leading to the development of a global backscatter model. The ESSL research effort was carried out in conjunction with the Earth System Observing Branch (ES43) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center, as part of NASA Contract NAS8-37585 under the Atmospheric Dynamics Program at NASA Headquarters. This research provided important inputs to NASA's GLObal Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE) program, especially in the understanding of global aerosol life cycles, and to NASA's Doppler Lidar research program, especially the development program for their prospective space-based Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS).

Bowdle, David↗
NASA NTRS1992

Comparison of modeled backscatter with SAR data at P-band

In recent years several analytical models were developed to predict microwave scattering by trees and forest canopies. These models contribute to the understanding of radar backscatter over forested regions to the extent that they capture the basic interactions between microwave radiation and tree canopies, understories, and ground layers as functions of incidence angle, wavelength, and polarization. The Santa Barbara microwave model backscatter model for woodland (i.e. with discontinuous tree canopies) combines a single-tree backscatter model and a gap probability model. Comparison of model predictions with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and L-band (lambda = 0.235 m) is promising, but much work is still needed to test the validity of model predictions at other wavelengths. The validity of the model predictions at P-band (lambda = 0.68 m) for woodland stands at our Mt. Shasta test site was tested.

Wang, Yong↗
NASA NTRS1993

Polarimetric backscattering from sea ice

Polarimetric backscattering from sea ice is presented. Theoretical models for backscattering are first presented for various ice types. Then, theoretical results are compared with experimental data for new thin ice, first-year ice, and multi-year ice. Sea ice is modeled as a layer medium containing random scatterers and rough interfaces. For multi-year sea ice with snow cover, the sea ice layer is modeled as an ice background with embedded spheroidal air bubbles and the snow layer as air with ice grains. The hummocky topography on multi-year ice is characterized by a Gaussian distribution which has an averaging effect on backscattering coefficients. First-year sea ice is described by an ice medium hosting ellipsoidal brine inclusions. These inclusions are oriented preferentially in the vertical direction due to the columnar structure of first-year sea ice. Azimuthally, the orientation of the brine pockets are random corresponding to the random c-axes in sea ice, unless the axes are oriented by sea currents. For thin ice in newly opened leads, it has been observed that there exists a thin brine layer with very high salinity on the top surface of the new ice. This brine layer is depicted as a medium with high permittivity which can significantly affect electromagnetic scattering signatures from the lower thin ice layer, with a higher fractional volume of brine inclusions due to higher salinity as compared to thick first-year sea ice. The rough medium interfaces are described as Gaussian rough surfaces characterized by root-mean-square heights and surface correlation lengths. The contribution from rough surface, calculated under the Kirchhoff approximation or small perturbation method, is assumed to be independent from volume scattering. The total loss including absorption and scattering losses in the scattering media is represented by the imaginary part of effective permittivity obtained from the strong fluctuation theory. The polarimetric scattering coefficients for different ice types are then derived under the distorted Born approximation.

Nghiem, S. V.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The coherent backscattering opposition effect

We have measured the opposition effect, the nonlinear surge in reflectance seen in particulate materials as phase angle approaches zero degrees, in a suite of materials of varying particle size and reflectance. These samples were illuminated by linearly and circularly polarized monochromatic radiation at two wavelengths, 0.442 and 0.633 microns. By measuring the linear and circular polarization ratios for each sample, we have found that in highly reflective materials the behavior of the reflected radiation is consistent with the coherent backscattering process which has recently been proposed to explain the opposition surge that is seen in such media. The size and width of the coherent backscattering opposition peak vary as a function of reflectance of the sample. The opposition effect has been observed in particulate materials studied in the laboratory and it is also observed in the radiation reflected from solar system bodies which present a regolith to the earth based observer. The traditional explanation of the opposition effect, the shadow-hiding hypothesis, is that it was caused by the elimination of mutual shadows cast between the regolith grains as the phase angle of the observation became smaller. This shadow-hiding hypothesis, however, is unable to explain the opposition effect seen in highly reflective materials such as magnesium oxide and barium sulfate powders. This is because highly reflective media will multiply scatter the incident radiation between the regolith grains. This causes the shadows to be eliminated. We have measured the angular scattering properties of a suite of materials of different reflectivity. We have observed polarization ratios in reflective particulates that are consistent with coherent backscattering as the principal process which causes the opposition surge.

