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NASA NTRS1991

Ground-based infrared measurements of HNO3 total column abundances - Long-term trend and variability

The long-term trend and variability of the total column amount of atmospheric nitric acid (HNO3) have been investigated. The study was based on time series of infrared solar absorption spectra recorded at two sites, the International Scientific Station of the Jungfraujoch (ISSJ) in the Swiss Alps (altitude 3.6 km, latitude 46.5 N, longitude 8.0 E) and the National Solar Observatory McMath solar telescope facility on Kitt Peak (altitude 2.1 km, latitude 31.9 N, longitude 111.6 W), Arizona. Measurements of HNO3 absorption features recorded at Kitt Peak between 1980 and 1990 and measurements of the same features in ISSJ solar spectra obtained in June 1951 and June 1986 to June 1990 provide quantitative estimates of the long-term trend in the HNO3 total vertical column. It is found that the trend deduced for each site is equal to zero within the measurement uncertainty. The modern ISSJ measurements show that the fitted trend is (-0.16 + or - 0.50) percent/yr, 2 sigma, which indicates that there has been no detectable change in HNO3 total column over three decades. The Kitt Peak measurements show marked variability in the HNO3 total column, but no obvious seasonal cycle is observed.

Rinsland, C. P.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The distribution and annual cycle of ozone in the upper stratosphere

Study of the global distribution of upper stratospheric ozone derived from backscatter ultraviolet (BUV/SBUV) instruments on the Nimbus 4 and 7 satellites reveals the following characteristics for the period June 1970 May 1972 plus portions of 1978 and 1979. At pressures less than 5 mbar a local midlatitude maximum in the ozone mixing ratio develops in autumn and persists through the winter season in both hemispheres. However, by a pressure of 10 mbar the seasonal trend has reversed, with midlatitude summer values exceeding those in winter. The largest ozone mixing ratios in a global sense occur at tropical latitudes between pressures of 7 and 9 mbar. The general character of this pattern repeats from year to year, although differences in detail exist, especially in winter. This interannual variability in ozone increases the difficulty in extracting small long-term trends from the available data base. The overall seasonal pattern revealed by the measurements is in accord with photochemical model predictions which include the annual variation in temperature and solar illumination.

Frederick, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Analysis of upper stratospheric Umkehr ozone profile data for trends and the effects of stratospheric aerosols

The effect of stratospheric aerosols on Umkehr estimates of long-term ozone depletion associated with chlorofluoromethanes (CFMs) is considered in a statistical time series trend analysis. Time series models are estimated using monthly averages of Umkehr measurements made over the last 15 to 20 years. The time series regression models incorporate seasonal, trend and noise factors and an additional factor to account for the effects of atmospheric aerosols on the Umkehr measurements. The analysis indicates a statistically significant relation with atmospheric aerosol transmission in the Umkehr layers and implies that the relation is an important factor in any time series trend analysis of Umkehr data. Taking this relation into account, statistically significant negative trends were found in the Upper Umkehr layers. It is pointed out that upper stratospheric ozone could be sensitive to long-term solar variability as well as other possible influences in addition to CFM-induced effects, and therefore the cause or causes of the estimated trend cannot be unambiguously estimated using current Umkehr data.

Reinsel, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Total solar irradiance variability - 5 years of ERBE data

Data obtained by the ERBS solar monitors measuring total solar irradiance variability are discussed. The ERBS and NOAA-99 monitors derived 1365 W/sq m as the magnitude of the solar irradiance, normalized to 1 astronomical unit. The NOAA-10 monitor yielded 1363 W/m as the magnitude of the irradiance. The long-term precision of the monitors was demonstrated by the detection of the decreasing and increasing trends in the irradiance at levels of the order of 0.03 to 0.05 percent per year. The ERBS and NOAA-9 measurements demonstrated that solar variability exists in a systematic mode which is directly correlated with the solar magnetic activity, indicated by sunspot activity. It is argued that during the decline of sunspot cycle 22, the solar irradiance variability may be entirely different from that which was observed during the decline of cycle 21.

