NOSA Sensing Element Related Definitions

1
NOSASensing Element Related Definitions

• Linda J. Vandergriff
• September 30, 2002

2
Basic Sensor Construct

• Sample Set of Sensor Types
• Human Observer
• Sounder
• Altimeter
• Radiometer
• Spectrometer
• Imager Panchromatic
• Multispectral
• Hyperspectral
• Precipitation
• RADAR / LIDAR
• Pressure Temperature

• Sensor Operational Modes
• Passive / Active
• Stereo / Mono
• Technology Readiness Levels
• TRL 1 Basic Principles
• TRL 2 Technology Concept
• TRL 3 Experimental / Proof of Concept
• TRL 4 Lab Breadboard
• TRL 5 Field Breadboard
• TRL 6 Prototype Demonstration
• TRL 7 Space Prototype Demonstration
• TRL 8 Flight Qualified
• TRL 9 Flight Proven

3
Typical Environmental Phenomena
Environmental Phenomena is the information regime
needed by the stakeholder/user to support
decision making. (e.g., Pilot needs to understand
atmospheric visibility, winds, clouds, and
turbulence for the flight path)

• Ocean Use Status
• Imagery
• Ocean currents / turbidity
• Fresh Water Ice
• Surface Temperature
• Fishery Monitor
• Space Weather Status
• Radiation Belts
• Auroral Characteristics
• Geomagnetic Field
• Solar Characteristics

• Atmosphere Characteristics
• Adverse Conditions
• Visibility (Aerosols)
• Precipitation
• Wind Speed / Direction ( _at_ surface / above)
• Clouds Fog characteristics
• Stability / Turbulence Atmosphere
• Special Events Monitoring
• Flooding
• Severe Weather
• Tropical
• Oil Spill

• Land Use Status
• Imagery
• Surface Temperature
• Surface Wetness
• Snow Ice Cover
• Land Cover
• Wildlife Monitor

4
National Weather Service Environmental Phenomena

• Storm Intensity or Proximity
• MI Shallow BC Patches PR
  Partial TS Thunderstorm
• BL Blowing SH Showers DR
  Drifting FZ Freezing
• WEATHER PHENOMENA
• Precipitation
• DZ Drizzle RA Rain SN
  Snow SG Snow grains
• IC Ice crystals PL Ice pellets GR
  Hail GS Small hail/snow pellets
• UP Unknown precipitation in automated
  observations
• Obscuration
• BR Mist(gt 5/8SM) FG Fog(lt 5/8SM) FU
  Smoke VA Volcanic Ash
• SA Sand HZ Haze PY
  Spray DU Widespread dust
• Other
• SQ Squall SS Sandstorm DS
  Duststorm PO Well developed
• FC Funnel cloud FC tornado/waterspout
  dust/sand whirls

5
Typical Environmental Parameters
Environmental Parameters are the basic
measurements that characterize any given
phenomena.

• Atmosphere
• Precipitation rate/type amount
• Vertical Moisture / Temperature profiles
• Temperature / Pressure surface profiles
• Wind Speed/Direction _at_ surface/above
• Clouds height, type, cover, liquid water, optical
  depth, pressure, temperature
• Ozone concentration
• Stability / Turbulence Atmosphere
• Aerosol Properties
• Volcanic
• Dust Storm
• Land / Fire Smoke
• Special Events Monitoring
• Flooding extent, depth
• Severe Weather speed, severity
• Tropical extent, severity
• Oil Spill extent, speed, severity

• Land Use Status
• Imagery
• Surface Temperature
• Soil Moisture
• Surface Wetness
• Snow Ice Cover
• Land Cover
• Vegetation Index / Surface Type
• Brightness Temperature
• Wildlife Monitor

• Ocean Use Status
• Imagery
• Ocean currents / turbidity
• Fresh Water Ice
• Surface Temperature
• Ocean Color
• Ocean wave characteristics
• Littoral Sediment Transport
• Fishery Monitor
• Space Weather Status
• Radiation Belts
• Auroral boundary, imagery
• Geomagnetic Field
• Energetic Ions
• In-situ plasma fluctuations / temperature
• Neutral density profile
• Solar Irradiance
• Total Energy Deposition

6
Data Level Community State of Usage

• General satellite sensing community agreement on
  Data Levels with various implementations are
  summarized to be applied to this effort
• Levels range from 0 to 5 with increasing amount
  of processing and aggregations from original
  instrument output
• Level 0 Raw counts / sensor output
• Level 1 Calibration and correlation of level 0
  data
• Level 2 Conversion of data to geophysical values
• Level 3 Binning of like values for temporal or
  spatial trending / analysis / maps
• Level 4 Create lower level products for users
  (usually research / scientific focused)
• Level 5 Create higher level integrated products
  for focused user community (usually end users
  such military pilots or civilian ship captains
  focused)
• Example Wind Direction Speed
• Level 0 anometer RPMs and direction
• Level 1 update RPMs for humidity, mechanical
  problems, and correlate with direction
• Level 2 Convert RPMs to wind velocity vector
  (m/sec in direction )
• Level 3 Provide wind map for US or a for a given
  location over last 24 hours
• Level 4 Variance of wind for a given region over
  time with other correlated factors
• Level 5 Tailored map with wind included for boat
  captains

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Data Level Examples
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Other Considerations

• Communications
• Command/Control
• Data Downlink
• SARSAT Services
• Product Re-Broadcast
• Internet / Data Archival
• Fax
• Phone
• Mail
• Alert System

9
Architecture Transition Planning
Time
Vision Statement
CONOPS
Requirements
Roadmap
Cost/Benefit Trades
Transition Plan