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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Physical and Radiative Properties of Arctic Atmospheric Aerosols

Atmospheric aerosols sampled in the Arctic basin by impactors have been analyzed for the total aerosol and its black carbon fraction. The mass of black carbon aerosol in the lower troposphere is one percent (1 g black carbon in 100 g total aerosol), reduced to one part in 10(exp 4) in the stratosphere. The aerosol single scatter albedos vary between 1.0 in the stratosphere, currently dominated by high light scattering due to Pinatubo volcanic aerosol, and 0.94 in the lower troposphere. The aerosol has the potential to regionally warm the earth-atmosphere system because of the high surface albedo of snow-covered surfaces in the Arctic.

Pueschel, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Atmospheric aerosol measurement problems

The present knowledge of the atmospheric aerosols is summarized briefly with respect to geographical distribution, time variations, optical properties, chemical nature, and natural and artificial sources. The measurement techniques for determining aerosol properties are summarized with the limitations and results from each. The problems resulting from variations in refractive index, shape, composition, volatile constituents, relative humidity and time from collection until measurement are described. Needed measurements on atmospheric aerosols are outlined with some of the latest methods for obtaining them, including the needs and goals of some world-wide programs.

Harris, F. S., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A method to measure the atmospheric aerosol content using ERTS-1 data

The apparent gradual increase of particles in the atmosphere has received considerable attention in recent years due to the possible effect of atmospheric aerosols on the earth's climate. The ERTS-1 satellite offered the opportunity of determining the feasibility of monitoring the atmospheric aerosol content on a global basis, as suggested by theoretical studies, which showed a linear relationship between the upwelling earth atmosphere radiance and the aerosol content. This relationship was investigated at two test sites, San Diego and the Salton Sea, using the MSS radiance data, with ground truth observations of the aerosol content being made with a Volz photometer at the time of the satellite overpasses. Significant results, relating the radiance over water surfaces to the atmospheric aerosol content, have been obtained. The results indicate that the MSS channels, 4, 5 and 6 centered at 0.55, 0.65 and 0.75 micron have comparable sensitivity, and that the aerosol content can be determined within + or - 10% with the assumed measurement errors of the MSS.

Griggs, M.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Characteristics and Composition of Atmospheric Aerosols in Phimai, Central Thailand During BASE-ASIA

Popular summary: Atmospheric aerosols play an important role in the Earth's climate system, and can also have adverse effects on air quality and human health. The environmental impacts of aerosols, on the other hand, are highly regional, since their temporal/spatial distribution is inhomogeneous and highly depends on the regional emission sources. To better understand the effects of aerosols, intensive field experiments are necessary to characterize the chemical and physical properties on a region-by-region basis. From late February to early May in 2006, NASA/GSFC's SMARTLabs facility was deployed at a rural site in central Thailand, Southeast Asia, to conduct a field experiment dubbed BASE-ASIA (Biomass-burning Aerosols in South East-Asia: Smoke Impact Assessment). The group was joined by scientists from the University of Hawaii and other regional institutes. Comprehensive measurements were made during the experiment, including aerosol chemical composition, optical and microphysical properties, as well as surface energetics and local . meteorology. This study analyzes part of the data from the BASE-ASIA experiment. It was found that, even for the relatively remote rural site, the aerosol loading was still substantial. Besides agricultural burning in the area, industrial pollution near the Bangkok metropolitan area, about 200 km southeast of the site, and even long-range transport from China, also contribute to the area's aerosol loading. The results indicate that aerosol pollution has developed into a regional problem for northern Indochina, and may become more severe as the region's population and economy continue to grow. Abstract: Comprehensive measurements of atmospheric aerosols were made in Phimai, central Thailand (15.l83 N, 102.565 E, elevation: 206 m) during the BASE-ASIA field experiment from late February to early May in 2006. The observed aerosol loading was sizable for this rural site (mean aerosol scattering: 108 +/- 64 Mm(exp -1); absorption: 15 +/- 8 Mm(exp -1); PM(sub 10) concentration: 33 +/- 17 miro-g/ cubic m and dominated by submicron particles. Major aerosol compounds included carbonaceous (OC: 9.5 +/- 3.6miro-g/ cubic m; EC: 2.0 2.3 miro-g/ cubic m and secondary species (SO4(2-): 6.4 +/- 3.7 miro-g/ cubic m, NH4(+): 2.2 +/- 1.3 miro-g/ cubic m). While the site was seldom under the direct influence of large forest fires to its north, agricultural fires were ubiquitous during the experiment, as suggested by the substantial concentration of K+ (0.56 +/- 0.33 micro-g/ cubic m). Besides biomass burning, aerosols in Phimai during the experiment were also strongly influenced by industrial and vehicular emissions from the Bangkok metropolitan region and long-range transport from southern China. High humidity played an important role in determining the aerosol composition and properties in the region. Sulfate was primarily formed via aqueous phase reactions, and hygroscopic growth could enhance the aerosol light scattering by up to 60%, at the typical morning RH level of 85%. The aerosol single scattering albedo demonstrated distinct diurnal variation, ranging from 0.86 +/- 0.04 in the evening to 0.92 +/- 0.02 in the morning. This experiment marks the first time such comprehensive characterization of aerosols was made for rural central Thailand. Our results indicate that aerosol pollution has developed into a regional problem for northern Indochina, and may become more severe as the region's population and economy continue to grow.

