The shadow band phenomenon
Shadow band phenomenon observed during solar eclipses and visible only minutes preceeding and following totality
Daly, C. J.↗
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The shadow band phenomenon
Shadow band observations during 7 March 1970 solar eclipse, determining spectral energy distribution from magnetic tape recordings of collimated photocells output
Daly, C. J.↗
The shadow band phenomenon.
Observation of shadow bands during the solar eclipse of Mar. 7, 1970. Data were gathered by recording onto magnetic tape of the output from six collimated photocells whose spectral responses ranged from the ultraviolet to the infrared, and by visual and mechanical measurement of the orientation and motion of the bands. The recorded data were later processed using the output from a frequency spectrum analyzer. Most of the energy of the shadow bands ranges between 1 and 25 Hz, and appears not unlike plots of scintillation spectra. The onset, amplitude, and duration of the shadow bands seem to be spectrally related to the limb darkening of the sun's photosphere. Other results of the experiment conclusively indicate that the shadow band phenomenon is a manifestation of atmospheric turbulence in the form of air packets of different density from that of their environment (density schlieren), made visible by the light from the crescent sun.
Quann, J. J.↗
Observations of shadow bands at the total solar eclipse of 16 February 1980
Photoelectric observations of short term light variations (shadow bands) at the 16 Feb. 1980 total solar eclipse have been made using a set of spatially separated PIN diodes. Light variations in a bandpass of 1-500 Hz were detected during the half-minutes preceding and following the total phase. Fourier analysis of the noise spectrum of the variations reveals a sharp drop-off for frequencies above 50 Hz and an overall spectrum quite similar to previously reported power spectra of stellar scintillation. This is consistent with an atmospheric origin for the shadow bands. Cross-correlations between the detector outputs are low, suggesting a short persistence time for the turbulent elements causing the patterns.
Marschall, L. A.↗
Brightness of forbidden O I lines and properties of shadow bands during the eclipse of 7 March 1970.
Results of two types of measurements made at a site in the center of the eclipse track during the total eclipse of Mar. 7, 1970. The O I forbidden 5577-A and 6300-A lines were measured looking vertically through the eclipse shadow. The intensities were approximately 1 kR, essentially the values obtained in recent rocket measurements of normal day airglow at altitudes above 100 km. This is consistent with the hypothesis that these lines originate primarily at altitudes well above the shadow from mechanisms which are not appreciably perturbed by the approaching shadow. Measurements were also made of the time variation of intensity of incident light during the shadow-band period before second contact. There are saw-tooth fluctuations with steep leading edges, as well as many high-frequency components of smaller amplitude. This time variation does not appear to be obviously related in a simple way to current theories of their production mechanisms, or to the visual appearance of shadow bands.
Kerr, D. E.↗
Aerosol Optical Properties over the Oceans: Summary and Interpretation of Shadow-Band Radiometer Data from Six Cruises
The aerosol scattering component of the total radiance measured at the detectors of ocean color satellites is determined with atmospheric correction algorithms. These algorithms are based on aerosol optical thickness measurements made in two channels that lie in the near-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The aerosol properties in the near-infrared region are used because there is no significant contribution to the satellite-measured radiance from the underlying ocean surface in that spectral region. In the visible wavelength bands, the spectrum of radiation scattered from the turbid atmosphere is convolved with the spectrum of radiation scattered from the surface layers of the ocean. The radiance contribution made by aerosols in the visible bands is determined from the near-infrared measurements through the use of aerosol models and radiation transfer codes. Selection of appropriate aerosol models from the near-infrared measurements is a fundamental challenge. There are several challenges with respect to the development, improvement, and evaluation of satellite ocean-color atmospheric correction algorithms. A common thread among these challenges is the lack of over-ocean aerosol data. Until recently, one of the most important limitations has been the lack of techniques and instruments to make aerosol measurements at sea. There has been steady progress in this area over the past five years, and there are several new and promising devices and techniques for data collection. The development of new instruments and the collection of more aerosol data from over the world's oceans have brought the realization that aerosol measurements that can be directly compared with aerosol measurements from ocean color satellite measurements are difficult to obtain. There are two problems that limit these types of comparisons: the cloudiness of the atmosphere over the world's oceans and the limitations of the techniques and instruments used to collect aerosol data from ships. To address the latter, we have developed a new type of shipboard sun photometer.
