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Carignan, G. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Carignan, G. R..

At least 55 records · Page 3
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NASA NTRS1979

Venus upper atmosphere neutral composition - Preliminary results from the Pioneer Venus orbiter

Measurements in situ of the neutral composition and temperature of the thermosphere of Venus are being made with a quadrupole mass spectrometer on the Pioneer Venus orbiter. The presence of many gases, including the major constituents CO2, CO, N2, O, and He has been confirmed. Carbon dioxide is the most abundant constituent at altitudes below about 155 kilometers in the terminator region. Above this altitude atomic oxygen is the major constituent, with O/CO2 ratios in the upper atmosphere being greater than was commonly expected. Isotope ratios of O and C are close to terrestrial values. The temperature inferred from scale heights above 180 kilometers is about 400 K on the dayside near the evening terminator at a solar zenith angle of about 69 deg. It decreases to about 230 K when the solar zenith angle is about 90 deg.

Niemann, H. B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Design study for electronic system for Jupiter Orbit Probe (JOP)

The conceptual design of the Jupiter probe spectrometer is presented. Block and circuit diagrams are presented along with tabulated parts lists. Problem areas are considered to be (1) the schedule, (2) weight limitations for the electronic systems, and (3) radiation hardness of the electronic devices.

Elero, B. P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Observations of neutral composition and related ionospheric variations during a magnetic storm in February 1974

The neutral-atmosphere composition experiment on Atmosphere Explorer C measured N2, O, Ar, and He densities during a magnetic storm at altitudes down to about 160 km. At latitudes above 45 deg N, N2 and Ar densities generally increase during the storm, while He and O densities decrease. Below 45 deg N all densities tend to increase during the storm. The density increases at perigee indicate that density- or temperature-profile changes are taking place below 160 km. The return to prestorm conditions is very slow, demonstrating the integrating effect of the atmospheric response. A recent theoretical model incorporating thermospheric circulation and diffusion effects reproduces the longitudinally averaged data, including latitude trends and the asymmetry about the storm maximum. Comparison with the mass-spectrometer and incoherent-scatter empirical model shows qualitative agreement with latitude trends but not with storm asymmetry, while the earlier J71 model based on total mass density is not in agreement with observed latitudinal trends. A close correlation is found between in situ O/N2 measurements and in situ and ground-based ionosonde measurements of electron density.

Hedin, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Local vertical motions and kinetic temperature from AE-C as evidence for aurora-induced gravity waves

In situ measurements of local vertical neutral particle motions have been made using the Neutral Atmosphere Temperature Instrument (NATE) on Atmosphere Explorer-C from observations of the direction of flow of neutral particles into the antechamber of the sensor (mass spectrometer). Values ranging from a few to more than 80 meters per second have been observed. The data show vertical motions greater than a few meters per second to be present most of the time, the magnitude being a function of many factors including magnetic activity, location, and magnetic storm history. In a specific case, it is concluded that the observed vertical motions and kinetic temperature are evidence of a travelling disturbance originating as a gravity wave in the auroral zone.

Spencer, N. W.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The temperature gradient between 100 and 120 km

Oxygen density profiles inferred from Ogo 6 green nightglow emission vary too sharply between 100 and 120 km to be consistent with temperature gradients in standard model atmospheres, and the eddy diffusion coefficient K determined from these observations reaches its maximum below 115 km. For three atomic oxygen profiles obtained at geographic latitudes of -27.69, +48.89, and +59.10 the temperature profiles required to create a downward flux that varies with altitude as the integrated photolytic production rate above that altitude are calculated, assuming K to be invariant with altitude and latitude. The oxygen distribution can be reconciled with a constant eddy coefficient above 100 km if the temperature gradient reaches a value between 10 and 20 deg K/km for low values of the eddy coefficient (about 500,000 sq cm/sec) or between 30 and 50 deg K/km for a higher eddy coefficient (about 1.6 million sq cm/sec). The maximum gradient for the Jacchia (1971) model is about 10 deg K/km. These temperature profiles predict Ar/N ratios consistent with those measured by sounding rockets. The low K profiles are large enough to remove a large part of the solar energy deposited below 120 km by thermal conduction.

