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Rusch, D. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Rusch, D. W..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

The global distribution of thermospheric odd nitrogen for solstice conditions during solar cycle minimum

A two-dimensional model of odd nitrogen in the thermosphere and upper mesosphere is described. The global distributions of nitric oxide and atomic nitrogen are calculated for the solstice period for quiet and moderate magnetic activity during the solar minimum period. The effect of thermospheric transport by winds is investigated along with the importance of particle-induced ionization in the auroral zones. The results are compared with rocket and satellite measurements, and the sensitivity of the model to eddy diffusion and neutral winds is investigated. Downward fluxes of NO into the mesosphere are given, and their importance for stratospheric ozone is discussed. The results show that the summer-to-winter pole meridional circulation transports both NO and N(S-4) across the solar terminator into the polar night region where there is a downward vertical transport toward the mesosphere. The model shows that odd nitrogen densities at high winter latitudes are entirely controlled by particle precipitation and transport processes.

Gerard, J.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Measurements of stratospheric NO2 from the Solar Mesosphere Explorer satellite. I - An overview of the results

The visible light spectrometer on board the Solar Mesosphere Explorer spacecraft measures stratospheric NO2 in the 20-40 km altitude region and provides accurate daytime NO2 density profiles with nearly complete latitudinal coverage over an extended period of time. The instrument and data analysis are discussed in detail, and NO2 results for winter/spring 1982 are presented and compared to current theoretical models. Agreement with other measurements is good, and comparison with NOx models indicates that although the overall agreement is acceptable, improvements in the models are required before good agreement is reached at all latitudes. The data indicate that NO2 has a strong memory of the physical conditions present in the stratosphere over a time period of several days.

Mount, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Nitric oxide delta band emission in the earth's atmosphere - Comparison of a measurement and a theory

Attention is given to the altitude dependent emission rate in the delta-bands of nitric oxide as measured in the earth's atmosphere at night by a scanning ultraviolet spectrometer. It is noted that the reaction responsible is the two-body association of nitrogen and oxygen atoms. The measurements show a vertical intensity beneath the layer for the delta-band system of 19 R. The horizontal emission rate is found to increase from 70 R at 117 km to 140 R at 150 km. The data are analyzed with a one-dimensional, time-dependent, vertical-transport model of odd nitrogen photochemistry. The calculated and measured intensities agree so long as the quenching of N(2D) by atomic oxygen is near 5 x 10 to the -13 cu cm/sec.

Rusch, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The effect of particle precipitation events on the neutral and ion chemistry of the middle atmosphere. II - Odd hydrogen

A one dimensional time-dependent model of the neutral and ion chemistry of the middle atmosphere has been used to examine the production of odd hydrogen (H, OH, and HO2) during charged particle precipitation. At altitudes above about 65 km, odd hydrogen production depends on the ionization rate, and the atomic oxygen and water vapor densities. Odd hydrogen production is shown to exhibit diurnal and other time dependent variations during such an event at these altitudes, and the assumption that two odd hydrogen particles are always produced per ionization is reexamined.

Solomon, S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Chemiluminescence of nitric oxide

Measurements of the intensities of the delta and gamma bands of nitric oxide in the nighttime terrestrial thermosphere are presented and used to infer the rate coefficient for the transition from the C 2 Pi to the A 2 Sigma + states. The nightglow spectrum was observed between 1900 and 2300 A at a resolution of 15 A by a rocket-borne scanning 1/4-m spectrometer pointing north at an apogee of 150 km. Progressions of the delta, gamma and epsilon bands are identified on the spectra by the construction of synthetic spectra, and the contributions of resonance fluorescence to the total band intensities are calculated. Finally, the ratio of the sum of the gamma bands for v-prime = 0 to the sum of the delta bands for v-prime = 0 is used to derive a branching ratio of 0.21 + or - 0.04 to the A 2 Sigma + state, which yields a probability for the C-A transition of 5.6 + or - 1.5 x to the 6th/sec.

Sharp, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Morphology of the Venus ultraviolet night airglow

Images of the nightside of Venus in the (0,1)delta band of nitric oxide have been obtained by the Pioneer Venus orbiter ultraviolet spectrometer (OUVS). The emission, which is produced by radiative association of N and O, shows a bright spot reaching 5 kR and located at 2 a.m. local solar time just south of the equator. The emitting layer is at 111 + or - 7-km altitude. A one dimensional vertical transport model shows that the hemispheric average brightness of 0.8 kR is consistent with the orbiter neutral mass spectrometer (ONMS) measurements of N and O near 167 km, and that the altitude of the emitting layer is consistent with the eddy mixing model proposed to explain the dayside helium profile measured by the bus neutral mass spectrometer. In the model, N reaches a peak of 7 x 10 to the 8th per cu cm at 114 km, and O reaches a peak of 2.6 x 10 to the 11th per cu cm at 106 km. There is a fair degree of consistency between the ONMS, OUVS, and other airglow measurements, except as regards the local time dependence.

Stewart, A. I. F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A two-dimensional model of odd nitrogen in the thermosphere and mesosphere

Satellite measurements of the global nitric oxide distribution demonstrating the need for a two dimensional model of odd nitrogen photochemistry and transport in the thermosphere and mesosphere are reviewed. The main characteristics of a new code solving the transport equation for N(4S), N(2D), and N0 are given. This model extends from pole to pole between 75 and 275 km and reacts to the magnetic activity, the ultraviolet solar flux, and the neutral wind field. The effects of ionization and subsequent odd nitrogen production by high latitude particle precipitation are also included. Preliminary results are illustrated for a magnetically quiet solar minimum period with no neutral wind.