Miller, Mark A.↗
Slant path L- and S-Band tree shadowing measurements
This contribution presents selected results from simultaneous L- and S-Band slant-path fade measurements through a pecan, a cottonwood, and a pine tree employing a tower-mounted transmitter and dual-frequency receiver. A single, circularly-polarized antenna was used at each end of the link. The objective was to provide information for personal communications satellite design on the correlation of tree shadowing between frequencies near 1620 and 2500 MHz. Fades were measured along 10 m lateral distance with 5 cm spacing. Instantaneous fade differences between L- and S-Band exhibited normal distribution with means usually near 0 dB and standard deviations from 5.2 to 7.5 dB. The cottonwood tree was an exception, with 5.4 dB higher average fading at S- than at L-Band. The spatial autocorrelation reduced to near zero with lags of about 10 lambda. The fade slope in dB/MHz is normally distributed with zero mean and standard deviation increasing with fade level.
Vogel, Wolfhard J.↗
Simultaneous measurements of L- and S-band tree shadowing for space-Earth communications
We present results from simultaneous L- and S-Band slant-path fade measurements through trees. One circularly-polarized antenna was used at each end of the dual-frequency link to provide information on the correlation of tree shadowing at 1620 and 2500 MHz. Fades were measured laterally in the shadow region with 5 cm spacing. Fade differences between L- and S-Band had a normal distribution with low means and standard deviations from 5.2 to 7.5 dB. Spatial variations occurred with periods larger than 1-2 wavelengths. Swept measurements over 160 MHz spans showed that the stdv. of power as function of frequency increased from approximately 1-6 dB at locations with mean fades of 4 and 20 dB, respectively. At a 5 dB fade, the central 90% of fade slopes were within a range of 0.7 (1.9) dB/MHz at L-(S-) Band.
Vogel, Wolfhard J.↗
Kramers nodal line in the charge density wave state of YTe 3 and the influence of twin domains
Recent studies have focused on the relationship between charge density wave (CDW) collective electronic ground states and nontrivial topological states. YTe 3 , a nonmagnetic quasi-two-dimensional chalcogenide, has been reported to exhibit a CDW state below 334 K. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT), we establish that YTe 3 is a CDW-induced Kramers nodal line (KNL) metal, a recently proposed topological state of matter. Scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction reveal two orthogonal domains, each with a unidirectional CDW and a similar wave vector (𝐪 CDW ). When the influence of twin domains is considered, the effective band structure (EBS) computations that utilize DFT-calculated bands using a noncentrosymmetric structure determined by x-ray crystallography, show excellent agreement with ARPES. The noncentrosymmetry of YTe 3 is established by Raman spectroscopy. The Fermi surface and ARPES intensity plots show weak shadow bands displaced by 𝐪 CDW from the main bands. Furthermore, these are linked to CDW modulation, as the EBS calculation confirms. Bilayer split main and shadow bands suggest the existence of crossings, according to theory and experiment. DFT bands, including spin-orbit coupling, indicate existence of a KNL along the Σ direction from multiple crossings of bands dispersing perpendicular to it. Additionally, doubly degenerate bands are only found along the KNL at all energies, with some bands dispersing through the Fermi level.
Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy↗
SMART Ground-based Radiation Measurements during PRIDE
We deployed a suite of ground-based remote sensing instruments - SMART (Surface Measurements for Atmospheric Radiative Transfer), at the Roosevelt Road Naval Station in Puerto Rico during the Puerto Rico Dust Experiment (PRIDE). The instruments include several solar and infrared broadband radiometers, a sunphotometer, a shadow-band radiometer, a micro-pulse lidar, a total-sky imager, a microwave radiometer, and two solar spectrometers. These radiometers were set up on a mobile platform and a solar tracker. During 27 June - 23 July, about 25 days of data were acquired under partially cloudy sky conditions. The diurnal air temperature was fluctuating around 28.6 C to within a few degrees. Daytime average of solar irradiance reaching at the surface was ranged from about 400 W/sq m on a rainy day to about 640 W/sq m on a cloud-free day. The infrared irradiance at the surface during the measurement period was averaged about 408 W/sq m. The heights of boundary layer, dusts and clouds were captured by lidar images. Based on sunphotometer and shadow-band radiometer retrievals, the aerosol optical thickness varied from below 0.1 to over 0.6. Combining with radiative transfer modeling and other in-situ and remote sensing measurements, our ground-based measurements provide vital information on understanding the long-range transport of African dust into the Caribbean.
