NASA SP-427 HlGr ALTITUDE PERSPECTIVE Prepared by NASA Ames Research Center AY AS I\ Scientific and Technical Information Office 1978 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, DC
FOREWORD From the prehistoric hunter who scaled a peak to scout the lay of the land to the astronaut photographing the Earth’s hemisphere from 75 000 kilomet- efs, man has always especially prized the view from above. tt is the richest of all perspectives, densely packed with information, closest to that uniquely human concept, the map. During two decades of space exploration, orbital imagery of our planet has been revealed as one of the most exciting and rewarding benefits of space. Yet we should never forget the value of aircraft as platforms for our sensors and scientific instruments. So useful is aerial photography at low and moder- ate altitudes that it has created an industry that serves countless purposes. The unusual aircraft that is the subject of this descriptive booklet, flying at altitudes above those generally attained in conventional aerial photog- raphy, has an eniarged scope. It can scan shorelines, measure water levels, help fight forest fires, collect mapping data, assess flood damage, and sample the stratosphere. Over the oceans it can make sensitive mea- surements of water color and current; over land it can provide a form of “ground truth” that is valuable in calibrating the rich store of information from our satellites. Because it can do these things so well, it deserves attention for the sevice it is providing. January 1978 Anthony J. Calio, Associate Administrator for Space and Terrestrial Applications
INTRODUCTION This publication was prepared in response to many requests for information on the availability of the U-2 aircraft managed by Ames research Center, for use in high-altitude investigations that cannot be performed by the private sector. Prospective users of the U-2 will find helpful information about the aircraft, the sensors it provides or can accommodate. its potential applications, and associated data- handling provisions. In an era of growing awareness of the Earth’s environmental fragility and limited natural resources, aircraft and spacecraft have proved to be excellent plat- forms for remote and in situ sensing devices. Scientists and engineers at Ames Research Center have managed aircraft-supported research missions since 1964. Experience has been gained with a variety of aircraft —a Convair 990 airborne research laboratory, a C-141 airborne infrared observatory, Learjet aircraft, and more frecenily, two high-altitude U-2’'s. The U-2 and Convair 990 aircraft are available on a cost-reimbursable basis for research or experimental programs in such areas as Earth resources inventories, remote sensing data interpreta- tion, electronic sensor research and development, satellite investigative support, stratospheric gas studies, and astronomy and astrophysics.
TYPICAL U-2 SUPPORT ACTIVITIES WATER RESOURCES U-2 photos have helped the California Depart- ment of Woter Resources measure water levels in rivers and reservoirs, especially during drought years. High-altitude photos of San Fran- cisco Bay aided the U.S. Geological Survey study of tidal patterns and water movement. DISASTER ASSESSMENT Firefighters have used U-2 high-altitude data for faster containment of fires, and direct savings of manpower, equipment, forest watersheds, and wildlife habitat were achieved. Flood damage surveys can help to assign priority for repairs and damage alleviation by providing pictures of the complete situation. LAND USE In the Arizona Land Use Experiment, U-2 imag- ery was used to generate orthophotoquad maps, thereby developing a land use man- agement data base for both the public and private sectors. U-2 photos have been used to evaluate urban growth. traffic patterns, and pollution, and have proved invaluable in the preparat’ 1 of environmental impact state- ments. SENSOR DEVELOPMENT The Ocean Color Scanner (OCS) imaging radi- ometer test flown on the U-2 prior to installation on NASAs weather satellite Nimbus G is de- signed to remotely sense small variations in the ocean's color. The scanner identifies and maps regions of high food productivity, upwelling, tidal extent, sediment concentration off the coast, and will ultimately aid in coastal zone inventories. Similarly, the Heat Capacity Map- ping Radiometer (HCMR) simulated on the U-2 is being evaluated for use in the detection of variations in soil moisture content, thermal pollu- tion of water, and analysis of crop production prior to satellite flight. STRATOSPHERIC SAMPLING Special sensors on board the U-2 can sample and measure the distribution and extent of gases and aeroso! particles in the atmosphere at altitudes above 20 km (65 000 ft.). A betier understanding of the effects of natural and man-induced actions on the atmosphere’s pro- tective ozone layer will result. SATELLITE SUPPORT The U-2 has been used extensively to collect underflight (or “ground truth”) data to support Landsat investigations in forestry, water man- agement, coastal zone processes, rangeland management, and land use. Muitistage sam- pling techniques to aid in interpreting satel- lite data have been developed through the use of U-2 imagery.
