Engineering topics

Riddle, A. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Riddle, A. C..

18 records

NASA NTRS1993

A monochromatic gravity wave observed by the Flatland Atmospheric Observatory

On 21 December 1991 from approximately 1300 to approximately 1600 UTC a monochromatic wave train with an 8.2-min period was observed by the suite of instruments at the Flatland Atmospheric Observatory (FAO), located in very flat terrain near Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. A 915-MHz radar measured the vertical wind velocity w every 60 s from 0.55 km MSL (0.34 km AGL) to approximately 3 km with 250-m range gates, and a 50-MHz radar measured the oblique wind in four directions, as well as w, every 130 s from 2.75 to approximately 7.25 km with 750-m range gates. A meteorological ground station measured the surface pressure P, wind speed vector u and azimuth alpha, temperature, solar insolation, etc., every 30 s. P was also measured every 120 s by six digital barograph stations within 30 km of Flatland. Using the hodograph of surface vector u and alpha and the impedance relation, we estimated the azimuthal direction of propagation phi to be 45 deg +/- 15 deg clockwise from north, the intrinsic and apparent horizontal phase speeds C(sub i) and C(sub o), respectively, (which are about equal since the direction of propagation is about normal to the mean wind) to be 21 +/- 5 m/s, and the horizontal wavelength lambda to be 10.0 +/- 2.5 km. The peak-to-peak surface horizontal perturbation velocity varied from approximately 2 to 5 m/s from cycle to cycle.

Vanzandt, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Use of the Sun to determine pointing of ST radar beams

Verification of the beam pointing direction for ST (stratosphere troposphere) radars is a technically difficult problem. Consequently it is not usually done. For measurement of horizontal wind, the lack of precise knowledge of the beam pointing direction is usually of little consequence as any errors cause only a small uncertainty in the measured velocity. However, instantaneous vertical velocities are typically more than an order of magnitude less than horizontal velocities and average vertical velocities are more than two orders of magnitude less than average horizontal velocities. Hence small pointing errors for vertical beams can result in large errors due to contamination by horizontal winds. Experimental confirmation of pointing accuracy using the measured winds is difficult but has been achieved where horizontal and vertical winds are measured at the same site. Using the techniques described by Balsley and Riddle, 1984 and Riddle and Balsley, 1985, pointing accuracy was measured at Ponape, Federated States of Micronesia. The experiment is described in detail.

Riddle, A. C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Archival of Poker Flat MST radar data

The Poker Flat MST (mesosphere stratosphere troposphere) radar has operated from early 1979 to 1985. The data recorded during that time resides on some 1100 magnetic tapes. A second set containing only the derived parameters of velocity, width and signal to noise of the primary echo at each height, plus the noise spectra, occupies another 250 tapes. While processing to generate the compressed data set does correct some known errors, no attempt has been made to identify or remove spurious echoes. Because the Poker Flat data set is such a unique and valuable resource, a proposal is made to archive the data in forms more useful for analysis. The archived data set would contain only the parameters for significant echoes with contamination from airplanes, unwanted ionospheric returns, frequently aliased Doppler signals and other sources removed. The archived set should be as good or better than the example shown and may occupy only 25 to 50 tapes.

Riddle, A. C.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Tropospheric gravity waves observed by three closely spaced ST radars

Clear-air radar experiments were carried out on the southern coast of France during the (ALPEX) Alpine experiment program vertically directed stratosphere-troposphere-radars were set up with spacings of about 5 to 6 km. The temporal and spectral characteristics of the vertical velocity fluctuations were examined. The horizontal and vertical properties of gravity waves in the lower atmosphere were analyzed. The techniques used and the first results from this wave study are described.

Carter, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Accuracy of vertical velocity determination

Typical wind spectra taken at Poker Flat, Alaska, using the vertically oriented antenna show velocities of 10's of cm to meters per second and spectral widths winds of 0.5 to 1 m/s. The potential errors in such measurements can be broken down into three categories: (1) those due to instrumental parameters and data processing, (2) those due to specular returns from non-horizontal surfaces, and (3) those due to other physical effects. Error analysis in vertical velocity measurement is further discussed.