Lee, Robert B., III↗

NASA NTRS1990

Long-term Solar Irradiance Variability: 1984-1989 Observations

Long-term variability in the total solar irradiance has been observed in the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) solar monitor measurements. The monitors have been used to measure the irradiance from the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA-9 and NOAA-10 spacecraft platforms since October 25, 1984, January 23, 1985, and October 22, 1986, respectively. Before September 1986, the ERBS irradiance values were found to be decreasing -0.03 percent per year. This period was marked by decreasing solar magnetic activity. Between September 1986 and mid-1989, the irradiance values increased approximately 0.1 percent. The latter period was marked by increasing solar activity which was associated with the initiations of the sunspot cycle number 22 and of a new 22-year Hale solar magnetic cycle. Therefore, long-term solar-irradiance variability appears to be correlated directly with solar activity. The maximum smoothed sunspot number occurred during September 1989, according to the Sunspot Index Data Center. Therefore, the recent irradiance increasing trend should disappear during early 1990 and change into a decreasing trend if the observed irradiance variability is correlated more so with the 11-year sunspot cycle than the 22-year Hale cycle. The ERBE irradiance values are presented and compared with sunspot activity for the 1984 to 1989 period. The ERBE values are compared with those available from the Nimbus-7 and Solar Maximum Mission spacecraft experiments.

Lee, Robert B., III↗

NASA NTRS1991

Preliminary assessment of possible aerosol contamination effects on SAGE ozone trends in the lower stratosphere

An investigation of the validity of long-term ozone trends in the lower stratosphere derived from SAGE I and II measurements is described. At altitudes below approximately 20 km, it is important to separate the ozone and aerosol contributions to SAGE extinction at 600 nm. The correlation between SAGE II measurements of ozone and aerosols indicates that most of the variability in these parameters is associated with physically induced variations resulting from quasi-horizontal motions of air parcels. The SAGE ozone measurements are however found to be as much as 20 percent larger than coincident ozonesonde measurements between 15 and 20 km altitude. A sudden change in the difference at approximately 14.5 km altitude for which there is a change in the SAGE aerosol retrieval procedure suggests that SAGE ozone trends below 20 km altitude may be more sensitive to aerosol variations. Between 20 and 25 km altitude, however, both SAGE and the ozonesondes indicate a reduction in ozone of approximately 0.5 percent/year over the period 1979 to 1989 at midlatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

Cunnold, Derek M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Global ozone long-term trends from satellite measurements and the response to solar activity variations

Analysis of global ozone variations for the period April 1970 to December 1975 was performed by using the reprocessed Nimbus 4 backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) measurements of total ozone. A correlation coefficient of 0.97 is found between the 6-month running mean of global mean total ozone (filtered for mean semiannual, annual, and quasibiennial variations) and the 10.7-cm solar activity index. Correcting ozone for a time-dependent latitudinal bias relative to Dobson ozone measurements reduces to 2-3% the global mean ozone variation over the solar cycle. The solar ultraviolet variability required in a one-dimensional time-dependent radiative photochemical model to account for the observed ozone variation appears to be consistent with recent solar UV observations.

Keating, G. M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Antarctic measurements of ozone by SAGE II in the spring of 1985, 1986, and 1987

This paper presents a three-year (1985, 1986, and 1987) comparison of ozone profiles within the southern polar vortex for September and October, using data obtained by the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II. It was found that, by the first half of October 1986, daily minima in total ozone showed a moderate recovery of 5-7 percent relative to 1985, whereas in 1987, a significant drop of 15 percent from the 1985 minima was observed. The interannual variability of total ozone, temperature, and temperature area or vortex size were found to display a quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) signal similar to that established by Garcia and Solomon (1987) for Antarctica. Since the 1985 and 1987 years displayed the same QBO phase (westerly) and the 1987 depletion was greater than that of 1985, it is concluded that the long-term secular ozone trend continues to be downward.

Mccormick, M. P.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Radiometric Consistent Spectral Fingerprinting Algorithm for Continuity Products of Hyperspectral Sounders

A radiometric consistent climate fingerprinting methodology has been developed to derive long-term temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature anomaly time series from the hyper-spectral sounder measurements of multiple platforms. The spectral fingerprinting methodology requires the use of radiative kernels that are radiometrically consistent with observations. Radiative kernels are built using space-time averaged Jacobians that are physically retrieved from observations under all sky conditions. The physical retrieval algorithm uses the Principal Component based Radiative Transfer Model (PCRTM) for the forward simulation. The incorporation of multiple scattering simulation in PCRTM allows the direct radiative relationship between single field-of-view (FOV) radiance observations and corresponding thermal dynamic variables including cloud properties to be established. Therefore, radiance ?closure? can be achieved under all-sky conditions by the fingerprinting scheme. This methodology has been used to derive climate anomalies from the space-time averaged spectra of AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS. The use of a consistent fingerprinting scheme provides an effective mean of generating continuity product by merging observations from different platforms and therefore facilitating the long-term climate trend study.

