Environmental Data Service Research Articles

Large data sets tamed by EDS

A new method of validating, compacting, and analyzing the very large data sets generated by major environmental programs such as the International Field Year for the Great Lakes (Figure 1) has been developed at the Environmental Data Service, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Two technical notes published by NOAA

Technical memorandums on two major IFYGL systems have been published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in its Environmental Data Service, CEDDA (Center for Experiment Design and Data Analysis) series.

Performance of the "Direct Search Design Algorithm" as a Numerical Optimization Method

References 1 1962 U.S. Standard Atmosphere, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1962. 2 Alden, H. L. and Habert, R. H., Gasdynamics of High Altitude Rocket Plumes, MITHRAS Rept. MC-63-80-R1, July 1964. 3 Jarvinen, P. O. and Hill, J. A. F., Universal Model for Underexpanded Rocket Plumes in Hypersonic Flow, 12th JANNAF Liquid Propulsion Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, Nov. 1970. 4 Draper, J. S. and Moran, J. P., A Study of Wind Tunnel Simulation of High Altitude Rocket Plumes, Tech. Rept. TR-72-111, Feb. 1973, Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (AFRPL), Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. 5 Draper, J. S. and Sutton, E. A., A Nomogram for High-Altitude Plume Dimensions, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 10, Oct. 1973, pp. 682-684. 6 Jacchia, L. G., Revised Static Models of the Thermosphere and the Exosphere with Empirical Temperature Profiles, Special Rept. 332, May 1971, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Washington, D.C. 7 U.S. Standard Atmosphere Supplements, 1966, Washington, D.C., 1966. 8 Solar-Geophysical Data (Prompt Reports), No. 324-PART I, Aug. 1971, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data Service, Washington, D.C.

Dapp satellite observations of auroras

Figure 1 contains two photographs obtained from a military satellite that is part of the U.S. Air Force's Defense Systems Application Program (DSAP). The U.S. Air Force Air Weather Service Data Acquisition and Processing Program (Dapp) now routinely provides similar satellite photographs to the Environmental Data Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at their National Geophysical and Solar Terrestrial Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, for copying and for general distribution. The data center then sends the original photographs to the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories for archiving.

Status of State Climatological Services

1 Mr. Hull is Associate Director for Climatology, Environmental Data Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Scientists suggest link between magnetic and atmospheric storms

Scientists have speculated for many years that a dynamic link exists between sun‐induced storms in the earth's magnetic field and global weather patterns. Now two atmospheric scientists in Boulder, Colorado, have taken another small but significant step toward identifying that link.The two investigators, Walter Orr Roberts, president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, and Roger H. Olson, an Environmental Data Service research meteorologist with NOAA, appear to have confirmed a statistical relationship between the behavior of certain atmospheric features over the Gulf of Alaska and geomagnetic storms.

Capturing Black-Billed Magpies with Circular Live Traps

A unique, circular, lightweight trap proved, in 3 years of testing, to be more efficient in capturing black-billed magpies (Pica pica) than conventional square traps, because magpies are reluctant to round corners. The trap is economical to build. Baiting the trap in advance of setting adds to the efficiency. CAPTURING MAGPIES WITH LIVE TRAPS * Alsager et al. 981 MCCLURE, H. E. 1941. Ecology and management of the mourning dove, Zensidura macroura (Linn.), in southwest Iowa. Ph.D. Thesis. Iowa State Coll. 36Epp. Ruos, J. L. l971. Mourning dove status report, 1970. U. S. Bur. Sport Fisheries and Wildl. Spec. Sci. Rept.: Wildl. No. 141. 36pp. U. S. DEPT. OF COMMERCE. 1962. Decennial census of United States climate monthly normals of temperature, precipitation, and heating degree days, Iowa. Climatography of the U. S.: 81-11. . 1960-1970. Environmental Data Service. Climatological Data, Iowa. Annual

Multivariate Techniques for Specifying Tree-Growth and Climate Relationships and for Reconstructing Anomalies in Paleoclimate

Project: Dendroclimatic History of the United States, Contract: E-41-70(N) / 1970 Final Report Prepared for: Laboratory for Environmental Data Research, Environmental Data Service, Weather Bureau, Environmental Science Services Administration, United States Department of Commerce / November 9, 1970

SEAMAP geophysical data available

The first of ten magnetic tapes of geophysical data resulting from SEAMAP (Systematic Exploration and Mapping Program) is now available from NOAA's Environmental Data Service. This initial tape contains gravimetric, magnetic, and bathymetric data for a region in the Pacific bounded by longitudes 155°W and 165°W and latitudes 24°N and 30°N.NOAA's SEAMAP efforts are designed to determine and describe the physical properties and processes relating to the crust, mantle, and core with particular emphasis upon the deep ocean basins. From 1961 through 1969 the Coast and Geodetic Survey (now the National Ocean Survey) conducted extensive geophysical surveys in the north Pacific. Under contract to NOS, the Marine Sciences Institute of the University of Connecticut is evaluating these data, which were processed by various NOAA components, and is preparing contoured maps and data tapes.

Earthquake data cards

ESSA's Environmental Data Service has announced the availability of keypunched cards that contain large quantities of earthquake data in a format suitable for advanced analysis and research techniques. The data were used in the Coast and Geodetic Survey's preliminary earthquake hypocenter publications. The cards are usually available about eight weeks after the end of the recording month and can be purchased for $5 per month of data.

Notes and personalia

The Environmental Data Service, a component of ESSA, has microfilmed most of the geophysical data, in such areas as bathymetry, magnetics, and gravity, gathered during the 1967 global cruise of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship Oceanographer. Copies of these data as well as reduced geophysical data from the USC&GSS Pioneer's 1964 International Indian Ocean Expedition and the USC&GSS Surveyor's 1966 West Coast Upper Mantle Project may be obtained by writing to Earth Sciences Division, Environmental Data Service, ESSA, 8060 13th Street, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.