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At least 379 records · Page 21

Atmospheric Energy Spectra in Global Kilometre-Scale Models

Eleven 40-day long integrations of five different global models with horizontal resolutions of less than 9 km are compared in terms of their global energy spectra. The method of normal-mode function decomposition is used to distinguish between balanced (Rossby wave; RW) and unbalanced (inertia-gravity wave; IGW) circulation. The simulations produce the expected canonical shape of the spectra, but their spectral slopes at mesoscales, and the zonal scale at which RW and IGW spectra intersect differ significantly. The partitioning of total wave energies into RWs an IGWs is most sensitive to the turbulence closure scheme and this partitioning is what determines the spectral crossing scale in the simulations, which differs by a factor of up to two. It implies that care must be taken when using simple spatial filtering to compare gravity wave phenomena in storm-resolving simulations, even when the model horizontal resolutions are similar. In contrast to the energy partitioning between the RWs and IGWs, changes in turbulence closure schemes do not seem to strongly affect spectral slopes, which only exhibit major differences at mesoscales. Despite their minor contribution to the global (horizontal kinetic plus potential available) energy, small scales are important for driving the global mean circulation. Our results support the conclusions of previous studies that the strength of convection is a relevant factor for explaining discrepancies in the energies at small scales. The models studied here produce the major large-scale features of tropical precipitation patterns. However, particularly at large horizontal wavenumbers, the spectra of upper tropospheric vertical velocity, which is a good indicator for the strength of deep convection, differ by factors of three or more in energy. High vertical kinetic energies at small scales are mostly found in those models that do not use any convective parameterisation.

DYAMOND↗

Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO 2

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO 2 ]) is increasing, which increases leaf-scale photosynthesis and intrinsic water-use efficiency. These direct responses have the potential to increase plant growth, vegetation biomass, and soil organic matter; transferring carbon from the atmosphere into terrestrial ecosystems (a carbon sink). A substantial global terrestrial carbon sink would slow the rate of [CO 2 ] increase and thus climate change. However, ecosystem CO 2 -responses are complex or confounded by concurrent changes in multiple agents of global change and evidence for a [CO 2 ]-driven terrestrial carbon sink can appear contradictory. In this work, we synthesise theory and broad, multi-disciplinary evidence for the effects of increasing [CO 2 ] (iCO 2 ) on the global terrestrial carbon sink. Evidence suggests a substantial increase in global photosynthesis since pre-industry. Established theory, supported by experiments, indicates that iCO 2 is likely responsible for about half of the increase. Global carbon budgeting, atmospheric data, and forest inventories indicate a historical carbon sink, and these apparent iCO 2 -responses are high in comparison with experiments and theory. Plant mortality and soil carbon iCO 2 -responses are highly uncertain. In conclusion, a range of evidence supports a positive terrestrial carbon sink in response to iCO 2 , albeit with uncertain magnitude and strong suggestion of a role for additional agents of global change.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Identifying geologic characteristics and operational decisions to meet global carbon sequestration goals

Geologic carbon sequestration is the process of injecting and storing CO 2 in subsurface reservoirs and is an essential technology for global environmental security (e.g., climate change mitigation) and economic security (e.g., CO 2 tax credits). To meet energy, economic, and environmental goals, society will have to identify vast volumes of high-capacity, low-cost, and viable storage reservoirs for sequestering CO 2 . In turn, this requires understanding how major geologic characteristics (such as reservoir depth, thickness, permeability, porosity, and temperature) and design and operational decisions (such as injection well spacing) impact CO 2 injection rates, storage capacity, and economics. Although many numerical simulation tools exist, they cannot repeat the required thousands or millions of simulations to identify ideal reservoir properties and the sensitivity and interaction between geologic parameters and operational decisions. Here, we use SCO 2 T—a fast-running, reduced-order modeling framework—to explore the sensitivity of major geologic parameters and operational decisions to engineering (CO 2 injection rates, plume dimensions, and storage capacities and effectiveness) and costs. Our results show, for the first time, benefits and impacts such as allowing CO 2 plumes to overlap, how different well spacing patterns affect CO 2 sequestration, the effects on costs of including brine treatment and disposal, and the effect of restricting injection rates to 1 MtCO 2 per y based on well limitations. We reveal multiple novel and unintuitive findings including: (i) deeper reservoirs have reduced carbon sequestration costs until injection rates reach 1 MtCO 2 per y, at which point deeper reservoirs become more expensive, (ii) thicker formations allow for increased injection rates and storage capacity, but thickness barely impacts plume areas, (iii) higher geothermal gradients result in reduced sequestration costs, unless brine treatment/disposal costs are included, at which point reservoirs having lower geothermal gradients are more economical because they produce less brine for each unit of injected CO 2 , and (iv) allowing plumes to overlap has a significantly positive impact of increasing storage capacities but has only a small influence on reducing sequestration costs. Altogether, our results illustrate new scientific conclusions to help identify suitable sites to inject and store CO 2 , to help understand the complex interaction between geology and resulting costs, and to help support the pursuit of meeting global sequestration targets.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Trajectory Engineering with Modular Patched Conics for Entry Systems and TPS (TEMPEST)

