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Merritt, E. S.

Sabatini, R. R.

English

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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19760018517 2020-03-22T14:18:13+00:00Z
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STUDY OF MESOCALE EXCHANGE
PROCESSES UTILIZING LANDSAT
AIR MASS CLOUD IMAGERY
Earl S. Merritt ( Principal Investigator)
Romeo R. Sabatini ( Co-Investigator) ,rt,,
Earth Satellite Corporation
7222 47th Street
Washington, D.C. 20015
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	 JJ 35d
May 1976
Interim Report for Period March-May 1976
Contract No. NAS5-20944
Prepared for
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
PREFACE AND SUMMARY
Small scale cumulus associated with both tropical and polar air
masses over the central United States as observed in LANDSAT images are
being analyzed. The objective of the analysis is to define relation-
ships between the spacing and density of the cumuliform cloudiness and
major terms of the surface energy and water budgets.
A visual analysis of cloud cover and albedo on two of the three
LANDSAT images selected yielded a weak relationship between high albedo
and high cumulus concentration.
LANDSAT CCT's have been received for the selected cases, although
no data have been received from the ground Lruth test sites. Climatol-
ogical data from cooperative climatological stations have been collected
and punched on computer cards.
Computer algorithms necessary to read and printout selected por-
tions of CCT's have been developed. An algorithm to translate calibrated
voltage counts into albedo has been completed. Algorithms have also
been prepared to ;alculate the heat and moisture budget of the surface
from available climatological observations. Albedo maps have been pro-
duced and heat and moisture budget calculations have been performed for
the areas of two selected LANDSAT images.
Is
1.0 WORK ACCOMPLISHED DURING THIS PERIOD
1.1 Selection of Case Studies
We have selected two occurrences of cumuliform clouds as shown
by LANDSAT images for the calculation of surface itcat and moisture
budgets. The selected case studies are 24 May 1974. 	 (LANDSAT-1
Scene ID 167016331), and 3 July 1975 (LANDSAT-2 Scene ID 216216282).
Both occurrences are around the area of Manhattan, Kansas.
1.2 Calculation of Albedo Maps
Albedo maps on an approximate scale of 1:250,000 have been
produced for the two cases selected. Albedos range from 20% to 35%
over land and are at about 5% over water bodies. Each albedo value
is for an area approximately 1 mile square and is an average of 16
scan spots.
1.3 Heat and Moisture Budget Calculations
Climatological data from all available climatic stations (22)
in the area covered by the two LANDSAT images have been used to
calculate heat and moisture budgets from about two weeks prior, up
•	 to the time of the two selected cumuliform cloud scenes.
The soil moisture budget calculations provide the moisture
available in three top layers of the soil up to the time of the
LANDSAT scene, by taking into account precipitation, evaporation,
and runoff for about two weeks prior to the scene. The calculations
have been performed by a method called the Versatile Budget (VB)
developed by Baier and Robertson (1966) and slightly modified by
EarthSa t.
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Concurrent with the soil moisture budget, heat budget calcula-
tions have also been performed for the climatic stations located in
the LANDSAT scenes. The heat budget subroutine provides the net
radiation values necessary for the evaporation estimation. As a
result of the moisture and heat budget calculation at the 22
climatic stations we will shortly have available for the area of
the LANDSAT images:
1. A map of soil moisture at the time of the LANDSAT image.
2. A map of evaporation approximately ± 3 hours of LANDSAT
image.
3. A map of solar and net radiation approximately ± 3 hours
of LANDSAT image. (Actual LANDSAT cloud cover are used
to estimate solar radiation.)
1.4 Precipitation Map Analysis
Two types of precipitation maps have been prepared for the two
LANDSAT image areas using all available climatological data. One
map shows the number of days since it rained last from the time of
the LANDSAT image. Another map shows the total precipitation
received in the seven days prior to the LANDSAT image.
3
2.0 PROGRAM FOR NEXT REPORTING PERIOD
During the next three-month reporting period we will conduct the
following:
1. Plot on a 1:1,000,000 scale values of soil moisture, evapor-
ation, and radiation we have obtained for the climatic stations
in the two selected LANDSAT images.
2. Initiate correlation analyses of heat and moisture budget and
cloud fields.
-3.0 DATA USE
In the investigation to date we have the following data use summary:
1. Value of Data	 Allowed
Bulk	 768
CCT	 9600
2. Value of Data	 Ordered
Bulk	 350
CCT	 2400
3. Value of Data	 Received
Bulk	 200
CCT	 2400


Study of mesocale exchange processes utilizing LANDSAT air mass cloud imagery

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