Comparison Between Arctic and Subtropic Ship Exhaust Effects on Cloud Properties

• Main Author: Salvato, Gregory
• Other Authors: NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1992
• Subjects: Marine Engineering; Optical Detection and Detectors; *CLOUDS; *SHIPS; *REFLECTANCE; *OPTICAL DETECTION; *EXHAUST PLUMES; ALGORITHMS; THESES; BRIGHTNESS; CLOUD PHYSICS; TRACKS; ALBEDO; ARCTIC REGIONS; CHANNELS; DROPS; WIDTH; LENGTH; MOISTURE CONTENT; AEROSOLS; ENVIRONMENTS; MEASUREMENT; SHIP TRACKS; WATER CONTENT; SHIP DETECTION; Arctic; albedo
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA252747; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA252747

Radiative and physical characteristics of subtropic and Arctic shiptracks are compared through the use of AVHRR satellite data and an algorithm developed at the Naval Postgraduate School. Examination of channels 1 and 3 albedos indicate the average subtropic shiptrack brightness is greater than that for Arctic tracks. Arctic shiptracks, however, tend to be brighter than their environment compared to subtropic shiptracks. Subtropic shiptracks tend to be wider and longer than Arctic shiptracks. Due to relatively small sample sizes, additional cases are needed to prove statistical significance for channel 3 albedo, channel 3 albedo percent change, width, and length. Increased in-situ measurements will allow the measurement and analysis of conditions necessary and detrimental to the formation of shiptracks.