Brief Presenter Biography (35 word limit): Bohdan Wesely is an Aerospace Engineer in the Entry Systems and Technology Division at Ames. He has worked on a variety of projects for NASA including integrated TPS (thermal protection system) flight hardware deliveries and testing services for commercial partners. Introduction: TEMPEST is a new trajectory analysis framework that is designed to fill the gap between dedicated flight mechanics tools and aerothermal and TPS sizing tools. The project started as an SJSU master’s thesis and has since evolved into a general conceptual design tool capable of studying a wide variety of entry problems. Development is ongoing in the Entry Systems and Technology Division at NASA ARC. Why TEMPEST: Space missions involving entry into a planetary atmosphere involve a series of unique requirements across multiple disciplines. Whether it is traditional entry descent and landing (EDL), or aerocapture, the vehicle must navigate to its target landing location or orbit state, and the TPS must protect the payload during entry. The design process typically involves iterative handoffs between various flight mechanics, flow solver, and material response level tools. During the early conceptual phase, a wide variety of feasible trajectories are simulated in a Monte Carlo scenario which broadly satisfy the mission or landing requirements. Next, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC), and other flow solver analyses are performed at various key trajectory points to generate an aero-database, heating and TPS design requirements also emerge at this stage. At this point, with updated aerodynamics from the various flow solvers, trajectories can be re-run, this in turn can change the required freestream conditions for the CFD tools, and as a project progresses, these analyses converge, and uncertainty is reduced. However, there is always a “hand-off” occurring between two inherently coupled phenomena. Analysis Description: One of the goals with TEMPEST is to use a variety of first principles estimation methods coupled with an atmosphere model to predict vehicle aerothermodynamics across the entire flight regime while propagating a 3 or 6 degree of freedom (DoF) trajectory. Aerodynamics methods include modified Newtonian, Maxwell and Cercignani- Lampis-Lord (CLL) for continuum, transitional, and free molecular flow regimes. Aerothermodynamics include boundary layer and reference enthalpy methods, and Mutation++ for non-equilibrium chemistry modeling. TEMPEST is also capable of stitching multiple trajectory segments together to study mission scenarios like multi-pass aerocapture and aero-gravity assists. Most of the program is implemented in MATLAB using modern system objects, it relies on several C++ shared libraries for supporting tools like Gmsh, the Global Reference Atmospheric Model (GRAM), and Mutation++. The various first principles aerothermal estimation methods are discretized across either a structured axisymmetric panel mesh or an unstructured tri-mesh generated from an open-source tool such as Gmsh, this allows solutions on the same mesh to be compared across tools such as CB-Aero. CFD Coupling. A physics-aware, gaussian process CFD anchoring scheme is proposed to adjust the various first principles methods as a CFD database is populated. One goal for this anchoring module is to inform the project where CFD should be run. Full knowledge of the entire trajectory, atmosphere, and aerothermodynamics allows for easier identification of high sensitivity areas and uncertainty quantification. While the first principles effects are well known and proven accurate in existing tools such as CB- Aero and Cart3D, a physics aware CFD anchoring scheme increases tool credibility across a project lifecycle. Material Response Modeling. Correct TPS sizing is critical for optimizing mass for science payloads and ensuring mission success. The process typically involves a thermal analysis along the trajectory with surface heating environments as a boundary condition. Several design constraints are maximum bondline temperature and maximum recession with various margining techniques. The material response tool FIAT, developed out of NASA Ames, is currently being integrated into the TEMPEST environment. TPS recession, shape change, mass loss, and mass property alteration are all factors that can perturb an entry trajectory. For missions like Mars 2020, recession was minimal and was safely handled separately as a post process. For missions such as Jupiter Galileo with a high TPS mass fraction or asteroid entries, recession plays a major role. The proposed fully coupled scheme is to use an epoch-based approach where the trajectory integration is halted after a recession threshold, the energy balance and FIAT are solved at each panel, the mesh, aerodynamics, and mass properties are updated, and the trajectory continues. Several computational tradeoffs have been made during the development of TEMPEST to limit the cost of a single trajectory and preserve its utility as a conceptual, rapid iteration tool. Conclusion: Development of TEMPEST is ongoing and the project is still in its infancy. This talk aims to showcase its unique capabilities to support future NASA entry systems missions.