AIRCRAFT The U-2 is a single-place aircraft designed and built by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation for high-altitude, long-range operation. The U-2 is characterized by Its long wing span and tandem landing gear located under the fuselage. Auxiliary gear, called pogos, are located outboard on the underside of each wing; they are jettisoned on takeoff. The NASA U-2 aircraft, based at Ames Research Center, routinely fly from Ames and Wallops Isiand, Virginia. Other staging locations are possible, and, data flights have been flown from Hawaii, Alaska, Texas, Maine, South Dakota, and Panama. The high-altitude, long-duration capability of the U-2 makes it uniquely suitable for upper atmospheric or space-oriented research as well as for wide ranging electronic and photographic Earth observations. Since the beginning of NASA‘s Earth resources survey program at Ames Research Center in September 1971, each of the U-2’s has averaged over 100 flights per year and together the aircraft have logged over 4000 flight hours.
~ U-2 PERFORMANCE AND ~ DESIGN DATA |g, © — a 4700 km (2500 n. mi.) CV — 6 hr at Mach 0.69 Operating Gititude 0... cece cece cnet e eee eect eteecee ees 198-213 kM (65 000 to 70 000 ft) Cruising SOCOM 2.0... cece cece etree ee eeeeeeeees 740 km/hr (400 knots) TA.S. at 20 km (65 000 ft) Gross takeoff weight ..........ccesseeeeeeeeeees cece ence eee eeceeeeeeeeeeeeenees 10 225 kg (22 542 Ib) ZemO FUEI WOIGKE 20... cc ccc cece cee ener entree eee eens ee seen tebeeneeeneees 5 929 kg (13 071 Ib) Equipment bay payload ......... ccc eee eee wees 340 kg (750 Ib) maximum: 225 kg (500 Ib) preferred Canoe payload .............eeeeeeeee es bebe e reece se cervenecccessersrsasuserasseacd 45 kg (100 Ib) Wing tanks (2) paylodd 00... ccc cece e cece tee eeeteeee 135 kg (300 Ib) each; 270 kg (600 Ib) total Total MaximuM Payload .... 6. ccc cece cece rece eeeeetteeesteteeresceneeeed 665 kg (1450 Ib) a) 3940 kg (8685 Ib), 5000 liters (1320 gai.) POWEMPION 2... cece cere e cece teen eee eeeteteeeeenenenness Single 15-stage, J75P-13B jet engine TIFUSEFOHING cece teen ene n ener nen ene e Eee Eben sete Geet E en eeee 75 620 N (17 000 Ib) COMSHUCTION 2... cect een nen eee eee e nee eee eee een EEE EES een Ett Ee eS Ail aluminum = One pilot LONGI ook ccc cece eee ener ete eeseteereeesesteteeetssesetsesesecsreres s 4 Mm (50 ft) WING SPON 20... cee cccesecceecereeenecencssvesens Pee eee ee eeeer tere eee eeeee 24.4 m (80 ft) a) ©) Sennen e een e eee ene ee enennnees 46m (15 fi)
TYPICAL FLIGHT PIROFILE RANGE, km O 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 4000 m BB © ALTITUDE, 1000 ft jon) ALTITUDE — km QQ Ww oO TYPICAL “ (SIROUND 0 wPANGE 2000 2500 3000 COVERAGE nm i ar. fy, * PLUS ADDI Os ee DER Rs ; PENS SE M2 & BAI. FOE 5
PAYLOAD AREAS MOUNTED PYLON 2.4 m (8 ff) long 12.7 cm (5 in) high 40.6 cm (16 in) wide ~0.6 m (2 ft) ‘1.2 m (4 ft) PAYLOAD @-BAY Power Available to Sensors DC 28 v (80 Amps maximum) | AC 400 Hz (5.5 kVA maximum)
SENSORS oe The NASA U-2 aircraft routinely carry a variety of sensors, including aerial mapping cameras, electronic sensors and scanners, and both in situ and remote atmospheric sampling devices. The U-2 has been used extensively for color infrared photography. An array of camera configurations — featuring a variety of focal lengths, film types. film format sizes, and multi- spectral capabilities —is available. Uses have varied, depending on the specific remote sensing research and development activity, but include direct evaluation of terrestrial condi- tions from imagery and the indirect use of imagery for satellite programs. More than 15 nonphotographic sensors are also flown aboard the U-2; some are part of the NASA inventory but most of them have been built by outside investigators. The palletized system of payload handling facilitates switching payloads either in and out of the aircraft or from one aircraft to the other.
