Langley Research Center

About: Langley Research Center is a facility organization based out in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Mach number & Wind tunnel. The organization has 15945 authors who have published 37602 publications receiving 821623 citations. The organization is also known as: NASA Langley & NASA Langley Research Center.

Effects of Modality on Interrupted Flight Deck Performance: Implications for Data Link

Abstract: Externally-imposed tasks frequently interrupt ongoing task performance in the commercial flight deck. While normally managed without consequence, basic research as well as aviation accident and incident investigations show that interruptions can negatively affect performance and safety. This research investigates the influence of interruption and interrupted task modality on pilot performance in a simulated commercial flight deck. Fourteen current commercial airline pilots performed approach scenarios in a fixed-base flight simulator. Air traffic control instructions, conveyed either aurally or visually (via a data link system) interrupted a visual task (obtaining information from the Flight Management System) and an auditory task (listening to the automated terminal information service recording). Some results confirm the hypothesized performance advantage of cross-modality conditions, more compelling nature of auditory interruptions, and interruption-resistance of auditory ongoing tasks. However, taken together, results suggest the four interaction conditions had different effects on pilot performance. These results have implications for the design of data link systems, and for facilitating interruption management through interface design, aiding, and training programs.

A simple model for the cloud adjacency effect and the apparent bluing of aerosols near clouds

Abstract: In determining aerosol-cloud interactions, the properties of aerosols must be characterized in the vicinity of clouds. Numerous studies based on satellite observations have reported that aerosol optical depths increase with increasing cloud cover. Part of the increase comes from the humidification and consequent growth of aerosol particles in the moist cloud environment, but part comes from 3D cloud-radiative transfer effects on the retrieved aerosol properties. Often, discerning whether the observed increases in aerosol optical depths are artifacts or real proves difficult. The paper provides a simple model that quantifies the enhanced illumination of cloud-free columns in the vicinity of clouds that are used in the aerosol retrievals. This model is based on the assumption that the enhancement in the cloud-free column radiance comes from enhanced Rayleigh scattering that results from the presence of the nearby clouds. The enhancement in Rayleigh scattering is estimated using a stochastic cloud model to obtain the radiative flux reflected by broken clouds and comparing this flux with that obtained with the molecules in the atmosphere causing extinction, but no scattering.

Status and performance of the CALIOP lidar

Abstract: The Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) is the primary instrument on the CALIPSO satellite, which is scheduled to launch in 2005. CALIOP will provide profiles of total backscatter at two wavelengths, from which aerosol and cloud profiles will be derived. The instrument also measures the linear depolarization of the backscattered return, allowing discrimination of cloud phase and the identification of the presence of non-spherical aerosols. CALIOP is complete and has been tested in a ground-based configuration. This paper provides information on basic characteristics and performance of CALIOP.

The Formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds

Abstract: Measurements of the stratospheric aerosol by SAM II during the northern and southern winters of 1979 showed a pronounced increase in extinction on occasions when the temperature fell to a low value (below 200 K). The correlation between extinction and temperature is evaluated on the basis of thermodynamic considerations. As the temperature falls, the hygroscopic aerosols absorb water vapor from the atmosphere, growing as they do so. The effect of the temperature on the size distribution and composition of the aerosol is determined, and the optical extinction at 1 micron wavelength is calculated using Mie scattering theory. The theoretical predictions of the change in extinction with temperature and humidity are compared with the SAM II results at 100 mb, and the water vapor mixing ratio and aerosol number density are inferred from these results. A best fit of the theoretical curves to the SAM II data gives a water vapor content of 5-6 ppmv, and a total particle number density of 6-7 particles/cu cm.