Nelson, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Cirrus properties deduced from CO2 lidar observations of zenith-enhanced backscatter from oriented crystals

Many lidar researchers have occasionally observed zenith-enhanced backscatter (ZEB) from middle and high clouds. The ZEB signature consists of strong backscatter when the lidar is pointed directly at zenith and a dramatic decline in backscatter as the zenith angle dips slightly off zenith. Mirror-like reflection from horizontal facets of oriented crystals (especially plates) is generally accepted as the cause. It was found during a 3-year observation program that approximately 50 percent of ice clouds had ZEB, regardless of cloud height. The orientation of crystals and the ZEB they cause are important to study and understand for several reasons. First, radiative transfer in clouds with oriented crystals is different than if the same particles were randomly oriented. Second, crystal growth depends partly on the orientation of the particles. Third, ZEB measurements may provide useful information about cirrus microphysical and radiative properties. Finally, the remarkable effect of ZEB on lidar signals should be understood in order to properly interpret lidar data.

Eberhard, Wynn L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Ozone within the El Chichon aerosol cloud inferred from solar backscatter ultraviolet continuous-scan measurements

Large amounts of SO2 injected into the stratosphere by the El Chichon volcanic eruption greatly enhanced the sulfuric acid aerosol loading. According to laboratory studies, the increase in aerosol surface area would lead to a loss of ozone. Radiation measurements from the solar backscatter ultraviolet spectroradiometer are used to probe the absorbing and scattering properties of the stratosphere after the eruption. The backscattered radiation is enhanced for wavelengths greater than 290 nm, with a peak at about 302 nm. The enhancements associated with aerosol backscattering and ozone change can be separated. A decrease in column ozone of 8 to 30 Dobson units was deduced within the aerosol layer at an altitude between 20 and 30 km following the month of the eruption.

Wen, Guoyong↗
NASA NTRS1995

Search for Compton-backscattered annihilation radiation from the galactic center with the OSSE

An emission feature near 170 keV, interpreted as Compton-backscattered 511 keV positron-annihilation radiation, has been reported twice by balloon-borne germanium spectrometers from within approximately 15 deg of the Galactic center (Leventhal, MacCallum, & Stang 1978; Smith et al. 1993). Upper limits on this feature set by HEAO 3 (Mahoney, Ling, & Wheaton 1993) and other instruments indicate that it must be transient. We have searched data from the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) for this feature, using daily spectral accumulations from all pointings near the Galactic center up to 1993 August, and covering most of the region viewed by the balloon instruments. We find no evidence for backscatter emission. Under the hypothesis that the source is 1E 1740.7-2942, the OSSE data set (186 days) disagrees with the balloon measurements with 99.3% confidence. The average daily 3 sigma OSSE upper limit on bakscatter flux from 1E 1740.7-2942 is 6.8 x 10(exp -4) photons/sq cm/s, compared to the 1.3 x 10(exp -3) photons/sq cm reported by the balloon observations. We also saw no evidence in 186 days for linelike emission from the point source EXS 1737.9-2952 recently discovered by Grindlay, Covault, & Manandhar (1993). This source exhibited bright emission from 83-111 keV, which has been interpreted as doubly backscattered 511 keV radiation. The average daily 3 sigma upper limit from OSSE for this line is 9.8 x 10(exp -4) photons/sq cm/s, or approximately 8% of the reported flux.

Smith, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Evolution of the Pinatubo volcanic aerosol column above Pasadena, California observed with a mid-infrared backscatter lidar

The evolution of the volcanic debris plume originating from the June 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo has been monitored since its genesis using a ground-based backscatter lidar facility sited at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Both absolute and relative pre- and post-Pinatubo backscatter observations are in accord with Mie scattering projections based on measured aerosol particle size distributions reported in the literature. The post-Pinatubo column-integrated backscatter coefficient peaked approximately 400 days after the eruption, and the observed upper boundary of the aerosol column subsided at a rate of approximately 200 m/mon.

Tratt, David M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

In situ phytoplankton absorption, fluorescence emission, and particulate backscattering spectra determined from reflectance

An inverse model was developed to extract the absortion and scattering (elastic and inelastic) properties of oceanic constituents from surface spectral reflectance measurements. In particular, phytoplankton spectral absorption coefficients, solar-stimulated chlorophyll a fluorescence spectra, and particle backscattering spectra were modeled. The model was tested on 35 reflectance spectra obtained from irradiance measurements in optically diverse ocean waters (0.07 to 25.35 mg/cu m range in surface chlorophyll a concentrations). The universality of the model was demonstrated by the accurate estimation of the spectral phytoplankton absorption coefficents over a range of 3 orders of magnitude (rho = 0.94 at 500 nm). Under most oceanic conditions (chlorophyll a less than 3 mg/cu m) the percent difference between measured and modeled phytoplankton absorption coefficents was less than 35%. Spectral variations in measured phytoplankton absorption spectra were well predicted by the inverse model. Modeled volume fluorescence was weakly correlated with measured chl a; fluorescence quantum yield varied from 0.008 to 0.09 as a function of environment and incident irradiance. Modeled particle backscattering coefficients were linearly related to total particle cross section over a twentyfold range in backscattering coefficents (rho = 0.996, n = 12).

Roesler, Collin S.↗