U-2 Sensor Complement A TIRS (Thermal infrared Scanner) B IRR (infrared Radiometer) C & D HCMR (Heat Capacity Mapping Radiometer} E Filter Sampler F OCS (Ocean Color Scanner) G SAS II (Stratospheric Air Sampler, Mark Il) H Aether Drift Radiometer I SCS (Stratospheric Cryogenic Sampler) J HR-73B Camera K RC-I0/HR-732 Camera System L HR-732 Tri-Vertical Cameras 84 KA-80A Optical Bar Panoramic Camera N Dual RC-10 Camera System O RC-10/Vinten Multispectral Camera System P FLO (Infrared Spectrometer) @ REFLEX (Resonance Fluorescence Experiment) R SEMIS (Solar Energy Measurements in Space) $ CO2 Collector T H2O Vapor Radiometer U HSI (High Speed Interferometer) V APS (Aerosol Particulate Sampler)
NASA maintains an inventory of cameras that has been used extensively in Earth observation studies — particularly in support of satellite mis- sions. Some camera payloads (or configurations) use four identically pointed 70-mm film cameras with filters to simulate the LANDSAT multispectral scanner. Higher resolution imagery is obtained by using 9-in. film with 6-in., 12-in., 24-in., or 36-in. focal iength lenses. Although the 6-in. and 12-in. lenses are used with a 9 x 9 in. image format, the 24-in. and 36-in. lenses are frequently used to make a 9 x 18 in. negative or transparency. The ground coverage and resolution are a function of lens focal length and film format. The values of these parameters for the different camera configurations are shown on pages 12 and 13 for an aircraft altitude of 20 km (65 000 ft). An indication of resolution is also evident in the enlarged images on page 14. PHOTOGIRAPHIC SENSORS U-2 payload pallet with camera configuration that includes one RC-10 (forward) and four Vintens (rear). A variety of film types is used, depending on the intended use of the imagery. Included, for example, are Panatomic-X Aerial and Plus-X black and white, Infrared Aerographic, B & W infrared, Aerochrome (color) infrared, Aerial Color and Ektachrome EF Aerographic natural color films. Sarnple images using three film types are shown on page 10. Some of the interpretations of color infrared film (which is the most popular type used) are described below the image on page Il. Each frame of imagery is automatically annotated with a -digit code indicating the sensor, film type. daie, and time of exposure. All imagery is indexed and archived in the U-2 Data Facility A mcap of existing coverage is shown on page 16.
Color infrared photograph of San Francisco and the Golden Gate obtained by NASA U-2 aircraft on February 5, 1974 The photograph of San Francisco and the Golden Gate was taken from an altitude of 62 500 feet (19000 m) with a Wild-Heerbrug RC-10 camera, 12-in. (305 mm) focal length. The area covered is about 60 square nautical miles. Color infrared film is sensitive to the green, red, and near infrared (500-900 nm) portions of the spectrum and is widely used in aerial and space photographic surveys for land use and vegetation analysis. Living vegetation refiects light in the green portion of the visible spectrum fo which the human eye is sensitive. Additionally, it reflects up fo 10 times as much in the near infrared (700-100 nm) portion of the spectrum which is just beyond the range of human vision. When there is a decrease in photosynthesis, whether caused by normal maturation or stress, there is a corresponding decrease in near infrared reflectance. Living or healthy vegeta- tion appears as various hues of red in color infrared film. tf diseased or stressed, the color response will shift to browns or yellows due to the decrease in near infrared reflectance. This film Is also effective for haze penetration because blue light is eliminated by filtration.
CAMERA CONFIGURATIONS onoune Rena . . overage esolution Designation @ 65 000 ft @ 65 000 ft 25.9 x 25.9 km Vinten (Four) 1-3/4 in. fl. | (4 xl4n. mi.) 2.8 (Each) I2S Multispectral 100 mm f.l. 16.7 x16.7 km {four bands) K-22 £28 (9 x9n. mi.) 29.7 x 29.7 km RC-10 6in..f4 (16 x16 n. mi) 14.8 x14.8 km RC-10 12 in.. f 4 (8x 8n. mi.) 744x148 km HIe-732 24 in., (4x 8n. mi.) 9.8 x 9.8 km HR-73B-1 36 in., (5.3x5.3n.mi.) tek Panoramic 24 in., f 3. 3.7 x 68.6 km (Optical Bar) (2x37 n. mi.) 2x20km Research Camera ~f3. 2-1/4 x 30 (11 xin. mi.) System (RCS) useable
RESOLUTION image resolution is determined primarily by lens focal length because the subject distance is fixed at about 20 km (65 000 ft) from the U-2. Lens quality, film type, image contrast, and a number of other related factors also affect rese- lution. Images from a 6-in. and a 24-in. lens are Detail from 6-in. lens scene of San Francisco in color infrared. 5X enlargement Ae a! 2 , oie abe Ws - compared at 5X enlargement to illustrate resolv- ing power. Normally, the maximum practical en- largement is limited to about 0X because of film grain and image sharpness. However, any eniargement factor can be utilized for the con- venience of maps or other data base overlay. Detail from 24-in. lens. scene of San Francisco in color infrared (from page 10). 5X enlargement rv) >»
Portion of an RCS image at an 10x enlargement of San Francisco scene. The Research Camera System (RCS) is designed for high resolution over moderately large areas. The system consists of two panoramic cameras mounted to provide con- vergent stereo coverage. Each camera has a 24 in. focal length lens and uses a 2-1/4 x 30 in. film format.
PHOTOGRAPHIC ies COVERAGE i 5 fis ARE. se « z 4 2 ze y oz hes Z< Px) N - Ol oe = YE 4 & Available photographic coverage of United States by U-2 as of January 1, 1978. 46
NONPHOTOGRAPHIC SENSC Ie ACCOMMODATIONS Most nonphotographic sensors installed on the U-2 are user-supplied and funded. An inves- tigator’s equipment can be installed in several areas on the U-2 subject to load factors, safety standards, and construction constraints. A special equipment bay, pressurized and heated, holds a maximum of 340 kg (750 Ib). This bay, termed the Q-bay, is located just aft of the cockpit and is the principal location for special equipment packages. The bay has top and bottom hatches that are easily removed by means of external latches. Racks to support or contain electronics or other equipment gen- erally must be made to fit the equipment bay attachment points. Several universal rack de- signs are available that can support up to 340 kg (750 Ib). Aether drift radiometer Each of the two wing tanks can hold up to 135 kg (300 ib) at ambient pressure and tempera- ture. In addition, 45 kg (100 Ib) of equipment can be supported in the upper fuselage in a section termed the canoe also at ambient conditions. Most investigators choose to provide their own recorder, although a high-density MI4E mag- netic tape data recorder is availabdie. Specifications on packaging constraints, electrical power, navigation equipment, and radio communications will be furnished on request. At the present time, investigators are using nonphotographic sensor packages on the U-2 for research in astronomy and astrophysics, stratospheric and aimospheric studies, and Earth observations. Examples of nonphoto- graphic sensor packages flown on the U-2 are described in the following pages.
NONPHOTOGRAPHIC SENSORS ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPRYSICS RE- SEARCH is being conducted with the U-2 by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Physicists at the Lawrence Berkeley Labora- tory are using two upward-looking microwave radiometers installed on the U-2 in an experi- ment entitled “Aether Drift.” They are studying and mapping the temperature of deep space to examine some fundamental questions about the origin of the universe. Investigators at Goddard Space Flight Center have placed an instrument on board the U-2 to meosure solar spectral radiance and _ its variation with the solar cycle. This instrument is being developed for future use in a spacecraft for measurements in space. EARTH OBSERVATIONAL SYSTEMS are being developed by Goddard Space Flight Center and Ames Research Center using the U-2 platform to evaluate data prior to installa- tion of instrumentation on spacecraft. THE HEAT CAPACITY MAPPING RADIOMETER consists of a two-channel scanning radiometer that images in the visible and thermal infrared bands. Investigations include studies of thermal poliution, wetlands, and soil moisture. The system is being evaluated prior to spacecraft flight. THE OCEAN COLOR SCANNER (OCS) is a 10-channel multispectral scanner designed for water color measurements at high