Wan Wu↗

NASA NTRS1989

The interannual variability of polar stratospheric clouds and related parameters in Antarctica during September and October

Antarctic polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) sightings by the orbiting SAM II sensor during September and October show a pronounced quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) signal, and October sightings have increased markedly over the past 10 years in years of westerly QBO phase. The QBO in PSC frequency is likely to affect the rate of Antarctic heterogeneous chemical processes and, hence, ozone depletion. Studies of the observed long-term temperature trend suggest that the decadal PSC trend probably results from the ozone decline, through its effect on stratospheric heating rates. A more detailed analysis of data from 1986 to 1987 shows that there were more PSCs in 1987, and that they persisted much later into the spring season as compared to 1986. Qualitatively similar behavior was found for the OClO column abundances and 18-km ozone depletion observed at McMurdo Station during these 2 years. These observations suggest that both the intensity and duration of heterogeneous chemical processes are likely greater during colder OBQ-westerly phase years.

Poole, Lamont R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The detection and interpretation of long-term changes in ozone from space

Long-term measurements of backscattered ultraviolet radiances, now being acquired by orbiting monochromators, will provide the basis for seeking trends in atmospheric ozone. The unambiguous detection of ozone trends on decadal time scales demands a data set that is essentially free of instrument drifts. Periodic flights of an ultraviolet monochromator on the space shuttle will provide an independent means of evaluating the long-term stability of identical instruments operating on free-flying satellites. A successful calibration of the free-flying sensors using the shuttle instrument places strict demands on calibration repeatability from one flight to the next. In addition, spatial and temporal variability in cloud cover could pose further complications in carrying out these in-flight calibrations.

Frederick, John E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The detection and interpretation of long-term changes in ozone from space

Frederick, John E.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Stratospheric water vapor variability for Washington, DC/Boulder, CO - 1964-82

Measurements for Washington, DC and Boulder, CO are combined to provide a time series of midlatitude stratospheric water vapor data for the period 1964-82. The mean concentration for the data period is shown to be nearly constant with altitude for the low stratospheric layer between 16-22 km with a mass mixing ratio for the layer of 2.5-2.6 ppmm. Above 22 km the mixing ratio increases slightly with altitude. Evident in the 60 mb level time series is an annual cycle, a quasi-biennial cycle and a long-term nonlinear trend. The quasi-biennial cycle in water vapor at midlatitudes is consistent with variations in tropical stratosphere zonal winds and temperature and total ozone and suggests a modulation of the Hadley cell circulation. The long-term trend shows mixing ratio increasing during the 1960s and decreasing in the 1970s after 1972.

Mastenbrook, H. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

An approach to the detection of long-term trends in upper stratospheric ozone from space

A central problem in the detection of long-term trends in the upper stratospheric ozone from orbiting remote sensors involves the separation of instrument drifts from true geophysical changes. Periodic flights of a Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet radiometer (SSBUV) on the Space Shuttle will allow the detection of drifts in optically identical sensors (SBUV/2) carried on operational satellites. A detailed simulation of the SSBUV and SBUV/2 datasets defines the accuracy that can be attained by the in-orbit calibration procedure. The repeatability of the SSBUV calibration from one flight to the next is the most critical variable in the analysis. A repeatability near + or - 1.0 percent is essential for detection and correction of drifts in the SBUV/2 radiance measurements. The simulations show that true geophysical trends in backscattered radiance can be inferred to an accuracy of approximately + or - 1.0 percent per decade when SSBUV flies approximately once per year and provides a precise calibration correction to the SBUV/2 dataset over a full decade.

