Accession Number:

AD0735898

Title:

An Experimental Method of Determining Ballistic Winds Making Direct Use of SIRS Radiances.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Jul-Dec 71,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CALIF

Personal Author(s):

• Elsberry,Russell L.
• Wright,John W.
• Martin,Frank L.

Report Date:

1971-12-31

Pagination or Media Count:

48.0

Abstract:

A proposed ballistic wind determination technique using the satellite infrared spectrophotometer SIRS data from NIMBUS 3 and 4 was tested. The general approach was to derive regression equations from a dependent data sample of nearly coincident subsatellite points and rawinsonde locations. The validity of the equations was checked with a smaller independent sample of SIRS radiances from a later period. Tests with the ballistic wind component normal to the path of the NIMBUS 3 suggested standard errors of less than 10 kts can be achieved. Both zonal and meridional components can be calculated from SIRS-B radiance data which is grouped in clusters. Because the geostrophic ballistic wind is proportional to a horizontal gradient, several techniques were attempted for calculating the gradient at the central point of the irregularly spaced set of data. Author

Descriptors:

• (*WIND
• UPPER ATMOSPHERE)
• (*GUIDED MISSILE TRAJECTORIES
• DEFLECTION)
• ATMOSPHERE ENTRY
• REGRESSION ANALYSIS
• METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITES
• INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETERS
• RADIOSONDES
• CORIOLIS EFFECT
• GRAVITY

Subject Categories:

• Atmospheric Physics
• Guided Missile Trajectories, Accuracy and Ballistics
• Ballistics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE