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At least 343 records · Page 19

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NASA NTRS1979

Association of low-frequency waves with suprathermal ions in the upstream solar wind

Observations obtained upstream of the earth's bowshock with the LASL/MPI plasma instruments and the UCLA magnetometers on ISEE-1 and 2 have revealed a striking relationship between the presence of low-frequency fluctuations in solar wind density and field strength and the different types of distribution functions of upstream ions. Waves are absent when the ions have the beamlike distribution of the 'reflected' ions. Large-amplitude waves are present only in conjunction with the 'diffuse' ions, which are characterized by flat energy spectra and broad angular distributions. The waves are largely compressive, showing very good correlation between oscillations in magnetic field strength and plasma density.

Paschmann, G.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Monsoon-Enso Relationships: A New Paradigm

This article is partly a review and partly a new research paper on monsoon-ENSO relationship. The paper begins with a discussion of the basic relationship between the Indian monsoon and ENSO dating back to the work of Sir Gilbert Walker up to research results in more recent years. Various factors that may affect the monsoon-ENSO, relationship, including regional coupled ocean-atmosphere processes, Eurasian snow cover, land-atmosphere hydrologic feedback, intraseasonal oscillation, biennial variability and inter-decadal variations, are discussed. The extreme complex and highly nonlinear nature of the monsoon-ENSO relationship is stressed. We find that for regional impacts on the monsoon, El Nino and La Nina are far from simply mirror images of each other. These two polarities of ENSO can have strong or no impacts on monsoon anomalies depending on the strength of the intraseasonal oscillations and the phases of the inter-decadal variations. For the Asian-Australian monsoon (AAM) as a whole, the ENSO impact is effected through a east-west shift in the Walker Circulation. For rainfall anomalies over specific monsoon areas, regional processes play important roles in addition to the shift in the Walker Circulation. One of the key regional processes identified for the boreal summer monsoon is the anomalous West Pacific Anticyclone (WPA). This regional feature has similar signatures in interannual and intraseasonal time scales and appears to determine whether the monsoon-ENSO relationship is strong or weak in a given year. Another important regional feature includes a rainfall and SST dipole across the Indian Ocean, which may have strong impact on the austral summer monsoon. Results are shown indicating that monsoon surface wind forcings may induce a strong biennial signal in ENSO and that strong monsoon-ENSO coupling may translate into pronounced biennial variability in ENSO. Finally, a new paradigm is proposed for the study of monsoon variability. This paradigm provides a unified framework in which monsoon predictability, the role of regional vs. basin-scale processes, its relationship with different climate subsystems, and causes of secular changes in monsoon-ENSO relationship can be investigated.

Lau, K. M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

The physics of the oscillating lightning

The lightning is proposed to start in a limited region of electric breakdown field. A growing charge pool in a cumulonimbus cloud is likely to produce such a field in its outer layers. When the field is not aligned with the potential surfaces, the electric force pushes positive charge in one direction and negative in the opposite. Self inductance develops and an embryo open electric circuit is born. Oscillations swiftly grow in strength when potential energy of the cloud is released. The channel extends in steps during those cycle stages where charge is crammed into the channel terminals. Electrostatic consequences of a narrow conductor among the cloud charges are computed. The conductor is charged by influence to such a degree that the charge is bound to leak out to the ambient air and appear as a charge sheath some distance off the channel. Ample energy is released to sustain the oscillations. The period increases with channel length and agrees well with observed time between steps. A ground strike leads to a shock pulse travelling up the channel.

Storebo, Per B.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Quasi-periodic oscillations in the X-ray flux of GX3+1 (4U 1744-26)

Exosat observations of GX3+1 in 1985 showed the presence of low-frequency noise (LFN) roughly below 10 Hz, and the presence, during the September 4 observation, of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) with a strength of about 3 percent. The LFN strength was seen to increase from 2-6 percent for photon energies increasing from 2-10 keV. No correlation is found between the occurrence of QPOs and source intensity. It is suggested that the QPOs detected in GX3+1 may be similar in nature to the 5.6-Hz QPOs observed in Cyg X-2 which are also not observed in the horizontal branch.