altitude. It is the forerunner of the Nimbus G Coastal Zone Color Scanner. Installed on the U-2 the OCS has been used to defect subtle variations in the upwelling spectral radiance emerging from natural waters. THE HRB-454 THERMAL SCANNER is an IR line scanner owned and operated by the U-2 Facility at Ames Research Center for use by interested investigators. The video system is roll-stabilized and a Vinten camera is installed as a track camera. HIGH ALTITUDE MULTISPECTRAL SCANNER is a modified Daedalus 1l-channel system with the capability of supporting LANDSAT investiga- tions. This scanner Is available to NASA through a cooperative agreement with the Environmen- tal Protection Agency. The system is entirely digi- tal with ten channels in the visible /near-visible spectral region and one channel in the thermal infrared, LINE SCAN CAMERA is a visible imaging sys- tem which is designed to provide real-time imagery to a ground receiving station via a telemetry data link. This imagery can be used for real-time forest fire or disaster observations. STRATOSPHERIC AND ATMOSPHERIC STUDIES are represented in a number of diverse sensor systems, some of which are described below. THE AMES STRATOSPHERIC AIR SAMPLER II is a 4-channel, 500-lb instrument carried in the equipment bay. ft utilizes chemiluminescent reactions to continuously measure 03, NO, NOz, and HNO: in atmospheric samples drawn aboard the aircraft. Studies of seasonal and geographic variations in these important strato- spheric species are then made as part of an overall program at Ames in_ stratospheric studies. THE CRYOGENIC AND WHOLE AIR SAMPLER instrument Contains four cryogenically cooled samplers plus two whole-air samplers for
collecting halocarbons (Freons), N2O, CCla, and other condensible species for later analysis by gas chromatography at Ames Research Center. Concentrations below 1 part per trillion can be detected. THE INFRARED SCANNING SPECTROMETER is a liquid-helium cooled 135 kg (300-Ib} instrument mounted in an underwing pod: it views the atmosphere at 10° above the horizon. The 7- to 3-~m spectral region is scanned where emissions from Os, N2O, CHa, CFCls (Freon Tl), CF2Cle (Freon 12), HNOs, H2O, and COz are observed and amounts determined. Data are recorded on a digital tape recorder for subsequent analysis by the University of Denver, where the sensor was developed. THE HIGH-SPEED MICHELSON INTERFEROM- ETER, installed on the U-2 by scientists at JPL, views the Sun at sunrise or sunset in the IR (2 to 5.5 um) and determines the amount of various stratospheric species—H20, HCI, COz, CH,, NOz, and N2O-—in the intervening atmosphere. This instrument wil! aid in the design and evaluation of future instrumentation for monitor- ing specific atmospheric pollutants. THE FILTER SAMPLER, an Ames instrument, consists of six 16-in.-diameter filter elements that selectively collect HCl, other halogen com- pounds, and aerosols for later laboratory analysis. The chemically impregnated filter papers are exposed to the airstream by pilot command. THE WATER VAPOR RADIOMETER, an upward- looking instrument, measures atmospheric radiation in selected regions of the water vapor emission bands and determines the total amount of water vapor above the U-2. The data 19 are sampled every 10 sec and recorded in digital format on magnetic tape for subsequent data reduction and analysis at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). THE AEROSOL PARTICLE SAMPLER employs small wire meshes that are exposed to the Girstream from a wing tip pod on pilot command. The size, shape, and chemical composition of the impacting stratospheric aerosols are determined by a_ laboratory scanning electron microscope and its X-ray spectra attachment at Ames. Particles as small as 0.1 um can be collected and counted. THE RESONANCE FLUORESCENCE EXPERI- MENT is an underwing, pod-mounted, devel- opmental instrument that uses the phenomenon of resonance fluorescence to detect very small amounts of a selected species. It is presently configured to measure CiO, of great impor- tance to our understanding of the effects of halocarbons (Freons) on the stratospheric ozone balance. THE COz COLLECTOR is a small systern used by an investigator at UCLA; it is activated from the cockpit by the pilot at cruise altitude. This . system collects a free-air sample for laboratory research and analysis to assist a study of the global climate and high-altitude environment. THE INFRARED RADIOMETER is a downward- looking radiometer. It has a rotating filter wheel! that can see six spectral bands and measures atmospheric nonuniformities. The data on convective instabilities and mixing processes in the atmosphere will be useful in studies being conducted by Lockheed Laboratories in Palo Alto.