Donahue, T. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Thermospheric composition

The global view of the atmosphere provided by satellite observations and radar backscatter measurements has shown a pattern of composition variability resulting largely from dynamic processes. Important progress has been made in defining composition variability at 120 km, which has greatly improved models which previously had fixed boundary conditions at that altitude. The discovery of the early morning maximum in helium abundance and the better definition of diurnal variation in relative composition have provided a basis for more sophisticated dynamical models. Similarly, models of meridional wind systems have been developed which can account for the better-defined winter enhancements in helium and atomic oxygen. Finally, composition variability has indicated the presence of a high-latitude heat source which during periods of magnetic activity profoundly modifies the state of the atmosphere.

Carignan, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The neutral atmosphere temperature experiment

The AEROS Neutral Atmosphere Temperature Experiment (NATE) is designed to measure the kinetic temperature of molecular nitrogen in the thermosphere. A quadrupole mass spectrometer tuned to N2 measures the N2 density variation in a small spherical antechamber having a knife-edged orifice which is exposed to the atmosphere at the outer surface of the spacecraft. The changing density of N2 due to the spinning motion of the spacecraft permits determination of the velocity distribution of the N2 from which the temperature is calculated. An alternate mode of operation of the instrument allows measurement of the other gases in the atmosphere as well as N2 permitting determination of the neutral particle composition of the atmosphere.

Spencer, N. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Global characteristics in the diurnal variations of the thermospheric temperature and composition

Global characteristics in the diurnal components of OGO-6 neutral mass spectrometer measurements near 450 km are discussed qualitatively as well as quantitatively on the basis of a theoretical model. Observations and conclusion are summarized: (1) During equinox the temperature maximum occurs after 1600 LT at the equator and shifts toward 1500 LT at the poles, while the oxygen concentration at 450 km peaks about one hour earlier. (2) There is general agreement between the magnitudes and phases of the diurnal, semidiurnal and terdiuranal temperature components at 450 km from theory as well as OGO-6 and radar backscatter measurements. (3) The maximum in the diurnal variation of He is observed near 1030 LT consistent with theoretical results which further emphasize the importance of dynamics and diffusion. (4) During solstice conditions the diurnal temperature maximum shifts toward later local times, in substantial agreement with radar temperature measurements. (5) the temperature-oxygen density phase difference at 450 km is observed to decrease with latitude from the winter toward the summer hemisphere, where oxygen may even peak after the temperature at high latitudes.

Mayr, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A neutral-atmosphere composition experiment for the Atmosphere Explorer-C, -D, and -E.

The neutral-atmosphere composition experiment instrumentation is designed to obtain in-situ measurements of neutral thermosphere composition from Atmosphere Explorer-C, -D, and -E. The system is based on previously flown OGO-6 and San Marco-3 composition instruments. The mass-spectrometer sensor includes a gold-plated thermalizing chamber and ion source, a hyperbolic rod quadrupole analyzer, and an off-axis electron multiplier. Automatic ion-source sensitivity control and pulse-counting techniques provide density measurement capability from approximately 125 to 1000 km altitude. The normal operating mode includes measurement at all masses in the range of 1 to 44 amu, with emphasis on hydrogen, helium, oxygen, nitrogen, and argon.

Pelz, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The neutral-atmosphere temperature instrument.

The determination of the temperature of the neutral gas at the location of the satellite is based on measurement of the velocity distribution of the molecular nitrogen. Measurement of the thermal-velocity component in the presence of the free-stream velocity will be obtained through application of the velocity-scan technique and, independently, through use of a baffle technique. A 3-cm diameter spherical sampling chamber with a 0.5-cm diameter precisely knife-edged orifice is located at the satellite equator to permit free diffusion of atmosphere gases between the chamber interior and the atmosphere. The spherical chamber is connected through a high-conductance tube to a quadrupole mass-spectrometer sensor to permit accurate quantitative evaluation of the density of the gas.

Spencer, N. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Empirical model of global thermospheric temperature and composition based on data from the OGO-6 quadrupole mass spectrometer

An empirical global model for magnetically quiet conditions has been derived from longitudinally averaged N2, O, and He densities by means of an expansion in spherical harmonics. The data were obtained by the OGO-6 neutral mass spectrometer and cover the altitude range 400 to 600 km for the period 27 June 1969 to 13 May 1971. The accuracy of the analytical description is of the order of the experimental error for He and O and about three times experimental error for N2, thus providing a reasonable overall representation of the satellite observations. Two model schemes are used: one representing densities extrapolated to 450 km and one representing densities extrapolated to 120 km with exospheric temperatures inferred from N2 densities. Using the best fit model parameters the global thermospheric structure is presented in the form of a number of contour plots.