Lewin, W. H. G.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Self-induced roll oscillations of low-aspect-ratio rectangular wings

Experimental investigation of small aspect ratio rectangular wings mounted on a free-to-roll sting balance indicated that self-induced roll oscillations are possible when the aspect ratio of such wings is less than 0.5. The oscillations are probably driven by the periodic changes in the location and strength of the side edge vortices, as it has been shown for the 'wing rock' motion of delta wings, where similar changes in the leading edge vortex strength and position cause the roll oscillations. During the roll oscillation cycle the roll angle, normal force, and the side force were recorded and presented for three wings with aspect ratios of 0.25, 0.35, and 0.47. This data indicates that the lift loss during roll oscillations of rectangular wings is less than what was measured for similar delta wings. Also, the flow field of such slender rectangular wings at high angles of attack is more complicated due to the additional leading edge vortex, when compared with the flow field over slender delta wings.

Levin, Daniel↗

NASA NTRS1996

Nonlinear ARMA models for the D(st) index and their physical interpretation

Time series models successfully reproduce or predict geomagnetic activity indices from solar wind parameters. A method is presented that converts a type of nonlinear filter, the nonlinear Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) model to the nonlinear damped oscillator physical model. The oscillator parameters, the growth and decay, the oscillation frequencies and the coupling strength to the input are derived from the filter coefficients. Mathematical methods are derived to obtain unique and consistent filter coefficients while keeping the prediction error low. These methods are applied to an oscillator model for the Dst geomagnetic index driven by the solar wind input. A data set is examined in two ways: the model parameters are calculated as averages over short time intervals, and a nonlinear ARMA model is calculated and the model parameters are derived as a function of the phase space.

Vassiliadis, D.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Correlation-modulated chaotic scattering in the earth's magnetosphere

It is shown that due to correlations between subsequent separatrix traversals the chaotic scattering of thermal ions and energetic electrons in the plasma sheet of the earth's magnetotail is modulated, oscillating in dependence on the strength of the magnetic field inhomogeneity and particle energy. Correlation-modulated chaotic scattering creates non-Maxwellian features of the magnetotail ion distribution both in the CPS and the PSBL. It also causes an oscillating latitudinal variation of the auroral ion precipitation.

Buechner, J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Transport of N2O in the stratosphere related to the equatorial semiannual oscillation

The double-peak structure observed in the distribution of N2O during the spring equinoctial condition is studied by means of a 2D time-dependent tracer model. The meridional transport circulation is determined from computed diabatic heating rates, and the horizontal eddy diffusion coefficients are computed as residuals by potential vorticity conservation, using observed mean winds to compute the budget of zonal mean potential vorticity. This model is used to predict the 30-d evolution of the observed N2O field. The integrated results are generally in good agreement with observed tracer fields up to the midstratosphere. It is proposed that standard climatologies underestimate the strength of the equatorial semiannual oscillation in the zonal mean wind and temperature fields.

Choi, Woo Kap↗

NASA NTRS1977

Plasma wave electric fields in the solar wind - Initial results from Helios 1

Plasma-wave measurements by Helios 1 show that the electric-field intensities in the solar wind are usually very low, much lower than those for comparable measurements near earth, where particles moving upstream from the bow shock often cause large disturbances in the solar wind. The most commonly occurring plasma wave detected by Helios is a sporadic emission at frequencies from about 1 to 10 kHz, between the electron and ion plasma frequencies. These waves are thought to be ion acoustic waves Doppler-shifted upward in frequency from below the ion plasma frequency. The maximum electric-field intensity of these waves is a few hundred microvolts per meter. At higher frequencies, from about 20 to 100 kHz, electron plasma oscillations are detected at frequencies near the local electron plasma frequency. These electron plasma oscillations are more intense, with field strengths sometimes as large as a few millivolts per meter, but occur very infrequently. Both the ion acoustic waves and the electron plasma oscillations show a tendency to occur at higher frequencies closer to the sun but no pronounced variation in intensity with radial distance from the sun. In four cases, electron plasma oscillations have been found in association with type III radio bursts.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1975

An anticorrelation between polar and equatorial rotation of the solar photosphere

Published spectroscopic measurements of solar rotation are analyzed to show that when the rotation velocity increases at high latitudes it tends to decrease at low latitudes, and that when the rotation velocity decreases at high latitudes it increases at low latitudes. The high-latitude velocities typically vary over only 20% of the range of those near the equator and the smallest variations of all occurred near latitude 60 deg during the rising portion of the previous solar cycle. The anticorrelation is consistent with a recent suggestion that differential rotation on the sun arises from photospheric wind systems whose strength is determined, ultimately, by oscillations within the sun.