Frederick, John E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Instrument characterization for the detection of long-term changes in stratospheric ozone - An analysis of the SBUV/2 radiometer

The scientific objective of unambiguously detecting subtle global trends in upper stratospheric ozone requires that one maintains a thorough understanding of the satellite-based remote sensors intended for this task. The instrument now in use for long term ozone monitoring is the SBUV/2 being flown on NOAA operational satellites. A critical activity in the data interpretation involves separating small changes in measurement sensitivity from true atmospheric variability. By defining the specific issues that must be addressed and presenting results derived early in the mission of the first SBUV/2 flight model, this work serves as a guide to the instrument investigations that are essential in the attempt to detect long-term changes in the ozone layer.

Frederick, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Solar irradiance variability from modern measurements

Direct measurements from satellites of the solar 'constant' (the total irradiance at mean sun-earth distance) during more than ten years show variations over time scales from minutes to years and decades. At high frequencies, solar oscillations contribute to the variance. The most important influences are related to solar activity: during the passage of active regions on the solar disk (sunspots and faculae) changes of a few 0.1 percent lasting for several days are observed. The effects of spots can be well reproduced by the projected sunspot index, whereas the influence of faculae have to be modeled from proxy data like the Ca-K plage index or the He I index. Long-term trends are detected which are connected to the 11-yr solar activity cycle.

Froehlich, C.↗

NASA NTRS2026

Long-Term Evaluation of Landsat 9 Oli Data Product Uniformity at Focal Plane Module-Boundaries Using Earth Scenes

The uniformity performance characteristic in remote sensing data products is a metric that helps evaluate how an image accurately represents radiometric responses to geophysical variability at the Earth’s surface or within the atmosphere. These uniformity attributes are used in Earth remote sensing science applications such as investigating water quality, land-cover/land-use classifications, and crop health assessments. To ensure these applications perform effectively, it is crucial to maintain and regularly assess the uniformity of calibrated remote sensing data products. In the Landsat missions, data from the onboard radiometric reference Solar diffuser device are used as the standard approach to derive the calibration parameters, ensuring the maintenance of both absolute radiance and radiometric uniformity through quarterly updates. This publication presents an alternative approach that leverages Earth scene data to assess the on-orbit uniformity performance of the Landsat 9 (L9) mission. The analysis characterizes uniformity at a specific set of spatial positions (the focal-plane boundary zones) that are intrinsic to the Operational Land Imager (OLI) focal plane design. By employing these Earth data statistics, the article further explores the temporal trends in the radiometric uniformity results. The results shown in this article demonstrate that for pushbroom imaging design systems with staggered sensor chip focal plane architectures, the co-registered pixels, i.e., overlapping measurements of the same ground target viewed by different detectors, offer a self-contained mechanism for assessing product uniformity. Remarkably, this alternative approach achieves a level of radiometric quality comparable to that delivered by a stable, well-characterized onboard Solar diffuser calibration device. The findings demonstrate the potential and capability of such Earth scene statistics in maintaining radiometric uniformity in calibrated data products to better than 1% (1-sigma) throughout the mission’s operational lifetime.

trend↗

NASA NTRS1986

Application of solar max ACRIM data to analyze solar-driven climatic variability on Earth

Terrestrial climatic effects associated with solar variability have been proposed for at least a century, but could not be assessed quantitatively owing to observational uncertainities in solar flux variations. Measurements from 1980 to 1984 by the Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM), capable of resolving fluctuations above the sensible atmosphere less than 0.1% of the solar constant, permit direct albeit preliminary assessments of solar forcing effects on global temperatures during this period. The global temperature response to ACRIM-measured fluctuations was computed from 1980 to 1985 using the NYU transient climate model including thermal inertia effects of the world ocean; and compared the results with observations of recent temperature trends. Monthly mean ACRIM-driven global surface temperature fluctuations computed with the climate model are an order of magnitude smaller, of order 0.01 C. In constrast, global mean surface temperature observations indicate an approx. 0.1 C increase during this period. Solar variability is therefore likely to have been a minor factor in global climate change during this period compared with variations in atmospheric albedo, greenhouse gases and internal self-inducedoscillations. It was not possible to extend the applicability of the measured flux variations to longer periods since a possible correlation of luminosity with solar annual activity is not supported by statistical analysis. The continuous monitoring of solar flux by satellite-based instruments over timescales of 20 years or more comparable to timescales for thermal relaxation of the oceans and of the solar cycle itself is needed to resolve the question of long-term solar variation effects on climate.

Hoffert, M. I.↗