Riddle, A. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Techniques for studying gravity waves and turbulence: Vertical wind speed power spectra from the troposphere and stratosphere obtained under light wind conditions

A joint France/U.S. experiment was conducted near the mouth of the Rhone river in southern France as part of the ALPEX program. This experiment used 3 vertically directed 50 MHz radars separated by 4 to 6 km. The main purpose of this experiment was to study the spatial characteristics of gravity waves. The good height resolution (750 meters) and time resolution (1 minute) and the continuous operation over many weeks have yielded high resolution vertical wind speed power spectra under a variety of synoptic conditions. Vertical spectra obtained during very quiet (low wind) conditions in the troposphere and lower stratosphere from a single site are presented.

Ecklund, W. L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Parameterization of spectrum

Many radars used for wind sounding generate Doppler power spectra as output. For compact data archiving purposes, as well as for data analysis, several parameters were produced to characterize each spectrum. The parameters chosen were noise level, echo signal strength, velocity, and width. Because the derived parameters may be the only quantities available for future analysis, it was important that they did not contain biases imposed by the derivation techniques. This consideration led to a processing scheme in which the parameters were derived independently for each spectrum.

Riddle, A. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Identification of radio emission from the Io flux tube

The identification of a specific Jovian decametric emission with the particular flux tube near the orbit of Io giving rise to it would substantially improve theoretical understandings of the relation of the Io flux tubes with the arc-like structures seen on time vs. frequency plots of decametric emissions observed by the Voyager spacecraft. The present paper shows how the instantaneous Io flux tube may be identified with particular emission features. It is demonstrated that the emissions designated Io caused emission (ICE) may be interpreted as representing sections of arc structures emitted by the interaction of Io with successive flux tubes. The model is capable of accounting for the change of displacement angle of the ICE structures as the sub-observed Jovian longitude changes. The identification permits the mapping of emissions onto the causative flux tubes for Jovian longitudes from 240 to 360 deg.

Riddle, A. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Synoptic observations of Jupiter's radio emissions - Average statistical properties observed by Voyager

Observations of Jupiter's low-frequency radio emissions collected over one-month intervals before and after each Voyager encounter are analyzed to provide a synoptic view of the average statistical properties of the emissions. Compilations of occurrence probability, average power flux density, and average sense of circular polarization are given as a function of central meridian longitude, phase of Io, and frequency. The results are then compared with ground-based observations. The necessary geometric conditions and preferred polarization sense for Io-related decametric emission observed by Voyager from above both the dayside and nightside hemispheres are found to be basically the same as those observed in earth-based studies.

Alexander, J. K.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Synoptic observations of Jupiter's radio emissions: Average Statistical properties observed by Voyager

Observations of Jupiter's low frequency radio emissions collected over one month intervals before and after each Voyager encounter were analyzed. Compilations of occurrence probability, average power flux density and average sense of circular polarization are presented as a function of central meridian longitude, phase of Io, and frequency. The results are compared with ground based observations. The necessary geometrical conditions are preferred polarization sense for Io-related decametric emission observed by Voyager from above both the dayside and nightside hemispheres are found to be essentially the same as are observed in Earth based studies. On the other hand, there is a clear local time dependence in the Io-independent decametric emission. Io appears to have an influence on average flux density of the emission down to below 2 MHz. The average power flux density spectrum of Jupiter's emission has a broad peak near 9MHz. Integration of the average spectrum over all frequencies gives a total radiated power for an isotropic source of 4 x 10 to the 11th power W.

Alexander, J. K.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Planetary radio astronomy observations from Voyager 2 near Jupiter

The Voyager 2 Planetary Radio Astronomy experiment to Jupiter has confirmed and extended to higher zenomagnetic latitudes results from the identical experiment carried by Voyager 1. The kilometric emissions discovered by Voyager 1 often extended to 1 megahertz or higher on Voyager 2 and often consisted of negatively, or less frequently, positively drifting narrowband bursts. On the basis of tentative identification of plasma wave emissions similar to those detected by Voyager 1, the plasma torus associated with Io appeared somewhat denser to Voyager 2 than it did to Voyager 1. The paper reports on quasi-periodic sinusoidal or impulsive bursts in the broadcast band range of wavelengths (800 to 1800 kHz). A Faraday effect appears at decametric frequencies, which probably results from propagation of the radiation near its sources on Jupiter. Finally, the occurrence of decametric emission in homologous arc families is discussed.

