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Hord, C. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Hord, C. W..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Vertical distribution of ozone on Mars

The vertical distribution of ozone in the atmosphere of Mars is computed from ultraviolet spectra obtained by the Mariner 9 spacecraft. In the Northern Hemisphere the ozone scale height is much smaller than the atmospheric scale height in midlatitudes and increases rapidly to a maximum farther north. At high latitudes (above 60 deg) there is no significant difference between the scale heights of ozone in the Northern (winter) Hemisphere and the Southern (summer) Hemisphere. Comparison of the ozone distribution with atmospheric temperature structure indicates that at some locations in the North, the density of water vapor increases with altitude, and the time for vertical mixing is about 3 days or more.

Wehrbein, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The Voyager mission photopolarimeter experiment

A general purpose filter photometer/polarimeter capable of measuring the intensity and linear polarization of scattered light at eight wavelengths in the 2350-7500 A spectral region has been adopted for the Voyager mission photopolarimeter experiment. Objectives of the experiment include determination of the vertical atmospheric aerosol distributions for Jupiter, Saturn and Titan, definition of cloud micro- and macro-structures, and identification of any regular crystalline particles in the clouds. In addition, the density of the satellite atmospheres will be assessed, and the sodium vapor distributions near Io and in the Jovian magnetosphere will be mapped. Particle size and optical depth of Saturn's rings will also be investigated.

Lillie, C. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Mariner 9 Ultraviolet Spectrometer Experiment: Mars Atomic Oxygen 1304-A Emission

Selected results are presented for an analysis of Mariner 9 1304-A data from the first 100 passes. Based on a comparison of limb data, the exospheric temperature appears lower on several Mariner 9 passes than when Mariner 6 and 7 encountered the planet in 1969. Temperatures of 300 and 350 K are considered in the atmospheric modeling. At 300 K, derived values of the atomic oxygen concentration are typically between 0.5 and 1 percent of the total density at 135 km, based on fitting theoretical intensities to limb data from several passes. Structure in the limb data below 200 km suggests the possibility that approximately 0.2 kR of the observed approximately 0.8 kR near 150 km is due to dissociative excitation of CO2. There is variability in limb profiles indicating changes in the O distribution with time. The variability does not appear to follow a recognizable pattern. Interpretation of the 1304-A disc data shows a correlation in intensity with the 10.7 cm solar flux and larger O concentrations in the afternoon than in the morning. The correlation in intensity with the 10.7 cm flux is probably due largely to variation in the solar 1304-A fluxes. Selected disc data show localized and random enhancements in the intensity.

Strickland, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Bright-limb observations of the lower atmosphere of Mars

Analysis of the bright-limb profiles obtained by the Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer during the December 1971 dust storm on Mars shows that the dust extended to an altitude of plus or minus 10 km, with a sharp cutoff in altitude distribution. Above the dust layer, the reflected signal is characterized by Rayleigh scattering in the wavelength interval 2100 to 3500 A. Detached haze layers were detected at an altitude of 70 plus or minus 10 km at the top of the dust layer. The haze layers have a nominal optical thickness of about 0.0001 and a geometrical thickness of 3 to 10 km and are probably a condensate of small CO2 or H2O ice particles (mean radius less than 0.1 micron). Similar features were revealed in Mariner 9 TV pictures of the limb.

Ajello, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Complex refractive index of Martian dust - Mariner 9 ultraviolet observations

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer observations of the 1971 dust clouds obscuring the surface of Mars have been analyzed by matching the observed dust phase function with Mie scattering calculations for size distributions of homogeneous and isotropic material. Preliminary results indicate an effective particle radius of not less than 0.2. The real component of the index of refraction is not less than 1.8 at both 268 and 305 nm; corresponding values for the imagery component are 0.02 and 0.01. These values are consistent with those found by Mead (1970) for the visible and near-visible wavelengths. The refractive index and the absorption coefficient increase rapidly with decreasing wavelength in going from the visible to the ultraviolet, indicating the presence of an ultraviolet absorption band which may shield organisms from ultraviolet irradiation.