Wolff, C. L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Evolution of the sun's polar fields during sunspot cycle 21 - Poleward surges and long-term behavior

Longitudinally averaged observations of the photospheric field during 1976-1986 are analyzed using a flux transport model. The way in which source eruptions, supergranular diffusion, and meridional flow collaborate to produce strong, highly concentrated polar fields near sunspot minimum is clarified as follows: (1) widespread eruptions of individual bipolar magnetic regions, with their leading polarity flux equatorward of their trailing polarity flux, collectively establish a large-scale separation of polarities in latitude; (2) the low-latitude, leading polarity flux diffuses across the equator and merges with its opposite hemisphere counterpart; and (3) meridional flow carries the resulting surplus of trailing polarity flux to the poles, and concentrates it there against the spreading effect of diffusion. Episodic 'surges' of flux to the poles are induced by fluctuations in the source eruption rate. Simulations indicate that relatively weak, trailing polarity surges may occur even in a steady flow field. However, in order to account for the giant surges of alternating polarity and the resulting oscillations in the polar field strength observed during 1980-1982, both accelerated flow and enhanced eruption rates are required.

Wang, Y.-M.↗

NASA NTRS2024

Investigating Zonal Asymmetries in Stratospheric Ozone Trends From Satellite Limb Observations and a Chemical Transport Model

This study investigates the origin of a zonal asymmetry in stratospheric ozone trends at northern high latitudes, identified in satellite limb observations over the past two decades. We use a merged data set consisting of ozone profiles retrieved at the University of Bremen from SCIAMACHY and OMPS-LP measurements to derive ozone trends. We also use TOMCAT chemical transport model (CTM) simulations, forced by ERA5 reanalyses, to investigate the factors that drive the asymmetry observed in the long-term changes. By studying seasonally and longitudinally resolved observation-based ozone trends, we find, especially during spring, a well-pronounced asymmetry at polar latitudes with values up to +6 % per decade over Greenland and −5 % per decade over western Russia. The control CTM simulation agrees well with these observed trends, whereas sensitivity simulations indicate that chemical mechanisms involved in the production and removal of ozone, or their changes, are unlikely to explain the observed behavior. The decomposition of TOMCAT ozone time series and ERA5 geopotential height into the first two wavenumber components shows a clear correlation between the two variables in the middle stratosphere and demonstrates a weakening and a shift in the wavenumber-1 planetary wave activity over the past two decades. Finally, the analysis of the polar vortex position and strength points to a decadal oscillation with a reversal pattern at the beginning of the century. The same is found in the ozone trend asymmetry. This further stresses the link between changes in the polar vortex position and the identified ozone trend pattern.

Instrumentation↗

NASA NTRS2017

Inner Front Pole Cover Erosion in the 12.5 kW HERMeS Hall Thruster Over a Range of Operating Conditions

Erosion characteristics on the cover of the inner front pole in a 12.5 kW Hall thruster were measured over a wide range of operating conditions in tests of 6 to 14 hours duration using an accelerated test method and a very sensitive radioactive tracer-based erosion diagnostic. The operating points included the nominal 300 - 600 V conditions on a constant 20.8 A throttle curve, but included additional conditions at other currents spanning the throttling envelope and measurements at varying magnetic eld strength, facility pressure, and discharge voltage oscillation amplitude. The results show that the 300 V condition produces the highest wear rates on the 20.8 A throttle curve, but that rates actually increase with decreasing current. The wear rate was insensitive to discharge voltage ripple, but increased monotonically with magnetic eld strength, particularly near the inner radius of the pole cover. The inner region was also sensitive to facility pressure, showing lower rates at a higher pressure level. Separate experiments in which the energy distributions of ions generated by the hollow cathode were measured suggest that the cathode plume may be a source of energetic ions responsible for some of the erosion trends, in addition to ions originating in the thruster plume. The Hall thruster simulation code Hall2De is able to reproduce the erosion characteristics observed at 600 V, 20.8 A, but cannot currently match the rates measured at lower voltages and currents.

Lopez Ortega, Alejandro↗

NASA NTRS1993

Local principles of wave propagation in inhomogeneous media

Four local principles are proven for waves propagating in a layered medium with a variable wave speed. These principles are (1) that inhomogeneities increase the amplitude of waves generated by a source of fixed strength, (2) that inhomogeneities reduce spatial oscillation, or increase the wavelength, (3) that inhomogeneities decrease transmission, or increase reflection, and (4) that transmission increases monotonically with frequency. Definitions of inhomogeneity, local wave function, and local reflection and transmission coefficients are made as a basis for stating these principles.

