Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports Volume 38 July 28, 2000

(MODIS) for remote sensing of cirrus clouds from space. The sensitivity of the 1.375-micron MODIS channel to detect thin cirrus
clouds during the day time is expected to be one to two orders of magnitude better than the current infrared emission techniques.
As a result, a larger fraction of the satellite data will likely be identified as containing cirrus clouds. In order to make better studies
of surface reflectance properties, thin cirrus effects must be removed from satellite images. We have developed an empirical
approach for removing/correcting thin cirrus effects in the 0.4 - 1.0 micron region using channels near 1.375 microns. This algorithm
will be incorporated into the present MODIS atmospheric correction algorithms for ocean color and land applications and
will yield improved MODIS atmospheric aerosol, land surface, and ocean color products.
Author
Radiance; Cirrus Clouds; Remote Sensing; Spectral Reflectance; Atmospheric Correction; Imaging Techniques; Algorithms
20000066620 Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA USA
Southern Hemisphere Application of the Systematic Approach to Tropical Cyclone Track Forecasting. Part 3, Updated
Environmental Structure Characteristics Interim Report, Oct. 1998-Sep. 1999
Reader, Grahame; Boothe, Mark A.; Elsberry, Russell L.; Carr, Lester E., III; Sep. 1999; 80p; In English
Report No.(s): AD-A377204; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A05, Hardcopy; A01, Microfiche
The Meteorological knowledge base of the Systematic Approach to tropical cyclone track forecasting in the Southern Hemisphere
has been updated to reflect a more global terminology. Examples of these new environment structures in operational
(NOGAPS) analyses and tracks are given. Perhaps the most important conclusion is that all cases in the 1990-91 through
1998-1999 seasons could be classified into one of these 14 synoptic pattern/region combinations. The nine-year ”climatology”
of the occurrences of each of the 14 combinations is given for the South Indian and Pacific Oceans separately, and the characteristic
tracks in each of these 14 combinations are provided. Some new transitional mechanisms between these combinations have also
been defined. The importance of these transitions from one pattern/region combinations to another is that the TC track then also
changes. The frequency of recurring (greater than three) transitions in this nine-year sample is summarized. Because the TC is
at any time in only one pattern/region combination, the concern of the forecaster is on the possible transitions from that pattern/region.
to assist the forecaster, the percentages of these transitions from each pattern/region combination are also summarized&
Some of these transitions are clearly more favored than others, which is useful dance to the forecaster.
DTIC
Cyclones; Southern Hemisphere; Tropical Storms; Weather Forecasting; Meteorology
20000066631 Air Univ., Maxwell AFB, AL USA
Weather Constrained Throughput: Substituting Spangdahlem and Ramstein for Rhein Main
MacKeeb, Richard P.; Jun. 1999; 77p; In English
Report No.(s): AD-A372325; AFIT/GOM/LAC/99Y-9; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A05, Hardcopy; A01, Microfiche
As the USA Air Force enters the 2lst Century, it is transitioning from a strategy of forward presence to a force projection
capability. This strategy has been adopted by the US military as a whole and therefore, places a heavy reliance on the airlift capability
of the United States Air Force. As the operations out of Rhein Main AB are absorbed by Ramstein AB and Spangdahlem AB,
Air Force leadership needs to be aware of the impact the weather differences have on operations. This paper looks at the operational
differences between these bases from a standpoint of weather constrained throughput. to get to the final weather constraining
factors, a ten-year history of weather conditions at the bases in question were analyzed. The analysis was based off of the percent
of each month that operations were limited due to ceiling, visibility, and crosswind limitations. The final result is a group of tables
containing correction factors that can be applied to each base on a monthly basis. The throughput can thus be corrected and more
accurate planning can be accomplished in line with the Air Force concept of force projection and Mobility operations in support
of humanitarian and disaster relief.
DTIC
Weather Forecasting; Meteorological Parameters
20000067673 Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA USA
SSMI Wind Speed Climatology of the Time of Monsoon Wind Offset in the Western Arabian Sea
Halpern, David, Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., USA; [2000]; 1p; In English; No Copyright; Avail: Issuing Activity;
Abstract Only
Forecasting the time of onset of monsoon wind in the western Arabian Sea, which is believed to precede the onset of rainfall
along the west coast of India, is an important unsolved problem. Prior to measurements of the surface wind field by satellite, there
was an absence of suitable surface wind observations. NASA scatterometer (NSCAT) surface wind vectors revealed that the time
of the 1997 onset of 12 m/s southwest monsoon wind speeds in the western Arabian Sea preceded the onset of monsoon rainfall
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