Pang, K.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Pressure-altitude measurements on Mars

Ultraviolet spectrometer measurements of the reflectance at 3050 A are modeled to give pressure-altitudes for Mars assuming a quiescent atmosphere. Ultraviolet light that is Rayleigh-scattered by the Mars molecular atmosphere, with allowance for uniform turbidity, is proportional to surface pressure independent of atmospheric temperature structure. All model constants except the over-all scaling factors are found by requiring ultraviolet spectrometer pressures of 47 locations on the planet to be the same when measured at different geometries. The overall scaling factor is found by intercomparison with Mariner 9 occultation pressures. Comparison with other Mars pressure-altitude measurements show deviations from the assumption of uniform turbidity to occur over the Hesperia plateau for ultraviolet measurements obtained during the 13-26 February 1972 time period.

Hord, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Morning terminator observations of Mars

Mariner 9 ultraviolet morning terminator data indicate the presence of a high, optically thin scattering layer in the equatorial region of Mars extending to 50S. This is consistent with the afternoon terminator results, which showed the presence of a scattering layer for latitudes as far north as 50N. For both types of terminator observations, the magnitude of the reflectivity for large shadow heights and the apparent scale height of the signal are too large to be explained by a homogeneous atmosphere. The terminator observations poleward of 50S were modeled by a homogeneous atmosphere of molecular and particulate scatterers. As the lower atmosphere began to clear from the dust storm, a progressive change was noted in the magnitude of the terminator reflectivity which is attributed to a changing albedo for single scattering. The shape of the morning terminator reflectivity measured as a function of shadow height indicates larger apparent scale heights than were observed in the afternoon. The difference is attributed to an increase in thickness of the scattering layer during the night.

Ajello, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Ultraviolet spectrometer experiment

The original scientific objectives and the achieved results are discussed. The upper atmosphere was found to have a variable temperature, with a mean exospheric temperature of 325 K; composed predominantley of CO2. Measurements of hydrogen and ozone are analyzed.

Barth, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Mars atomic oxygen 1304-A emission.

Selected results are presented for an analysis of Mariner 9 1304-A data from the first 100 passes. Based on a comparison of limb data, the exospheric temperature appears lower on several Mariner 9 passes than when Mariner 6 and 7 encountered the planet in 1969. Temperatures of 300 and 350 K are considered in the atmospheric modeling. At 300 K, derived values of the atomic oxygen concentration are typically between 0.5 and 1% of the total density at 135 km, based on fitting theoretical intensities to limb data from several passes. Structure in the limb data below 200 km suggests the possibility that approximately 0.2 kR of the observed approximately 0.8 kR near 150 km is due to dissociative excitation of CO2. There is variability in limb profiles, thus indicating changes in the O distribution with time. The variability does not appear to follow a recognizable pattern. Interpretation of the 1304-A disk data shows a correlation in intensity with the 10.7-cm solar flux and larger O concentrations in the afternoon than in the morning. The correlation in intensity with the 10.7-cm flux is probably due largely to variation in the solar 1304-A fluxes.

Strickland, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment: Afternoon terminator observations of Mars

It is possible to model the ultraviolet terminator observations of Mariner 9 either with a homogeneous atmosphere or with a scattering layer in addition to a homogeneous atmosphere. The characteristic shape of the twilight intensity variation is dependent on the latitude of observation. Observations north of 55N require a homogeneous model. Twilight measurements south of 55N indicate that a scattering layer may be a general Martian occurrence, at least in the evening. The day-to-day surveillance of the Martian terminator during the first 216 Mariner 9 revolutions indicates haze formation in the evening, and its continued presence until early morning is a daily occurrence in mid-latitudes up to 50N.

Ajello, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment: Mars atomic oxygen 1304-Angstrom emission

Selected results are presented for a considerable quantity of Mariner 9 1304-A data for the first 100 revolutions from both the bright limb and disk of Mars. The limb data suggest that the exospheric temperature is less than it was in 1969 when Mariners 6 and 7 encountered the planet. Similar (O) concentrations (0.5 to 1%) are derived for a temperature of about 300 K. Structure in the limb profiles below 200 km suggests the possibility that about 0.2 kR of the observed approximately 0.8 kR near 150 km is due to dissociative excitation of CO2. Significant differences in selected limb profiles suggest that local as well as random variations in (O) occur.