Gerard, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The spatial-temporal ambiguity in auroral modeling

The paper examines the time-dependent models of the aurora which show that various ionospheric parameters respond to the onset of auroral ionization with different time histories. A pass of the Atmosphere Explorer C satellite over Poker Flat, Alaska, and ground based photometric and photographic observations have been used to resolve the time-space ambiguity of a specific auroral event. The density of the O(+), NO(+), O2(+), and N2(+) ions, the electron density, and the electron temperature observed at 280 km altitude in a 50 km wide segment of an auroral arc are predicted by the model if particle precipitation into the region commenced about 11 min prior to the overpass.

Rees, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Satellite studies of N/D-2/ emission and ion chemistry in aurorae

The incident particle flux ion and neutral composition data taken on the AE-D satellite have been used to investigate the quantal emission of N2(plus) at 4278 A, N(D-2) at 5200 A, and the ion chemistry in aurorae. The results of a time dependent auroral model have been compared to the data. The calculated 4278 A emission of N2(plus), the 5200 A emission of N(D-2), the densities of O2(plus), NO(plus), N2(plus), O(plus), and the electron density are generally in agreement with the measured values. These results are consistent with the branching ratios and quenching rates deduced from previous studies of the N(D-2) densities in the day-time, mid-latitude ionosphere. It is found that in an auroral arc, the measured atomic oxygen density is lower than predicted by the MSIS model.

Rusch, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Composition of the nighttime ionospheric F 1 region near the magnetic equator

The effects of vertical E x B transport on NO(+), O2(+) and O(+) densities in the nighttime equatorial ionospheric F 1 region are investigated. Ion densities are calculated as functions of altitude, latitude and local time by the numerical solution of coupled, time-dependent ion continuity equations, taking into account production, loss by charge exchange and dissociative recombination and transport by diffusion and E x B drift. The results of the calculations are compared with measurements of NO(+), O2(+) and O(+) ion densities obtained at low altitudes by a mass spectrometer on board the Atmospheric Explorer C satellite, and are found to be consistent with the observations, suggesting that in the equatorial region, vertical transport by E x B drift is primarily responsible for producing the observed NO(+), O2(+) and O(+) density profiles. In addition, the reaction of O2(+) with N(4S) is found to be an important sink for O2(+) and a source of NO(+) ions. Implications of the observed and calculated near constancy of electron and ion densities with altitude when NO(+) is the dominant ion on the growth of large-scale irregularities are also considered

Anderson, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Scientific objectives of the Solar Mesosphere Explorer mission

The paper describes the NASA Solar Mesosphere Explorer mission which will study mesospheric ozone and the processes which form and destroy it, measure the ozone density and its altitude distribution from 30 to 80 km, monitor incoming solar UV radiation, and provide a rigorous test of the photochemical equilibrium theory of the mesospheric oxygen-hydrogen system. Five instruments will be carried on the polar-orbiting spacecraft: UV ozone, IR airglow, and visible NO2 programmable Ebert-Fastie spectrometers, a four-channel IR radiometer, and a solar UV spectrometer. Atmospheric measurements will be made of the mesospheric and stratospheric ozone density distribution, water vapor density distribution, temperature profile, ozone photolysis rate, and NO2 density distribution. In addition, the solar UV monitor will measure both the 0.2-0.31 micron spectral region and the Lyman-alpha (0.1216 micron) contribution to the solar irradiance.

Thomas, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A model of the neutral and ion nitrogen chemistry in the daytime thermosphere of Venus

Density profiles of N(4S), NO, N(2D), NO(+), and N(+) are calculated for the thermosphere of Venus. The results show that N(4S) is the dominant odd nitrogen species throughout the thermosphere and has a maximum density of 18 million atoms/cu cm at 132 km. The calculated NO(+) density agrees well with recent Pioneer Venus measurements, but the calculated N(+) densities are a factor of two to five less than the measurements. The production of N(4S) atoms generated in the model is adequate to explain recent measurements of the nitric oxide chemiluminescent emission on the night side of Venus.

Rusch, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The morphology of equatorial Mg/plus/ ion distribution deduced from 2800-A airglow observations

The Visible Airglow Experiment on the Atmosphere Explorer E satellite has observed the resonantly scattered emission from Mg II at 2800 A in the equatorial ionosphere. Altitude profiles of the Mg(plus) ion distribution have been obtained from the inversion of the surface brightness measurements made on spinning orbits. These data show a daytime metallic ion layer between 150 and 200 km developing in the early morning and reaching about 100 ions/cu cm in the afternoon. Mg(plus) ions are also seen in the F 2 region mostly in the late afternoon hours within a few degrees of the dip equator. The study of the vertical column density measured in the despun mode indicates that the amount of Mg(plus) in the F region is most variable in the afternoon hours at low dip latitudes. These results can be explained in part by the diurnal variation of the E x B drift velocity which lifts the metallic ions up into the F region. The observations suggest that the vertical polarization electric field is not the primary transport mechanism extracting the Mg(plus) ions from the low-altitude source layer.

Gerard, J.-C.↗