Warwick, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Voyager 1 planetary radio astronomy observations near Jupiter

Results from the first low-frequency radio receiver to be transported into the Jupiter magnetosphere are reported. Dramatic new information was obtained, both because Voyager was near or in Jupiter's radio emission sources and because it was outside the relatively dense solar wind plasma of the inner solar system. Extensive radio spectral arcs, from above 30 to about 1 MHz, occurred in patterns correlated with planetary longitude. A newly discovered kilometric wavelength radio source may relate to the plasma torus near Io's orbit. In situ wave resonances near closest approach define an electron density profile along the Voyager trajectory and form the basis for a map of the torus. Detailed studies are in progress and are outlined briefly.

Warwick, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Voyager spacecraft radio observations of Jupiter - Initial cruise results

Low frequency (below 1326 kHz) observations of Jupiter obtained from November, 1977 through June, 1978 by the radio astronomy receivers carried by the two Voyager spacecraft are reported and compared with a large body of higher-frequency ground-based observations. Although the morphology of hectometric wavelength (HOM) emissions strongly resembles that of decametric (DAM) wavelength radio noise, they display opposite polarization. DAM emissions are strongly modulated by Io, whereas HOM emissions exhibit little or no influence from any satellite and appear to be modulated by the rotation phase of the planet. Several single-source models could possibly account for these results, including a model assuming emission at two well-separated frequencies above and below the local electron plasma frequency and the model proposed by Barbosa (1976) in which electrostatic waves at twice the upper hybrid frequency couple to both the ordinary and extraordinary electromagnetic modes. However, neither of these is entirely satisfactory.

Kaiser, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Voyager 1 Planetary Radio Astronomy Observations Near Jupiter

Results are reported from the first low frequency radio receiver to be transported into the Jupiter magnetosphere. Dramatic new information was obtained both because Voyager was near or in Jupiter's radio emission sources and also because it was outside the relatively dense solar wind plasma of the inner solar system. Extensive radio arcs, from above 30 MHz to about 1 MHz, occurred in patterns correlated with planetary longitude. A newly discovered kilometric wavelength radio source may relate to the plasma torus near Io's orbit. In situ wave resonances near closest approach define an electron density profile along the Voyager trajectory and form the basis for a map of the torus. Studies in progress are outlined briefly.

Warwick, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Voyager spacecraft radio observations of Jupiter: Initial cruise results

Jupiter's low-frequency radio emission were detected by the planetary radio astronomy instruments onboard the two Voyager spacecraft. The emission is surprisingly similar in morphology but opposite in polarization to the high-frequency Jovian radio noise that were observed with ground-based telescopes for more than two decades. Several possible explanations for the behavior of the low-frequency emission are examined, but none of them is completely satisfactory.

Kaiser, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Direct measurements by Voyagers 1 and 2 of the polarization of terrestrial kilometric radiation

Measurements of the polarization of intense terrestrial kilometric radiation obtained with planetary radio astronomy experiments on Voyager-1 and 2 during the early portions of each flight show the signals to be predominantly left-hand circularly polarized. Since these emissions were most probably generated above the Northern Hemisphere auroral zone, we conclude that the radiation is emitted primarily in the extraordinary mode.

Kaiser, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Direct measurements of the polarization of terrestrial kilometric radiation from Voyagers 1 and 2

Terrestrial radiation measurements obtained with planetary radio astronomy experiments on Voyager-1 and 2 during the early portions of each flight show the signals to be predominantly left-hand circularly polarized. Since these emissions were most probably generated above the Northern Hemisphere auroral zone, it is concluded that the radiation is emitted primarily in the extraordinary mode.

Kaiser, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1975

A distinctive type of ascending prominence - 'Fountain'

Cinematographic observations of solar prominences made at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, during the past few years suggest that there is a well-defined subclass of ascending prominences characterized by closed-system transference of chromospheric material along an arch or loop (up one leg and down the other). While this occurs, the entire prominence envelope steadily rises upward and expands through the corona. These prominences are denoted as 'fountains'. Several examples are described. Fountains appear to be well contained by coronal magnetic fields. Their total kinetic energy is of the order of 10 to the 30th power erg, but dissipation is typically quite slow (over time periods of 100 min or so), so that the correlative disturbances (radio bursts, coronal transients, chromospheric brightenings) are generally not spectacular or nonexistent.

Tandberg-Hanssen, E.↗