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Wu, S. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Wu, S. T..

At least 217 records · Page 12

Partial analysis of the flare-prominence of 30 April 1974

A portion of an east limb flare-prominence observed in H-alpha light is analyzed. Following rapid achievement of a maximum mass-ejection velocity of about 375 km/s, the ascending prominence reached a height of at least 200,000 km. A one-dimensional time-dependent hydrodynamic theory is used to compute the total mass and energy ejected during this part of the event. Theoretical aspects of the coronal response are discussed. It is concluded that a moderate temperature and density pulse (factors of ten and two, respectively) for a duration of only 3 min is sufficient for an acceptable simulation of the H-alpha observations and the likely coronal response to the ascending prominence and flare-related ejections.

Wu, S. T.↗

Multifluids description of dynamics of upper atmosphere

A multifluids model to investigate ionospheric dynamics was established on kinetic theory. Its resultant equations are used to examine the following dynamic problems in the gamma region of 80-2000 Km of the ionosphere: (1) propagation of acoustic modes in the 500-2,000 Km of the ionosphere (two fluid model); (2) the relation between the cross field plasma drift instabilities and type I and type II ionospheric irregularities; and (3) time dependent neutral wind structure and horizontal pressure gradient.

Wu, S. T.↗

Application of solar energy; Proceedings of the First Southeastern Conference, Huntsville, Ala., March 24-26, 1975

Topics related to architectural and institutional considerations are discussed along with studies of components and subsystems. Subjects in the area of system design and analysis are also explored. Residential and commercial applications are considered, taking into account hot-water usage in a typical single-family residence, solar heating and cooling of mobile homes, aspects of design and performance in the case of a solar heating system using a reflective pyramid optical condenser, solar heating in a Boston school, a performance analysis of solar service hot water systems, comparative performance analyses of three solar heated and cooled buildings, and the use of solar energy in a soybeam processing operation. Applications related to power generation are also examined, giving attention to solar thermal electric power systems and photovoltaic research. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Wu, S. T.↗

A theoretical model of the wave particle interaction of plasma in space

A theoretical model, based on the kinetic theory for the perturbation of plasma in the magnetosphere, is proposed to study the observed disturbances which are caused by both natural and artificial sources that generate wave-like perturbations propagating around the globe. The proposed model covers the wave propagation through a media of transitional (from collisional to collisionless) fully ionized magnetoactive plasma. A systematic formulation of the problem is presented and the method of solution for the transitional model of magnetosphere is discussed. The possible emission of hydromagnetic waves in the magnetosphere during the quiet and disturbed time are also discussed.

Wu, S. T.↗

An analysis of the upper atmospheric wind observed by LOGACS

Wind velocities at 140 to 200 km altitude were observed by a low-g accelerometer calibration system (LOGACS) flown on an Agena satellite during a geomagnetic storm. An interesting wind reversal observed by the satellite at auroral latitudes is satisfactorily explained by the neutral air motion caused by the E x B drift deduced from the ground-based geomagnetic data recorded at stations near the meridian of the satellite orbit.

Wu, S. T.↗

A study of dynamical behavior of space environment

Studies have covered a wide range of problems in the space environment, such as the problems of the dynamical behavior of the thermosphere, hydromagnetic wave propagation in the ionosphere, and interplanetary space environment. The theories used to analyze these problems range from a continuum theory of magnetohydrodynamics to the kinetic theory of free molecular flow. This is because the problems encountered covered the entire range of the Knudsen number (i.e., the ratio of mean free path to the characteristic length). Significant results are summarized.

Wu, S. T.↗

Environmental design criteria

Wind velocities at 140-200 km altitude were observed by a Low-G Accelerometer Calibration System (LOGACS) flown on an Agena satellite during a geomagnetic storm. An interesting wind reversal observed by the satellite at auroral latitudes is satisfactorily explained by the neutral air motion caused by the E x B drift deduced from the ground-based geomagnetic data recorded at stations near the meridian of the satellite orbit.

Wu, S. T.↗

A numerical calculation of outward propagation of solar disturbances

The responses of the solar atmosphere due to an outward propagation shock are examined by employing the Lax-Wendroff method to solve the set of nonlinear partial differential equations in the model of the solar atmosphere. It is found that this theoretical model can be used to explain the solar phenomena of surge and spray. A criterion to discriminate the surge and spray is established and detailed information concerning the density, velocity, and temperature distribution with respect to the height and time is presented. The complete computer program is also included.

Wu, S. T.↗

The dynamical responses of the thermosphere due to a geomagnetic storm

A theoretical model for the dynamic responses to geomagnetic storms in the thermosphere is derived from magnetohydrodynamic theory. The validity claim for this model is based on the assumption that the thermosphere behaves like an electrically conductive fluid. In order to test the proposed model, a numerical example is presented. Recommendations for improving the model are also offered.