Tsay, Si-Chee↗
The SMART Ground-based Remote Sensing for Terra/MODIS Validation
A ground-based remote sensing system - SMART (Surface Measurements for Atmospheric Radiative Transfer) - was deployed during both the SAFARI-2000 and the ARREX-1999 dry season campaigns. The measurement site is the Skukuza airport. The operation period for 1999 is from August 16 to September 10. The main instruments include shortwave (approximately 0.28-2.8 micrometers) and longwave (approximately 4-50 micrometers) broadband radiometers, a shadow-band radiometer, a micro-pulse lidar, and a microwave radiometer. We also did some measurements of solar spectral flux by using an ASD spectrometer. The operation period for 2000 is from August 15 to September 22. This time we added a few new features to the SMART system: a solar tracker for direct and diffuse components of solar fluxes; the scanning capability to the microwave radiometer; a whole sky camera for documenting the sky conditions every minute; and a mini-weather station for atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed/direction. A surface SSFR (Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer) from NASA Ames also joined us for the measurements. This is a unique data set with reasonably long observational period and high accuracy. The data show good correlation with the local weather patterns. We also see diurnal change and some special events, such as fierce fires nearby. To quantify the surface radiative forcing of biomass burning aerosols, many pyranometers, pyrgeometers, and pyrheliometers measure the global, direct, and diffuse irradiance at the surface. These fluxes combining with the collocated optical thickness retrievals from sun photometer (or shadow-band radiometer), the solar radiative forcing, proportional to delta F/delta tau, can be investigated. Integrated with measurements of other instruments at the site, these data sets will serve as "ground truth" for the satellite measurements and modeling.
Tsay, Si-Chee↗
Sun and Sky Radiance Measurements and Data Analysis Protocols
This chapter is concerned with two types of radiometric measurements essential to verify atmospheric correction algorithms and to calibrate vicariously satellite ocean color sensors. The first type is a photometric measurement of the direct solar beam to determine the optical thickness of the atmosphere. The intensity of the solar beam can be measured directly, or obtained indirectly from measurements of diffuse global upper hemispheric irradiance. The second type is a measurement of the solar aureole and sky radiance distribution using a CCD camera, or a scanning radiometer viewing in and perpendicular to the solar principal plane. From the two types of measurements, the optical properties of aerosols, highly variable in space and time, can be derived. Because of the high variability, the aerosol properties should be known at the time of satellite overpass. Atmospheric optics measurements, however, are not easy to perform at sea, from a ship or any platform. This complicates the measurement protocols and data analysis. Some instrumentation cannot be deployed at sea, and is limited to island and coastal sites. In the following, measurement protocols are described for radiometers commonly used to measure direct atmospheric transmittance and sky radiance, namely standard sun photometers, fast-rotating shadow-band radiometers, automated sky scanning systems, and CCD cameras. Methods and procedures to analyze and quality control the data are discussed, as well as proper measurement strategies for evaluation of atmospheric correction algorithms and satellite-derived ocean color.
Frouin, Robert↗
Accuracy Assessments and Validation of an Expanded UV Irradiance Database from Satellite Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS)
The TOMS UV irradiance database (1978 to 2000) has been expanded to include 5 new products (noon irradiance at 305, 310, 324, and 380 nm, and noon erythemal-weighted irradiance), in addition to the existing erythemal daily exposure, which permit direct Comparisons with ground-based measurements from UV spectrometers. Sensitivity studies are conducted to estimate uncertainties of the new TOMS UV irradiance data due to algorithm apriori assumptions. Comparisons with Brewer spectrometers as well as filter radiometers are used to review of the sources of known errors. Inability to distinguish between snow and cloud cover using only TOMS data results in large errors in estimating surface UV using snow climatology. A correction is suggested for the case when the regional snow albedo is known from an independent source. The summer-time positive bias between TOMS UV estimations and Brewer measurements can be seen at all wavelengths. This suggests the difference is not related to ozone absorption effects. We emphasize that uncertainty of boundary layer UV aerosol absorption properties remains a major source of error in modeling UV irradiance in clear sky conditions. Neglecting aerosol absorption by the present TOMS algorithm results in a positive summertime bias in clear-sky UV estimations over many locations. Due to high aerosol variability the bias is strongly site dependent. Data from UV-shadow-band radiometer and well-calibrated CIMEL sun-sky radiometer are used to quantify the bias at NASA/GSFC site in Greenbelt, MD. Recommendations are given to enable potential users to better account for local conditions by combining standard TOMS UV data with ancillary ground measurements.