Li, Can↗
NASA NTRS2012

Global Atmospheric Aerosol Modeling

Global aerosol models are used to study the distribution and properties of atmospheric aerosol particles as well as their effects on clouds, atmospheric chemistry, radiation, and climate. The present article provides an overview of the basic concepts of global atmospheric aerosol modeling and shows some examples from a global aerosol simulation. Particular emphasis is placed on the simulation of aerosol particles and their effects within global climate models.

Hendricks, Johannes↗
NASA NTRS1983

Modelling atmospheric aerosol backscatter at CO2 laser wavelengths. I - Aerosol properties, modeling techniques, and associated problems. II - Modeled values in the atmosphere. III - Effects of changes in wavelength and ambient conditions

The various methods of calculating the atmospheric aerosol backscattering function, beta(CO2), both from measured aerosol characteristics and from optical measurements made at other wavelengths, are discussed in detail, with limits placed on their accuracy. The most significant factor in determining beta(CO2) is found to be the aerosol size distribution and concentration; this should be known accurately for particle radii up to at least 1 micron for stratospheric particles and 5 microns for tropospheric particles. Results are then presented from the modeling of the aerosol backscattering function at a wavelength of 10.6 microns in the lowest 20 km of the atmosphere. It is found that beta(CO2) varies from 10 to the -6th per m per sr in the planetary boundary layer to less than 10 to the -11th per m per sr in the stratosphere. It is next shown that, with the exception of (NH4)2SO4-containing aerosols, whose size distributions have relatively large numbers of small particles, the variation of backscattering with CO2 wavelength is less than a factor of approximately 3. For such (NH4)2SO4 aerosol distributions, however, the variation of backscatter function with CO2 wavelengths between 9.1 and 11.1 microns may reach one order of magnitude.

Kent, G.S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A photophonic instrument concept to measure atmospheric aerosol absorption

A laboratory model of an instrument to measure the absorption of atmospheric aerosols was designed, built, and tested. The design was based on the photophonic phenomenon discovered by Bell and an acoustic resonator developed by Helmholtz. Experiments were done to show ways the signal amplitude could be improved and the noise reduced and to confirm the instrument was sensitive enough to be practical. The research was undertaken to develop concepts which show promise of being improvements on the instruments that are presently used to measure the absorption of the Sun's radiation by the Earth's atmospheric aerosols.