Gingold, Harry↗

NASA NTRS2023

An Intense Narrow Equatorial Jet in Jupiter’s Lower Stratosphere Observed By JWST

The atmosphere of Jupiter has east–west zonal jets that alternate as a function of latitude as tracked by cloud motions at tropospheric levels. Above and below the cold tropopause at ~100 mbar, the equatorial atmosphere is covered by hazes at levels where thermal infrared observations used to characterize the dynamics of the stratosphere lose part of their sensitivity. James Webb Space Telescope observations of Jupiter in July 2022 show these hazes in higher detail than ever before and reveal the presence of an intense (140 m s −1 ) equatorial jet at 100–200 mbar (70 m s −1 faster than the zonal winds at the cloud level) that is confined to ±3° of the equator and is located below stratospheric thermal oscillations that extend at least from 0.1 to 40 mbar and repeat in multiyear cycles. This suggests that the new jet is a deep part of Jupiter’s Equatorial Stratospheric Oscillation and may therefore vary in strength over time.

Ricardo Hueso↗

NASA NTRS2014

Mode Transitions in Magnetically Shielded Hall Effect Thrusters

A mode transition study is conducted in magnetically shielded thrusters where the magnetic field magnitude is varied to induce mode transitions. Three different oscillatory modes are identified with the 20-kW NASA-300MS-2 and the 6-kW H6MS: Mode 1) global mode similar to unshielded thrusters at low magnetic fields, Mode 2) cathode oscillations at nominal magnetic fields, and Mode 3) combined spoke, cathode and breathing mode oscillations at high magnetic fields. Mode 1 exhibits large amplitude, low frequency (1-10 kHz), breathing mode type oscillations where discharge current mean value and oscillation amplitude peak. The mean discharge current is minimized while thrust-to-power and anode efficiency are maximized in Mode 2, where higher frequency (50-90 kHz), low amplitude, cathode oscillations dominate. Thrust is maximized in Mode 3 and decreases by 5-6% with decreasing magnetic field strength. The presence or absence of spokes and strong cathode oscillations do not affect each other or discharge current. Similar to unshielded thrusters, mode transitions and plasma oscillations affect magnetically shielded thruster performance and should be characterized during system development.

Ground Tests↗

NASA NTRS1988

Employing analogies for ducted MHD waves in dense coronal structures

Analogies of fast MHD waves propagating along a dense coronal structure are exploited to examine how the size and shape of the inhomogeneity affect the properties of the Love- and Pekeris-type waves. The profile's shape determines the dispersive nature of the waves. Excited impulsively, magnetic Love and Pekeris waves give rise to quasi-periodic oscillations with a duration and time scale that depend on the cross-sectional area and strength of the inhomogeneity. More diffuse coronal inhomogeneities support impulsively generated periodic oscillations, with the quasi-periodic signature being absent.

Edwin, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS2020

Large-Scale Influences on Atmospheric River Induced Extreme Precipitation Events Along the Coast of Washington State

Transient, narrow plumes of strong water vapor transport, referred to as AtmosphericRivers (ARs), are responsible for much of the precipitation along the west coast of the UnitedStates. The most intense precipitation events are almost always induced by an AR on the coast ofOregon and Washington and can result in detrimental impacts on society due to mudslides andflooding. In order to accurately predict AR events on numerical weather prediction, subseasonal,and seasonal timescales, it is important to understand the large-scale impacts on extreme ARevents. Here, characteristics of ARs that result in an extreme precipitation event are compared totypical ARs on the coast of Washington State. In addition to more intense water vapor transport,notable differences in the synoptic forcing are present during extreme precipitation events thatare not present during typical AR events. Subseasonal and seasonal teleconnection patterns areknown to influence the weather in the Pacific Northwest and are investigated here. The MaddenJulian Oscillation (MJO) plays a role in determining the strength of precipitation associated withan AR on the Washington Coast. Phase 5 of the MJO (convection centered over the maritimecontinent) is the most common phase during an extreme precipitation event, while phase 2(convection over the Indian Ocean) discourages an extreme event from occurring. Interactionsbetween El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the propagation speed of the MJO result inextreme events during phase 1 of the MJO and El Niño but phase 8 during neutral ESNOconditions.

Allison B Marquardt Collow↗