Hedin, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Angular distribution of electrons elastically scattered from N2.

Measurement of the angular distribution of electrons elastically scattered from N2 as a function of energy, utilizing a crossed-beam technique. Measurements have been made of monoenergetic electrons with energies between 5 and 90 eV scattered from a collimated beam of N2 at angles from -114 to +160 deg. The wide angular range of the measurements has enabled the determination of the total elastic-scattering and momentum-transfer cross sections. The measurements are relative and have been normalized to Fisk's (1936) theoretical calculation at 5 eV. The results generally agree well with other published measurements and with theory.

Shyn, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Neutral composition in the thermosphere.

Data obtained from the Ogo 6 neutral atmospheric composition (NAC) experiment for a period of more than 1 year are used to compare the average constituent composition at an altitude of 400 km with that predicted by the Jacchia 1971 and 1965 models. The comparison shows that the Jacchia 1971 model underestimates the molecular nitrogen densities at 400 km by a factor of 2. An atmosphere is constructed down to 120 km by means of the Stein and Walker technique. A fit is made with (1) the 400-km total densities from drag measurements and the composition from Ogo 6 NAC, (2) the 250-km measured molecular nitrogen densities, and (3) the 150-km total densities from drag. This fit shows that the Jacchia 1971 model overestimates the atomic oxygen content at 150 km.

Taeusch, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A global empirical model of thermospheric composition based on OGO-6 mass spectrometer measurements.

A global empirical model for magnetically quiet conditions has been developed to describe longitudinally averaged OGO-6 N2, O, and He densities (in the altitude range 400 to 600 km) by means of an expansion into spherical harmonics. The annual asymmetric component in N2 density corresponds to an increase of about 400 K between winter and summer poles, which is about a factor of three greater than in the Jacchia model. However, the corresponding oxygen component at satellite altitudes reflects an increase between winter and summer comparable to that in the Jacchia model; this implies that at 120 km atomic oxygen increases by more than a factor of two between summer and winter poles. The amplitude of the symmetric semiannual component in N2 is larger at the poles than the equator. At the poles, the N2 variation corresponds to a temperature decrease of about 70 K from mid-April to mid-July. At low latitudes, the daily temperature maximum occurs close to 16 hours local time, nearly in agreement with radar backscatter observations.

Hedin, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The electron heating rate and ion chemistry in the thermosphere above Wallops Island during the solar eclipse of 7 March 1970.

Measurement of the N2 concentration and temperature, the ion composition and concentrations, and the electron temperature up to 290 km about 30 and 5 min before totality during the Mar. 7, 1970, eclipse. The rockets traveled similar trajectories, thus permitting the purely temporal changes between flights to be resolved. The neutral temperature and N2 concentration changed little, but the electron temperature decreased by as much as 20% in the lower F region. The ion concentration decreased by about 30% in the F region and about 50% in the E region, with little change in relative ion composition. The electron cooling rates decreased by a factor of 6 in the lower F region, approximately in proportion to the change in the visible solar disk. A smaller than expected decrease in the cooling rate below 150 km between the two flights indicates a hardening of the solar spectrum and suggests a significant heat contribution from the solar corona near totality. The ion composition measurements were consistent with solutions of the ion continuity equations. A proper fit required a factor-of-three enhancement of the flux below 200 A, an amount also consistent with the electron heat balance analysis. Reactions involving the minor ions N(+) and N2(+) were found to be important for the ion chemistry of the major ions O2(+) and NO(+), especially at the time of eclipse.-

Brace, L. H.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A global empirical model of thermospheric composition based on OGO-6 mass spectrometer measurements

The analysis of composition measurements made with the neutral mass spectrometer aboard the OGO-6 satellite leads to the following conclusions. The measured atomic oxygen densities are generally in good agreement with those deduced from drag. The molecular nitrogen densities in the annual and semiannual variations depart significantly from those predicted by drag models and suggest similar departures for exospheric temperatures. The helium densities generally tend to vary in an inverse manner to the nitrogen densities. These composition changes are consistent with dynamical processes associated with the global circulation in the thermosphere.

Hedin, A. E.↗