Krotkov, N. A.↗
Ground-Based Correction of Remote-Sensing Spectral Imagery
Software has been developed for an improved method of correcting for the atmospheric optical effects (primarily, effects of aerosols and water vapor) in spectral images of the surface of the Earth acquired by airborne and spaceborne remote-sensing instruments. In this method, the variables needed for the corrections are extracted from the readings of a radiometer located on the ground in the vicinity of the scene of interest. The software includes algorithms that analyze measurement data acquired from a shadow-band radiometer. These algorithms are based on a prior radiation transport software model, called MODTRAN, that has been developed through several versions up to what are now known as MODTRAN4 and MODTRAN5 . These components have been integrated with a user-friendly Interactive Data Language (IDL) front end and an advanced version of MODTRAN4. Software tools for handling general data formats, performing a Langley-type calibration, and generating an output file of retrieved atmospheric parameters for use in another atmospheric-correction computer program known as FLAASH have also been incorporated into the present soft-ware. Concomitantly with the soft-ware described thus far, there has been developed a version of FLAASH that utilizes the retrieved atmospheric parameters to process spectral image data.
Alder-Golden, Steven M.↗
An Assessment of the Surface Longwave Direct Radiative Effect of Airborne Saharan Dust During the NAMMA Field Campaign
In September 2006, NASA Goddard s mobile ground-based laboratories were deployed to Sal Island in Cape Verde (16.73degN, 22.93degW) to support the NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (NAMMA) field study. The Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI), a key instrument for spectrally characterizing the thermal IR, was used to retrieve the dust IR aerosol optical depths (AOTs) in order to examine the diurnal variability of airborne dust with emphasis on three separate dust events. AERI retrievals of dust AOT are compared with those from the coincident/collocated multifilter rotating shadow-band radiometer (MFRSR), micropulse lidar (MPL), and NASA Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) sensors. The retrieved AOTs are then inputted into the Fu-Liou 1D radiative transfer model to evaluate local instantaneous direct longwave radiative effects (DRE(sub LW)) of dust at the surface in cloud-free atmospheres and its sensitivity to dust microphysical parameters. The top-of-atmosphere DRE(sub LW) and longwave heating rate profiles are also evaluated. Instantaneous surface DRE(sub LW) ranges from 2 to 10 W/sq m and exhibits a strong linear dependence with dust AOT yielding a DRE(sub LW) of 16 W/sq m per unit dust AOT. The DRE(sub LW) is estimated to be approx.42% of the diurnally averaged direct shortwave radiative effect at the surface but of opposite sign, partly compensating for the shortwave losses. Certainly nonnegligible, the authors conclude that DRE(sub LW) can significantly impact the atmospheric energetics, representing an important component in the study of regional climate variation.
Hansell, R. A.↗
Aerosol Absorption Retrieval at Ultraviolet Wavelengths in a Complex Environment
We have used total and diffuse UV irradiance measurements from a multi-filter rotating shadow-band radiometer (UVMFR) in order to investigate aerosol absorption in the UV range for a 5-year period in Athens, Greece. This dataset was used as input to a radiative transfer model and the single scattering albedo (SSA) at 368 and 332 nm was calculated. Retrievals from a collocated CIMEL sun photometer were used to evaluate the products and study the absorption spectral behavior of retrieved SSA values. The UVMFR SSA, together with synchronous, CIMEL-derived retrievals of SSA at 440 nm, had a mean of 0.90, 0.87 and 0.83, with lowest values (higher absorption) encountered at the shorter wavelengths. In addition, noticeable diurnal variation of the SSA in all wavelengths is shown, with amplitudes up to 0.05. Strong SSA wavelength dependence is revealed for cases of low Angstrom exponents, accompanied by a SSA decrease with decreasing extinction optical depth, suggesting varying influence under different aerosol composition. However, part of this dependence for low aerosol optical depths is masked by the enhanced SSA retrieval uncertainty. Dust and brown carbon UV absorbing properties were also investigated to explain seasonal patterns.
Kazadzis, Stelios↗
The X-ray shadow of the high-latitude molecular cloud MBM 12
ROSAT XRT/PSPC observations show a deep shadow cast by the high-latitude molecular cloud MBM 12 in the 3/4 keV diffuse background. Modeling of the shadow implies that less than 20 percent of the typical high-latitude 3/4 keV diffuse background intensity is emitted in front of the cloud (D = 60-70 pc). A weaker shadow consistent with the lower optical depth at higher energies was observed in the 1.5 keV band. Since little shadowing was seen in the 1/4 keV band, this observation places strong constraints on the amount of 0.5-2 keV emission that is intermixed with the source of the observed 1/4 keV flux.
Snowden, S. L.↗