Engle, C. D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Atmospheric aerosol and Doppler lidar studies

Experimental and theoretical studies were performed of atmospheric aerosol backscatter and atmospheric dynamics with Doppler lidar as a primary tool. Activities include field and laboratory measurement and analysis efforts. The primary focus of activities related to understanding aerosol backscatter is the GLObal Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE) program. GLOBE is a multi-element effort designed toward developing a global aerosol model to describe tropospheric clean background backscatter conditions that Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS) is likely to encounter. Two survey missions were designed and flown in the NASA DC-8 in November 1989 and May to June 1990 over the remote Pacific Ocean, a region where backscatter values are low and where LAWS wind measurements could make a major contribution. The instrument complement consisted of pulsed and continuous-wave (CW) CO2 gas and solid state lidars measuring aerosol backscatter, optical particle counters measuring aerosol concentration, size distribution, and chemical composition, a filter/impactor system collecting aerosol samples for subsequent analysis, and integrating nephelometers measuring visible scattering coefficients. The GLOBE instrument package and survey missions were carefully planned to achieve complementary measurements under clean background backscatter conditions.

Rothermel, Jeff↗
NASA NTRS1977

Problems in characterizing atmospheric aerosols by lidar alone

In this paper we review the scattering properties of real atmospheric aerosols as they relate to laser radar measurements. We address two major subjects: theoretical approximations for modeling lidar experiments and laboratory measurements for characterizing real aerosols. In the first category we review: (1) the Mueller algebra and Stokes vectors, (2) approximations for the single scattering properties of various aerosols, (3) the information content of the Mueller or scattering matrix and related limitations of lidar measurements, and (4) the effects of multiple scattering on lidar returns. In the second category we review: (1) polar nephelometers, (2) calibration procedures for nephelometers, and (3) characterization of the scattering medium. Finally, we summarize the outstanding problems in measuring the atmospheric aerosols by lidar alone.

Holland, A. C.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Chemical composition of the atmospheric aerosol in the troposphere over the Hudson Bay lowlands and Quebec-Labrador regions of Canada

Atmospheric aerosols were collected in the boundary layer and free troposphere over continental and coastal subarctic regions of Canada during the July - August 1990 joint U.S.-Canadian Arctic Boundary Layer Expedition (ABLE) 3B/Northern Wetlands Study (NOWES). The samples were analyzed for the following water soluble species: sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, potassium, sodium, chloride, oxalate, methylsulfonate, and total amine nitrogen. Ammonium and sulfate were the major water soluble components of these aerosols. The nearly neutral (overall) chemical composition of summertime aerosol particles contrasts their strongly acidic wintertime composition. Aerosol samples were separated into several air mass categories and characterized in terms of chemical composition, associated mixing ratios of gaseous compounds, and meteorological parameters. The fundamental category represented particles associated with 'background' air masses. The summertime atmospheric aerosols in background air over the North American subarctic and Arctic regions were characterized by relatively small and spatially uniform mixing ratios of the measured species. These aerosol particles were aged to the extent that they had lost their primary source signature. The chemical profile of the background air aerosols was frequently modified by additions from biomass fire plumes, aged tropical marine air, and intrusions of upper tropospheric/lower stratospheric air. Aerosols in boundary layer background air over the boreal forest region of Quebec-Labrador had significantly larger mixing ratios of ammonium and sulfate relative to the Hudson Bay region. This may reflect infiltration of anthropogenic pollution or be due to natural emissions from this region.

Gorzelska, K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Climatic effects of atmospheric aerosols

It is shown quantitatively how radiative climatic forcing by aerosols depends on the physical properties of the aerosols. The special case of atmospheric aerosols produced by volcanic explosions is considered, and evidence is presented which indicates that even the simple climate models available today may be able to capture some of the basic effects of aerosols on global climate. Possible effects of anthropogenic aerosols are briefly examined. It is noted that additional evidence for the significant influence of aerosols on climate may be found in data obtained from recent spacecraft missions to Venus and Mars.