Strickland, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment: Seasonal variation of ozone on Mars

On Mars, the Mariner observations show a twenty-fold variation in the amount of ozone, depending on the presence or absence of another minor constituent, water vapor, in the atmosphere. In the evolution of earth's primitive atmosphere, the formation of an ozone layer may have played an important role in the prebiotic chemistry that took place on the surface. The seasonal formation and disappearance of ozone in the contemporary Martian atmosphere may be of consequence in any prebiotic chemistry that may be occurring there.

Barth, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - 1971 Mars' dust storm.

The brightness of a region on the south polar cap centered at approximately -87 deg S, 10 deg W was observed. Measurements taken at various incidence and emission angles show that the brightness increased with decreasing air mass. The observed intensity consists primarily of a component reflected from the cap and twice attenuated by the atmosphere and a component diffusely reflected from the atmosphere. The dust cloud over the polar cap was moderately thick between Nov. 26 and Dec. 2, 1971. At this time the optical thickness was near unity, and it decreased approximately linearly with time, reaching a value close to that of a Rayleigh atmosphere by mid-February. The optical thickness showed little dependence on the wavelength during the early orbital observations.

Pang, K.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Seasonal variation of ozone on Mars.

Ozone is observed to be present in the polar regions of Mars and to have a seasonal variation. In the summer, the amount present in the polar atmosphere is less than 3 micrometer-atmospheres. In the fall, ozone increases in amount and is found in association with the formation of the polar hood. In winter, the maximum amount of ozone is present, 57 micrometer-atmospheres over the polar hood and 16 over the polar cap. In spring, the amount over the polar cap decreases monotonically until by the beginning of summer the ozone disappears. Ozone is not observed in the equatorial region during any season.

Barth, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Mariner 9 Ultraviolet Spectrometer experiment - Observations of ozone on Mars.

The Mariner 9 Ultraviolet Spectrometer has observed the 2550 A ozone spectral absorption feature on Mars. This absorption was previously detected in the south polar region by Mariner 7 in 1969. Mariner 9 did not observe ozone at any time in the equatorial region, nor at the south polar cap during its summer season. However, ozone was found in the north polar region beginning at a latitude of 45 deg N and extending northward. Ozone later appeared in the southern hemisphere southward of 50 deg S as the Mars autumnal equinox approached. The presence of ozone on Mars seems to be coupled to the water vapor content of its atmosphere.

Lane, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Photometry and topography of Mars.

Reflectance properties of Mars were measured in a 100-A band (centered at 3050 A) by the UV spectrometer on board Mariner 9 during the period from Nov. 14, 1971 to Mar. 1, 1972. A topographic map of Mars based on the scattering of UV light from the Mars atmosphere (after clearing of the dust storm) is illustrated. The UV light which is Rayleigh-scattered by the Mars molecular atmosphere (with allowance for uniform turbidity) is proportional to surface pressure regardless of the atmospheric temperature structure. Comparison with Mariner 9 radio occultation measurements determines the fraction of total reflectance that is due to atmospheric scattering.

Hord, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Mars airglow spectroscopy and variations in Lyman alpha.

Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer observations show the Mars airglow consists principally of emissions that arise from the interaction of solar ultraviolet radiation with carbon dioxide, the principal constituent of the Mars atmosphere. Two minor constituents, atomic hydrogen and atomic oxygen, also produce airglow emissions. The airglow measurements show that ionized carbon dioxide is only a minor constituent of the ionosphere. Using the airglow measurements of atomic oxygen, it is possible to infer that the major ion is ionized molecular oxygen. The escape rate of atomic hydrogen measured by Mariner 9 is approximately the same as that measured two years earlier by Mariner 6 and 7. If the current escape rate has been operating for 4.5 billion years and if water vapor is the ultimate source, an amount of oxygen has been generated that is far in excess of that observed at present. Mariner 9 observations of Mars Lyman alpha emission over a period of 120 days show variations of 20%.

Barth, C. A.↗