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Kamp, L. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Kamp, L. W..

29 records · Page 2

Probing Venus's cloud structure with Galileo NIMS

The spectral image cubes obtained by the Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) on Galileo as it flew by Venus have been analyzed to constrain the vertical structure of the clouds, the nature of the aerosol particles, and the location and particle properties of the opacity variations responsible for high-contrast features observed in the near-infrared windows at 1.7 and 2.3 micrometers. A radiative transfer program was used to simulate mid-latitude curves of limb darkening at 3.7 micrometers. Best-fit models to these curves demonstrate that the upper clouds are dominated by mode 2 particles (r-bar = 1.0 micrometers), with a contribution of approximately 15% of opacity from mode 1 particles (r-bar = 0.3 micrometers). The low-latitude upper cloud is well represented by a dual scale-height model, with a particle scale height of approximately 1 km from an altitude of 61-63 km, and a scale height of approximately 6 km above this, up to the level where tau = 1 at approximately 71 km. This model also successfully simulates limb-darkening curves at 11.5 micrometers from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter Infrared Radiometer. Successful simulations of correlation plots of 1.7 vs 2.3 micrometers intensities reveal that mode 3 particles (r-bar = 3.65 micrometers) represent the dominant source of opacity in the lower and middle clouds, and that variation in total cloud opacity reflects chiefly the addition and removal of mode 3 particles near the cloud base. We find that the full spectrum of brightnesses at 1.7 and 2.3 micrometers implies that the total cloud optical depth varies from approximately 25 to approximately 40.

Grinspoon, D. H.↗

Earth global mosaic observations with NIMS-Galileo

During the Earth-1 Galileo flyby (December 1990), the Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) experiment investigated the illuminated side of the Earth in the spectral range 0.7-5.2 micrometers. Mosaics of the entire terrestrial globe were recorded with a spatial resolution ranging from 100 to 500 km. From these spectra, information is retrieved upon the large-scale temperature structure in the stratosphere and in the mesosphere (0-70 km altitude range) from the inversion of the CO2 bands at 4.3 and 4.8 micrometers. These data also permit monitoring of the cloud temperatures, and derivation of the abundances of several minor atmospheric constituents (H2O, CO, N2O, CH4 and O3). These observations constitute a continuation of the study of the atmospheres of the three planets (i.e. Venus, the Earth and Jupiter) targeted by the Galileo spacecraft during its mission. Observing these atmospheres with the NIMS instrument in the near-infrared will provide a unique data set, useful for comparative planetary studies.

Drossart, P.↗

Galileo/NIMS near-infrared thermal imagery of the surface of Venus

Numerous highland and lowland features on the surface of Venus are observed in multispectral imagery acquired at approximately 50 km spatial resolution by the Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) on board the Galileo spacecraft in Feb. 1990. Specifically, such features are observed at 1.18 microns, a wavelength particularly sensitive to thermal emission from the hot, lower atmosphere (less than 10 km) and surface, and show up particularly well when this image is 'de-clouded' using a simultaneously-acquired 2.3-microns image of the upper, cloudy atmosphere. Due to the steep atmospheric temperature gradient (approximately 8 degrees per kilometer), hot lowland areas appear relatively bright, while cooler, highland areas appear dark (due to the steep atmospheric temperature gradient - approximately 8 degrees per kilometer - surface temperatures span approximately 100 K over the 13 kilometer range of surface altitudes observed in this image). Prominent highland features include Maxwell Montes (approximately 12 km altitude), Alpha Regio (2.5 km), Eistla Regio (approximately 2.0 km), Bell Regio (2-3 km), and the western edge of Aphrodite Terra (2-2.5 km). Low-lying regions include Sedna Planitia (-1.0 km), Tinatin Planitia (-0.5 km), and the Bereghinya Planitia (0 km). From correlations with radar altimetry maps, such imagery may place useful constraints on surface emissivity and temperature variations, as well as on the nature of continuum opacity of CO2 in the 1-micron region.

Carlson, R. W.↗

Variations in Venus Cloud Particle Properties

Using Venus nightside data obtained by the Galileo Near Infrared Mapping spectrometer, we hav studied the correclation of 1.74 and 2.30 (sub m) radiation which is transmitted through the clouds.

processes↗

Galileo infrared imaging spectroscopy measurements at Venus

During the 1990 Galileo Venus flyby, the Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer investigated the night-side atmosphere of Venus in the spectral range 0.7 to 5.2 micrometers. Multispectral images at high spatial resolution indicate substantial cloud opacity variations in the lower cloud levels, centered at 50 kilometers altitude. Zonal and meridional winds were derived for this level and are consistent with motion of the upper branch of a Hadley cell. Northern and southern hemisphere clouds appear to be markedly different. Spectral profiles were used to derive lower atmosphere abundances of water vapor and other species.

