Engineering topics

Livingston, William

Publications and source records attributed to Livingston, William.

2 records

NASA NTRS1991

Sun-as-a-star spectrum variability

The sun is observed as a start in order to determine luminosity change, detect minute variability in average granulation and focular signals, and to use as a standard against which other stars might be compared. In this regard, topics discussed include: total irradiance variability as measured from space by the Activity Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor and Earth Radiation Budget radiometers; Fraunhofer line heights of formation and examples of their variability in visible wavelenghts; ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet irradiance variability as observed from space; the magnetic origin of irradiance change; and the observed mean magnetic field of the sun.

Livingston, William↗

NASA NTRS1990

Tracking atmospheric trace gases by spectroscopy from Kitt Peak

Researchers analyzed solar spectra obtained with the 1-m Fourier Transfer Spectrometer (FTS) for absorption by CO2, CH4, N2, CO, HF, and HCl. During the period 1979 to 1985, they found that the CO2 total column amount was increasing 0.4 percent/year, CH4 was up 1.1 percent/year, while N2O shows no detectable trend. CO undergoes a large seasonal variation that masks any long-term trend within the observational time span. Stratospheric HF doubles in strength, displaying a conspicuous single-point increase that coincided with the mystery volcanic event of that era. Researchers are now attempting to resume the observations as resources permit.

Wallace, Lloyd↗