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At least 19 records

Optical Design of the RAISE Sounding Rocket Instrument

The Rapid Acquisition Imaging Spectrograph Experiment (RAISE) is a recently selected sounding rocket program to investigate the dynamics and heating of the outer solar atmosphere on time scales as short as looms. Its optical design represents the first in a new class of two-reflection W / E W imaging spectrometers with Toroidal Varied-Line Space (TVLS) gratings. Due to the remarkable imaging properties of such gratings, RAISE will measure spectra simultaneously over four different wavelength bands (1205-1243 & 1524-1559 A in first order, 602.5-621.5 & 762.0-779.5 A in second), with an unprecedented combination of spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions. These spectral regions include many bright, well-resolved lines covering the temperature range from the low chromosphere up to the 2 MK Fe XI1 corona. The RAISE optical design features an extremely fast beam (f/7.0) and a minimum number of reflections, which together allow enough throughput to provide high quality spectral data even at its very short exposure times. Moreover, by operating with high magnification (x4.25), the RAISE spectrometer can most effectively utilize the full length and width available in the sounding rocket payload. First launch of this exciting new instrument is scheduled for 2006 June 21.

Thomas, Roger J.

Investigation using data from ERTS-1 to develop and implement utilization of living marine resources

The author has identified the following significant results. This 15-month ERTS-1 investigation produced correlations between satellite, aircraft, menhaden fisheries, and environmental sea truth data from the Mississippi Sound. Selected oceanographic, meteorological, and biological parameters were used as indirect indicators of the menhaden resource. Synoptic and near real time sea truth, fishery, satellite imagery, aircraft acquired multispectral, photo and thermal IR information were acquired as data inputs. Computer programs were developed to manipulate these data according to user requirements. Preliminary results indicate a correlation between backscattered light with chlorophyll concentration and water transparency in turbid waters. Eight empirical menhaden distribution models were constructed from combinations of four fisheries-significant oceanographic parameters: water depth, transparency, color, and surface salinity. The models demonstrated their potential for management utilization in areas of resource assessment, prediction, and monitoring.

Stevenson, W. H.

Future hybrid infrared and microwave satellite sounding system - A theoretical analysis of its capability

The expected atmospheric sounding accuracy and the vertical resolution performance of the sounding system selected by NASA to fly aboard the Earth Observing System polar platform, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder combined with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit, are evaluated under various weather conditions. The performance of the combined system is compared to that of current polar orbiting systems. The complementary nature of the IR component provides high vertical resolution, and the microwave information permits sounding through nonprecipitating clouds.

Huang, H.-L.

Establishing the Response of Low Frequency Auditory Filters

The response of auditory filters is central to frequency selectivity of sound by the human auditory system. This is true especially for realistic complex sounds that are often encountered in many applications such as modeling the audibility of sound, voice recognition, noise cancelation, and the development of advanced hearing aid devices. The purpose of this study was to establish the response of low frequency (below 100Hz) auditory filters. Two experiments were designed and executed; the first was to measure subject's hearing threshold for pure tones (at 25, 31.5, 40, 50, 63 and 80 Hz), and the second was to measure the Psychophysical Tuning Curves (PTCs) at two signal frequencies (Fs= 40 and 63Hz). Experiment 1 involved 36 subjects while experiment 2 used 20 subjects selected from experiment 1. Both experiments were based on a 3-down 1-up 3AFC adaptive staircase test procedure using either a variable level narrow-band noise masker or a tone. A summary of the results includes masked threshold data in form of PTCs, the response of auditory filters, their distribution, and comparison with similar recently published data.

Rafaelof, Menachem

Extreme atmosphere models, 1973

The results of a study that used radiosonde soundings to select the extreme atmospheric conditions in the continental United States are presented.

Jeske, K. W.

Experimental determination of sound and high-speed flow interaction

A facility that was used to measure the interaction of flow with sound at high Mach numbers is described. Four inlets with different area variations (or axial gradients) were tested. Sound of selected frequencies and modes (0,0), (1,0), (2,0) was generated with eight circumferential acoustic drivers.

Lumsdaine, E.

Experimental determination of sound and high-speed flow interaction

An experimental facility for measuring the attenuation of sound at various frequencies and modes in a finite duct with high-speed flow (with or without an axial pressure gradient) is described. The facility consists of an anechoic chamber transonic compressor with inlets of different area variations (or axial gradients); sound of selected frequencies and modes is produced with eight circumferential acoustic drivers. The experimental results indicate that high Mach number inlets can increase noise propagation. In addition, an inlet with a constant axial gradient is found to have a better acoustic and aerodynamic performance than inlets of the same area ratio with steep gradients near the throat or exit.

Lumsdaine, E.