Carlson, R. W.↗

IUE observations of Si and C lines and comparison with non-LTE models

Classical model atmosphere techniques are applied to analyze IUE spectra, and to determine abundances, effective temperatures and gravities. Measurements of the equivalent widths and other properties of the line profiles of 24 photospheric lines of Si II, Si III, Si IV, C II, C III and C IV are presented in the range of 1175-1725 A for seven B and two O stars. Observed line profiles are compared with theoretical profiles computed using non-LTE theory and models, and using line-blanketed model atmospheres. Agreement is reasonably good, although strong lines are calculated to be systematically stronger than those observed, while the reverse occurs for weak lines, and empirical profiles have smaller wings than theoretical profiles. It is concluded that the present theory of line formation when used with solar abundances, represents fairly well observed UV photospheric lines of silicon and carbon ions in the atmospheres of main sequence stars of types B5-O9.

Kamp, L. W.↗

On the theory of silicon spectra in O and B stars

Results of a previous calculation of a grid of predicted line profiles for 36 multiplets of Si II, III, and IV over a range of model atmospheres corresponding roughly to B0-B5 in spectral type and III-IV in luminosity class are analyzed and applied to observed spectra. The overall properties of the grid of Si line equivalent widths are reviewed, the diagnostic capability of this grid is discussed, and some results are presented for the parameters of 11 B stars derived from observed Si lines. The general fit of the predictions to the observations is evaluated, and test calculations are performed to examine the effect of varying a number of important parameters. Some systematic trends in the computational results are noted which can be expressed as phenomenological 'laws'. Special attention is given to problems arising from non-LTE effects as well as to the self-consistency of analytical results obtained from unblanketed models. It is found that the Si line calculations yield good agreement in two tests for main-sequence stars between B0 and B2, but both tests give somewhat negative results for spectral types later than B2.

Kamp, L. W.↗

Statistical equilibrium calculations for silicon in early-type model stellar atmospheres

Line profiles of 36 multiplets of silicon (Si) II, III, and IV were computed for a grid of model atmospheres covering the range from 15,000 to 35,000 K in effective temperature and 2.5 to 4.5 in log (gravity). The computations involved simultaneous solution of the steady-state statistical equilibrium equations for the populations and of the equation of radiative transfer in the lines. The variables were linearized, and successive corrections were computed until a minimal accuracy of 1/1000 in the line intensities was reached. The common assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) was dropped. The model atmospheres used also were computed by non-LTE methods. Some effects that were incorporated into the calculations were the depression of the continuum by free electrons, hydrogen and ionized helium line blocking, and auto-ionization and dielectronic recombination, which later were found to be insignificant. Use of radiation damping and detailed electron (quadratic Stark) damping constants had small but significant effects on the strong resonance lines of Si III and IV. For weak and intermediate-strength lines, large differences with respect to LTE computations, the results of which are also presented, were found in line shapes and strengths. For the strong lines the differences are generally small, except for the models at the hot, low-gravity extreme of our range. These computations should be useful in the interpretation of the spectra of stars in the spectral range B0-B5, luminosity classes III, IV, and V.

Kamp, L. W.↗

Proper motions, cluster membership and reddening in NGC 6611

Approaches used in reductions for proper motion are based on methods developed by Vasilevskis et al. (1965). Probabilities of cluster membership were determined by fitting the distribution of stars in the proper motion vector diagram with two bivariate Gaussian distributions for the field and the cluster stars. The spectroscopic data indicate that the stellar content of the cluster is not anomalous. The color-magnitude diagram is considered along with questions regarding member stars lying above the main sequence, the cluster age, and aspects of spatial structure.

Kamp, L. W.↗

A non-LTE study of silicon line formation in early-type main-sequence atmospheres.

We have computed populations of 16 levels of Si III-V and radiation fields in all connecting transitions; in particular the first six Si III triplet levels, including the 4553 line, and the first six Si IV levels including 4089. The computations were done for four non-LTE H-He model atmospheres, provided by Auer and Mihalas. Estimates of corresponding MK types are B1.5 V, B0.5 V, O9 V, and O6. Solutions were obtained by iterating the linearized equations of radiative transfer and statistical equilibrium, except that for less important lines an approximate equivalent two-level atom treatment was used. Continuous opacities of C, N, O, and Ne were included. All abundances were solar values.

Kamp, L. W.↗