Hansen, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Influence of atmospheric aerosols and desert reflectance properties on satellite radiance measurements

The influence of surface bidirectional reflectance factors, including shadowing, and of atmospheric aerosol variability are modeled for their effects on the remote sensing of desert targets from space in the 0.7-micron region at high spatial resolution. The white sand reflectance data of Salomonson (1968) are used as the basis for the simulation. The effects of the surface bi-directional reflectance and atmospheric aerosol on the nadir-normalized reflectance measured at the satellite are discussed individually and jointly. The net influence of these two factors is shown to depend on the magnitude of other parameters, such as the surface reflectance and solar zenith angle.

Bowker, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Spectral Absorption Properties of Atmospheric Aerosols

We have determined the solar spectral absorption optical depth of atmospheric aerosols for specific case studies during several field programs (three cases have been reported previously; two are new results). We combined airborne measurements of the solar net radiant flux density and the aerosol optical depth with a detailed radiative transfer model for all but one of the cases. The field programs (SAFARI 2000, ACE Asia, PRIDE, TARFOX, INTEX-A) contained aerosols representing the major absorbing aerosol types: pollution, biomass burning, desert dust and mixtures. In all cases the spectral absorption optical depth decreases with wavelength and can be approximated with a power-law wavelength dependence (Absorption Angstrom Exponent or AAE). We compare our results with other recent spectral absorption measurements and attempt to briefly summarize the state of knowledge of aerosol absorption spectra in the atmosphere. We discuss the limitations in using the AAE for calculating the solar absorption. We also discuss the resulting spectral single scattering albedo for these cases.

Bergstrom, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Atmospheric aerosols: Their Optical Properties and Effects

Measured properties of atmospheric aerosol particles are presented. These include aerosol size frequency distribution and complex retractive index. The optical properties of aerosols are computed based on the presuppositions of thermodynamic equilibrium and of Mie-theory.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1984

Atmospheric aerosol backscatter measurements using a tunable coherent CO2 lidar

Measurements of atmospheric aerosol backscatter coefficients, using a coherent CO2 lidar at 9.25- and 10.6-micron wavelengths, are described. Vertical profiles of the volume backscatter coefficient beta have been measured to a 10-km altitude over the Pasadena, CA, region. These measurements indicate a wide range of variability in beta both in and above the local boundary layer. Certain profiles also indicate a significant enhancement in beta at the 9.25-micron wavelength compared with beta at the 10.6-micron wavelength, which possibly indicates a major contribution to the volume backscatter from ammonium sulfate aerosol particles.

Menzies, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Analysis of Atmospheric Aerosol Data Sets and Application of Radiative Transfer Models to Compute Aerosol Effects

This report is the final report for "Analysis of Atmospheric Aerosol Data Sets and Application of Radiative Transfer Models to Compute Aerosol Effects". It is a bibliographic compilation of 29 peer-reviewed publications (published, in press or submitted) produced under this Cooperative Agreement and 30 first-authored conference presentations. The tasks outlined in the various proposals are listed below with a brief comment as to the research performed. Copies of title/abstract pages of peer-reviewed publications are attached.

Schmid, Beat↗
NASA NTRS1983

High spectral resolution lidar to measure optical scattering properties of atmospheric aerosols. I - Theory and instrumentation

A high spectral resolution lidar technique to measure optical scattering properties of atmospheric aerosols is described. Light backscattered by the atmosphere from a narrowband optically pumped oscillator-amplifier dye laser is separated into its Doppler broadened molecular and elastically scattered aerosol components by a two-channel Fabry-Perot polyetalon interferometer. Aerosol optical properties, such as the backscatter ratio, optical depth, extinction cross section, scattering cross section, and the backscatter phase function, are derived from the two-channel measurements.

Shipley, S. T.↗