A comparative analysis of rawinsonde and NIMBUS 6 and TIROS N satellite profile data

Comparisons are made between rawinsonde and satellite profiles in seven areas for a wide range of surface and weather conditions. Variables considered include temperature, dewpoint temperature, thickness, precipitable water, lapse rate of temperature, stability, geopotential height, mixing ratio, wind direction, wind speed, and kinematic parameters, including vorticity and the advection of vorticity and temperature. In addition, comparisons are made in the form of cross sections and synoptic fields for selected variables. Sounding data from the NIMBUS 6 and TIROS N satellites were used. Geostrophic wind computed from smoothed geopotential heights provided large scale flow patterns that agreed well with the rawinsonde wind fields. Surface wind patterns as well as magnitudes computed by use of the log law to extrapolate wind to a height of 10 m agreed with observations. Results of this study demonstrate rather conclusively that satellite profile data can be used to determine characteristics of large scale systems but that small scale features, such as frontal zones, cannot yet be resolved.

Scoggins, J. R.

Atmospheric temperatures near the tropical tropopause Temporal variations, zonal asymmetry and implications for stratospheric water vapor

Analysis of temperature measurements obtained over an eight-year period in the vicinity of the low-latitude tropopause confirms the existence of longitude regions which are consistently colder by approximately 2-3 K than elsewhere in the tropics. These temperature differences, however, are confined to a layer of thickness 3-5 km centered on the tropopause. The lowest monthly mean temperatures observed at the colder stations yield saturation mixing ratios that are consistent with the range of measured stratospheric water vapor. Examination of the daily variations in temperature at a given station reveals a more complex pattern than indicated by the monthly averages. On many days temperatures at the colder longitudes correspond to water vapor abundances that are less than observed in the stratosphere despite the favorable comparison of the monthly means. The results point to the need for a series of water vapor soundings at selected longitudes and times in order to define the extent to which the tropical tropopause controls the stratospheric water vapor abundance.

Frederick, J. E.

Analysis of tropical synoptic disturbances using satellite-derived soundings and radiance data from selected channels

Some of the results of comparing and combining conventional meteorological data with data retrieved from satellite radiance measurements in determining the atmospheric structure associated with a portion of the life cycle of an eastern Pacific moisture burst are presented. The satellite-derived data, consisting of microwave and water vapor channel brightness temperature fields and cloud-tracked winds, detect synoptic scale patterns of temperature, moisture, and wind. The microwave channel temperatures provide 'all weather' coverage but require special interpretation in rain areas. The need for further investigations to improve the accuracy of inferring structure from satellite-derived information is emphasized.

Thompson, A. H.

Relationships between remotely sensed fisheries distribution information and selected oceanographic parameters in the Mississippi Sound

The author has identified the following significant results. A feasibility study to demonstrate the potential of satellites for providing fisheries significant information was conducted in the Mississippi Sound and adjacent offshore waters. Attempts were made to relate satellite acquired imagery to selected oceanographic parameters and then to relate these parameters to aircraft remotely sensed distribution patterns of resident surface schooling fishes. Initial results suggest that this approach is valid and that the satellite acquired imagery may have important fisheries resource assessment implications.

Kemmerer, A. J.

Relationships between remotely sensed fisheries distribution information and selected oceanographic parameters in the Mississippi Sound

A feasibility study to demonstrate the potential of satellites for providing fisheries significant information was conducted in the Mississippi Sound and adjacent offshore waters. Attempts were made to relate satellite acquired imagery to selected oceanographic parameters and then to relate these parameters to aircraft remotely sensed distribution patterns of resident surface schooling fishes. Initial results suggest that this approach is valid and that the satellite acquired imagery may have important fisheries resource assessment implications.

Kemmerer, A. J.

Variability in Ocean Color Associated with Phytoplankton and Terrigenous Matter: Time Series Measurements and Algorithm Development at the FRONT Site on the New England Continental Shelf

Fronts in the coastal ocean describe areas of strong horizontal gradients in both physical and biological properties associated with tidal mixing and freshwater estuarine output (e.g. Simpson, 1981 and O Donnell, 1993). Related gradients in optically important constituents mean that fronts can be observed from space as changes in ocean color as well as sea surface temperature (e.g., Dupouy et al., 1986). This research program is designed to determine which processes and optically important constituents must be considered to explain ocean color variations associated with coastal fronts on the New England continental shelf, in particular the National Ocean Partnership Program (NOPP) Front Resolving Observational Network with Telemetry (FRONT) site. This site is located at the mouth of Long Island sound and was selected after the analysis of 12 years of AVHRR data showed the region to be an area of strong frontal activity (Ullman and Cornillon, 1999). FRONT consists of a network of modem nodes that link bottom mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) and profiling arrays. At the center of the network is the Autonomous Vertically Profiling Plankton Observatory (AVPPO) (Thwaites et al. 1998). The AVPPO consists of buoyant sampling vehicle and a trawl-resistant bottom-mounted enclosure, which holds a winch, the vehicle (when not sampling), batteries, and controller. Three sampling systems are present on the vehicle, a video plankton recorder, a CTD with accessory sensors, and a suite of bio-optical sensors including Satlantic OCI-200 and OCR-200 spectral radiometers and a WetLabs ac-9 dual path absorption and attenuation meter. At preprogrammed times the vehicle is released, floats to the surface, and is then winched back into the enclosure with power and data connection maintained through the winch cable. Communication to shore is possible through a bottom cable and nearby surface telemetry buoy, equipped with a mobile modem, giving the capability for near-real time data transmission and interactive sampling control.

Morrison, John R.