Bohdan O Wesely↗

Remote Sensing Information Science Research

This document is the final report summarizing research conducted by the Remote Sensing Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara under National Aeronautics and Space Administration Research Grant NAG5-10457. This document describes work performed during the period of 1 March 2001 thorough 30 September 2002. This report includes a survey of research proposed and performed within RSRU and the UCSB Geography Department during the past 25 years. A broad suite of RSRU research conducted under NAG5-10457 is also described under themes of Applied Research Activities and Information Science Research. This research includes: 1. NASA ESA Research Grant Performance Metrics Reporting. 2. Global Data Set Thematic Accuracy Analysis. 3. ISCGM/Global Map Project Support. 4. Cooperative International Activities. 5. User Model Study of Global Environmental Data Sets. 6. Global Spatial Data Infrastructure. 7. CIESIN Collaboration. 8. On the Value of Coordinating Landsat Operations. 10. The California Marine Protected Areas Database: Compilation and Accuracy Issues. 11. Assessing Landslide Hazard Over a 130-Year Period for La Conchita, California Remote Sensing and Spatial Metrics for Applied Urban Area Analysis, including: (1) IKONOS Data Processing for Urban Analysis. (2) Image Segmentation and Object Oriented Classification. (3) Spectral Properties of Urban Materials. (4) Spatial Scale in Urban Mapping. (5) Variable Scale Spatial and Temporal Urban Growth Signatures. (6) Interpretation and Verification of SLEUTH Modeling Results. (7) Spatial Land Cover Pattern Analysis for Representing Urban Land Use and Socioeconomic Structures. 12. Colorado River Flood Plain Remote Sensing Study Support. 13. African Rainfall Modeling and Assessment. 14. Remote Sensing and GIS Integration.

Clarke, Keith C.↗

Joint ESA-NASA Multi-Mission Algorithm and Analysis Platform (MAAP)

The scientific community is faced with a need for greatly improved data sharing, analysis, visualization and advanced collaboration based firmly on open science principles. Recent and upcoming launches of new satellite missions with more complex and voluminous data, as well as the ever more urgent need to better understand the global carbon budget and related ecological processes, provided the immediate rational for the ESA-NASA Multi-mission Algorithm and Analysis Platform (MAAP). This highly collaborative joint project of ESA and NASA established a framework between ESA and NASA to share data, science algorithms and compute resources in order to foster and accelerate scientific research conducted by ESA and NASA EO data users. Presented to the public in October 2021, the current version of MAAP provides a common cloud-based platform with computing capabilities co-located with the data, a collaborative coding and analysis environment, and a set of interoperable tools and algorithms developed to support the estimation and visualization of global above-ground biomass. Data from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission on the International Space Station and the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) have been instrumental in the first products of MAAP including the first comprehensive map of Boreal above-ground Biomass and a current Global Biomass Harmonization Activity, but the platform is also being specifically designed to support the forthcoming ESA Biomass mission and incorporate data from the upcoming NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) mission. While these missions and the corresponding research which includes airborne, field, and calibration/validation data collection and analyses, provide a wealth of data and information relating to global biomass estimation, they also present data storing, processing and sharing challenges. The NISAR mission alone will produce about 80TB/day. These large data volumes present a challenge that would otherwise place accessibility limits on the scientific community and impact scientific progress. Other challenges being addressed by MAAP include: 1) Enabling researchers to easily discover, process, visualize and analyze large volumes of data from both agencies; 2) Providing a wide variety of data in the same coordinate reference frame to enable comparison, analysis, data evaluation, and data generation; 3) Providing a version-controlled science algorithm development environment that supports tools, co-located data and processing resources; and 4) Addressing intellectual property and sharing challenges related to collaborative algorithm development and sharing of data and algorithms. MAAP products can be explored on the MAAP Dashboard at https://earthdata.nasa.gov/maap-biomass or the joint platform entrance at scimaap.net. MAAP also can be accessed through individual NASA (https://maap-project.org) and ESA (https://esa-maap.org/) landing pages.