Wu, S. T.↗

Non-equilibrium ionized blast wave

The structure of a cylindrical blast wave with ionization at non-LTE conditions was calculated using equations previously developed by Wu and Fu (1970). The degree of ionization was predicted by a modified Saha equation. Temperature profiles show that the temperature at non-LTE conditions is lower than at LTE near the shock front. This corresponds to a higher degree of ionization for the non-LTE limit, which indicates that the neutral gas absorption is much more efficient at non-LTE than at the LTE limit. The decaying velocity under non-LTE is approximately 15% less than under LTE.

Wu, S. T.↗

Propagation of solar disturbances in interplanetary space

Time-dependent solutions of a one-fluid model of the interplanetary medium are investigated. This set of unsteady hydrodynamic equations has been written in conservation form in order to apply the Lax-Wendroff method for the solution of this problem. The initial condition is specified by a pulse at 1 solar radius. The equilibrium condition is chosen to be the steady solution of a quiet solar wind. The specified solar disturbances in this calculation are allowed to be both sub- and supersonic by the present theoretical formulation. The results are presented in terms of density, velocity, and temperature profiles of the interplanetary gas flow at heliocentric distances up to about 10 AU at any particular time. The trajectories of disturbances for various initial pulses are shown. Some 1972 solar-flare observational data are compared with these theoretical calculations. From these calculations, the effects on the interplanetary environment, due to the propagation of solar disturbances, can be determined.

Wu, S. T.↗

Coronal transient phenomena

A hydrodynamical description of outward propagating disturbances from the sun's surface in a model solar atmosphere is considered. Use is made of this model to explain the coronal transient phenomenon. It was found that this radial flow model clearly indicates the mass flow as being continuous, going out from the surface of the sun. Detailed results are presented for the disturbed density, velocity and temperature of the corona up to 6 solar radii.

Wu, S. T.↗

Propagation of hydromagnetic waves in the upper F2-region

The theory of hydromagnetic-wave in the upper F2-region, in which electrons are in a transitional regime from collisional to collisionless conditions and ions are in a collisionless state, is examined. Derivation of the governing equations is based on the fact that the isotropic electrons are fluid-like, and the anisotropic ions follow kinetic equations modified by ion-electron collisions. Magneto-acoustic waves of a period of from about 0.2 to 10 sec are dissipated by ion Landau damping and electron thermal conduction and viscosity. Numerical solutions under ionospheric conditions show that the dissipation of hydromagnetic waves is insufficient to modify the large scale heating of the ionosphere.

Hung, R. J.↗

A noncoherent model for microwave emissions and backscattering from the sea surface

The two-scale (small irregularities superimposed upon large undulations) scattering theory proposed by Semyonov was extended and used to compute microwave apparent temperature and the backscattering cross section from ocean surfaces. The effect of the small irregularities upon the scattering characteristics of the large undulations is included by modifying the Fresnel reflection coefficients; whereas the effect of the large undulations upon those of the small irregularities is taken into account by averaging over the surface normals of the large undulations. The same set of surface parameters is employed for a given wind speed to predict both the scattering and the emission characteristics at both polarizations.

Wu, S. T.↗

Toward RADSCAT measurements over the sea and their interpretation

Investigations into several areas which are essential to the execution and interpretation of suborbital observations by composite radiometer - scatterometer sensor (RADSCAT) are reported. Experiments and theory were developed to demonstrate the remote anemometric capability of the sensor over the sea through various weather conditions. It is shown that weather situations found in extra tropical cyclones are useful for demonstrating the all weather capability of the composite sensor. The large scale fluctuations of the wind over the sea dictate the observational coverage required to correlate measurements with the mean surface wind speed. Various theoretical investigations were performed to establish a premise for the joint interpretation of the experiment data. The effects of clouds and rains on downward radiometric observations over the sea were computed. A method of predicting atmospheric attenuation from joint observations is developed. In other theoretical efforts, the emission and scattering characteristics of the sea were derived. Composite surface theories with coherent and noncoherent assumptions were employed.

Claassen, J. P.↗

A theory of microwave apparent temperature over the ocean

In the microwave region combined active (scatterometer) and passive (radiometer) remote sensors over the ocean show promise of providing surface wind speeds and weather information to the oceanographer and meteorologist. This has aroused great interest in the investigation of the scattering of waves from the sea surface. A composite surface scattering theory is investigated. The two-scale scattering theory proposed by Semyonov was specifically extended to compute the emmision and scattering characteristics of ocean surfaces. The effects of clouds and rain on the radiometer and scatterometer observations are also investigated using horizontally stratified model atmospheres with rough sea surfaces underneath. Various cloud and rain models proposed by meteorologist were employed to determine the rise in the microwave temperature when viewing downward through these model atmospheres. For heavy rain-fall rates the effects of scattering on the radiative transfer process are included.

Wu, S. T.↗