Ship Tracks: A Geographical and Statistical Study

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA261297 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Anomalous cloud lines are frequently seen in satellite images as curvilinear features. These cloud lines or ship tracks are likely due to products of ship-produced hot exhaust gases that are expelled into the atmosphere, increasing the aerosol concentration in the ship track plume. NOAA 9 and 10 AVHRR data are sensitive to cloud droplet size and show the ship tracks as increases in radiance due to reflectance. Twenty eight NOAA 910 satellite passes are analyzed. Twenty two of the passes are found to contain a total of 316 ship tracks which is significantly more than that expected by earlier ship track studies. An existing ship track detection algorithm is used to conduct a statistical comparison of ship track and non-ship track, or ambient pixel reflectance of the NOAA 9 and 10 AVHRR channels 1 0.63 um, 3 3.7 um, and 4 11 um. The results of the statistical analysis confirm, as found in previous studies, that the ship track pixels displayed a significant increase in values for channels 1 and 3 and a very slight increase for channel 4.

Author(s):
Lutz, John W.
Author Organization(s):
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
Descriptive Note:
Master's thesis
Pagination:
0072

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
NPS
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_3.1.1_Maneuver to Engage; JCA_3.1_Maneuver; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_4_Logistics; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_2_Battlespace Awareness; JCA_2.2.2_Imagery Collection; JCA_2.2_Collection; JCA_5.3.3_Develop Strategy; JCA_5.3.4_Develop Courses of Action; JCA_5.3.5_Analyze Courses of Action; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_1.3_Human Capital Management
Modernization Areas:
Space
Communities of Interest:
Ground and Sea Platforms
Descriptor(s):
*SHIPS, *AEROSOLS, *PIXELS, *STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, *EXHAUST GASES, ALGORITHMS, COMPARISON, ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES, CHANNELS, TRACKS, ATMOSPHERES, REFLECTANCE, PLUMES, VALUE, IMAGES, DETECTION, CLOUDS
Field(s)/Group(s):
Statistics and Probability, Marine Engineering, Combustion and Ignition
Keyword(s):
*SHIP TRACKS, *CLOUD LINES
Report Date:
1992 Dec 01