STRATOSPHERIC SENSOR PAYLOADS PILOT CONTROL AND MONITOR iMPACT TYPE AEROSOL COLLECTORS (ARC) IR SPECTROMETER IR RADIOMETER (NOAA) WATER VAPOR INSTRUMENT BAY RESONANCE STRATOSPHERIC AIR SAMPLER, Ii (ARC) FLUORESCENCE ODD NITROGEN AND OZONE DETECTOR (XONICS) OR CRYO AND WHOLE AIR SAMPLER (ARC) HALOCARBONS, N,O, HYDROCARBONS OR HIGH SPEED INTERFEROMETER (JPL) ae CO, CO,. H,O Stratospheric Air Sampler, Mark Il 20
DATA HANDLING / An aircraft support Data Facility at Ames Research Center is responsibie for maintain- ing complete flight documentation, a computerized image storage and selection system, copies of all imagery, a microfilm browse file, and a variety of light fables and optical image viewing equipment. If arrangements are made in advance, all imagery is available for viewing by visitors, and photocopies of imagery may be made with the visitors’ own equip- ment. By established policy, all NASA Earth resource imagery, both satellite and aircraft, is in the public domain. Full-scale reproductions of imagery are available through only the EROS DATA CENTER. A price list and order forms can be obtained from the EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 51198. For more information, call (605) 594-615). ai
Data Entry System, light table configuration Flight summary reports are published for each data collection flight. These brief reports list the sensors used and the kinds of data collected. They also contain a track map showing the location of individual data runs. The Data Entry Systern is used to compile descriptive data for each image in a computerized memory bank with the use of a digitizer tablet and reference maps as shown above. The data can then be tetrieved through the computerized image Selection System via a graphics terminal. Available images can be identified according to geographic location, imagery scale. film type, data format, cloud cover, quality, spectral band, etc. Selected scenes can then be viewed quickly and easily with the microfilm browse file for final assessment before the actual imagery is retrieved for viewing.
APPLICATIONS a High-altitude airborne platforms have made major contributions to the scien- tific data base and have been of value in delineating terrestrial problems and providing a basis for their resolution. The relatively frequent flight capability of the U-2 (typically 100 flights per year per aircraft) allows good substantiation of data on a seasonal and a geographic basis. Much U-2 activity is presently being devoted to a systematic program of stratospheric air sampling and analysis. These data are being used for many purposes, inciuding the devel- opment of stratospheric mathematical models that will provide a better understanding of upper atmospheric transport mechanisms and man’s impact on the Earth’s protective ozone layer. This research is being conducted in conjunction with NOAA and various academic inves- tigators. Results to date have contributed substantially to baseline measurements of stratospheric constituents. Other scientifically significant results have been achieved in the fields of pollution monitoring. astronomy, and Earth observations. 23
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEYS UNITED STATES a ia GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP. =! Ye, SLE The se aN ONS we tee ak way! cs on ae SP on sc L pe Hasbor 5 34 ~~ Most mapping procedures rely heavily on aerial photography and aerial photographs have been taken at various altitudes using many kinds of aircraft. imagery obtained at U-2 altitudes with its large area coverage and min- imal distortion, is especially well suited for mapping various kinds of surface features such as vegetation classes, geological features, and snow cover. An indication of the information WATER FLOW ND SEDIMENTATION U-2 IMAGE content is shown by the photograph on this page of Whidbey Island, north of Seattle. Washington. In this illustration a U.S. Geological Survey map and U-2 image have been placed in register. Such photographs have been used to make original maps, update old maps, and to add additional specialized information such as cropland descriptions and delineations of urban growth.
25 LAND USE MAPPING Land use mapping has become an increas- ingly important tool in managing the utilization and development of our geographic resources. One very important resource that is related to geographic location is water. Where water is scarce, it is important to identify water sources and demands so that water supply and water quality can be maintained. Shown here is an image taken in the Riverside area of California from a U-2 and a corresponding computer- drawn map which has been used to estimate water demands. The map was made by photo- interpreting the aerial imagery, digitizing selected land use classes for computer input, and verifying selected interpretations with ground checks. The computer thus becomes a convenient tool for displaying resource alloca- tion and tabulating statistical information. And once the map is drawn, it can be easily up- dated to reflect changes in land use. [_] Undeveloped ME Resources E= Agriculture E= Recreation Services Commercial Activities Transport & Utilities Industry | Living Area _ N _ a
STRATOSPHEIIC SAMPLING 180° 90° Bor 120°— 0? 80 60° 180° 450° 120° 90° 60° 30° oe 10° «620° «30° 40° 50° 60° 70° 80° North Latitude wee = JUNE —— JULY ame AUGUST Global surveys of stratospheric air composi- tion are conducted periodically to help deter- mine the environmenta! effect of man-caused pollution. Constituent data are being used to construct and validate mathematical models of stratospheric interactions. The adjacent map shows the geographic extent as a function of longitude and latitude over which data are typ- ically collected. The graphs show the concen- tration of one of the constituents of interest — nitric oxide — as a function of survey cross sec- tions. 0 40° 60° 80° 100° 120° 140° 160° 180° West Longitude
Freon and other halocarbon concentrations have been measured at high altitude because of their potential impact on the depletion of the Earth's protective ozone layer. U-2 surveys have revealed halocarbon concentrations that vary as a function of latitude at given altitude —a phenomenon currently being integrated into the theoretical computer models. The accom- panying figure shows the measured Freon- Ti data and a comparison with the latest two- dimensional stratospheric modeling theory which accounts for mass and species conserva- tion, chemical and solar photolysis, and atmo- spheric transport. Note that low-altitude data >. have shown little or no differences in Freon 159 + 3°W concentration at different latitudes. 5 10 20 50 100 §200 Concentration, parts per trillion ALTITUDE —km Micrometer-sized stratospheric aerosols have been collected with the U-2 by inertial deposi- tion from a 200-m/sec airstream onto thick films of silicon oil. It was discovered that, for the past 6 years at least, aluminum oxide spheres are the major stratospheric particulate in the size range 3 to 8 um. The most probable source of the spheres is the exhaust from solid-fuel rockets. The photograph shows typical alumi- num oxide spheres collected from the atro- sphere by the U-2. Stratospheric aerosols 27
EARTH OBSERVATION SCANNERS In preparation for the flight of the Coastal Zone Color Scanner on Nimbus G, the Ocean Color Scanner was constructed for use on tne U-2. The scanner has 10 bands ranging in peak wavelengths from 433 to 774 nm. Flights over the —-SLUDGE DUMP SITE ACID DUMP SITE NEW JERSEY 472 nm (BLUE) 586 nm (YELLOW) 667 nm (RED) PHOTOGRAPHIC MONTAGE OF 70 mm COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS fy fe New York Bight have shown sediment plumes and dispersion from dumping areas. Illustrated below are the results of the Ocean Color Scan- ner shown with conventional 70-mm format photography. ————- CLOUD ——————— SEWAGE DUMP FRESH ACID DUMP OLD ACID DUMP — HUDSON RIVER SEDIMENT PLUME a NEW JERSEY ee, ENHANCED FALSE COLOR/IMAGE FROM OCEAN COLOR SCANNER 28
THE U-2 AND YOU The NASA Earth survey aircraft offer investigators an opportunity to conduct exper- iments in flight regimes that would otherwise be impossible. The Applications Aircraft and Future Programs Office at Ames Research Center Is pre- pared to assist prospective investigators in developing flight-test procedures. U-2 flight support is initiated through a simple flight request systern and approval process. This process integrates all aspects of a test program from aircraft scheduling to data processing. Cost estimates for flight and data support will be provided to the investigator as part of the flight request review cycle. When the investigator wants to use his own sensor, studies of aircraft/instrument compatibility will be required, and additional charges for aircraft modification may be necessary. 29
FLIGHT SUPPORT Requests for U-2 flight support should be directed to: Manager Applications Aircraft and Future Programs Office (AAFPO) Mail Stop 240-5 Ames Research Center Moffett Field, California 94035 (415) 965-6092 The Applications Aircraft and Future Pro- grams Office will start review procedures and determination of costs associated with proposed U-2 flight support programs. Actual costs are a function of data product, resolution, area covered, payload sharing, and a number of other factors. The cost of operating the U-2 often exceeds the operating expenses of other aircraft because of its high-altitude performance and the cor- respondingly strict standards imposed on its maintenance and operation. Consequently, use of the U-2 is of economic advantage only when a need exists for high-altitude capability, good platform stability, or long range. These aircraft characteristics are required, for ex- ample. in such applications as stratospheric sampling, when large-area coverage Is required in a single frame of imagery, or where Coverage is required over extended distances. The review and operational process for users of NASAs U-2 aircraft and data-handling facilities at Ames Research Center is illustrated. INVESTIGATOR COST PRODUCTS ESTIMATE DATA FACILITY FLIGHT REQUESTS U-2 FLIGHT OPERATIONS PROCESSING NASA/Ames Research Center .