cloud computing↗

The Effects of Magnetic Anomalies Discovered at Mars on the Structure of the Martian Ionosphere and the Solar Wind Interaction as Follows from Radio Occultation Experiments

The electron density distribution in the ionosphere of nonmagnetic (or weakly magnetized) planet depends not only on the solar ultraviolet intensity, but also on the nature of the SW interaction with this planet. Two scenarios previously have been developed based on the observations of the bow shock crossings and on the electron density distribution within the ionosphere. According to one of them Mars has an intrinsic magnetosphere produced by a dipole magnetic field and the Martian ionosphere is protected from the SW flow except during "overpressure conditions, when the planetary magnetic field can not balance the SW dynamic pressure. In the second scenario the Martian intrinsic magnetic dipole field is so weak that Mars has mainly an induced magnetosphere and a Venus-like SW/ionosphere interaction. Today the possible existence of a sufficiently strong global magnetic field that participates in the SW/Mars interaction can no longer be supported. The results obtained by the Mars-Global-Surveyor (MGS) space-craft show the existence of highly variable, but also very localized magnetic fields of crustal origin at Mars as high as 400-1500 nT. The absence of the large-scale global magnetic field at Mars makes it similar to Venus, except for possible effects of the magnetic anomalies associated with the remnant crustal magnetization. However the previous results on the Martian ionosphere obtained mainly by the radio occultation methods show that there appears to be a permanent existence of a global horizontal magnetic field in the Martian ionosphere. Moreover the global induced magnetic field in the Venus ionosphere is not typical at the solar zenith angles explored by the radio occultation methods. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Ness, N. F.↗

Observations of Deep Ionospheric F-Region Density Depletions with FPMU Instrumentation and their Relationship with the Global Dynamics of the June 22-23, 2015 Geomagnetic Storm

The magnetic storm that commenced on June 22-23, 2015 was one of the largest storms in our current solar cycle, resulting from an active region on the Sun that produced numerous coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and associated interplanetary shock waves. On June 22 at 18:36 UT the magnetosphere was impacted by the shock wave on the magnetosphere. Observations from several spacecraft observed the dynamic response of the magnetosphere and ionosphere. MMS observatories in the near earth tail These low altitude measurements are correlated in the magnetosphere with particle flux dropouts measured by MMS We follow the timing of this storm in the ionosphere with the density depletions throughout the ISS orbits, DMSP drift velocities, and enhanced AMPERE Birkland currents. Together these observations and simulation results will be assembled to provide each region's context to the global dynamics and time evolution of the storm. The models during these event support and flesh out the puzzle of the global dynamics.

Coffey, Victoria↗

Scalable Upcycling of Spent Lithium-Ion Battery Anodic Graphite to Electronic-Grade Graphene

Recycling processes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are imperative to support the sustainable growth of global energy storage systems. This study introduces a scalable method for the upcycling of spent graphite anodes from LIBs to produce electronic-grade graphene nanoplatelets. In addition to comprehensive materials characterization, the electronic quality of the upcycled graphene is demonstrated by formulating it into a screen printing ink that achieves high-resolution patterning and thin-film electrical conductivity exceeding 104 S m−1. This screen printing ink is also used to print planar micro-supercapacitors with exceptional areal capacitance (1.78 mF cm−2), areal energy density (0.247 µWh cm−2), and cycling stability (> 10 000 cycles). Life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) highlight the environmental benefits and cost reductions attainable through upcycling of graphite from LIBs. By capturing economic value from spent LIBs, this work fosters a sustainable battery supply chain and provides an abundant and geographically distributed raw material for electronic-grade graphene.

energy storage↗

Observations of Subduction, Downward Heat Flux and Dense Filament Collapse in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Submesoscale processes are important contributors to the global heat budget and generally support upward heat transport through restratification. However, in salinity‐stratified regions, such as the northern Gulf of Mexico with its influx of freshwater from the Mississippi‐Atchafalaya river system, temperature can act like a passive tracer and submesoscale processes can contribute to downward heat transport. Oceanic heat content is a factor in many environmental risks the region faces, for example, hurricane intensification, and marine heatwaves. During the 2022 field campaign of the Submesoscales Under Near‐Resonant Inertial Shear Experiment, a sampling plan was developed to study such submesoscale processes in high resolution. Over 31 hr, four assets (two research ships and two remotely controlled boats) drove in parallel across a dense filament, capturing its evolution in time and space. The observations show that surface waters, warmed by daytime solar radiation, were subducted and that the associated overturning circulation transported heat below the surface layer where it was later irreversibly mixed away. The estimated downward heat flux was as strong as the concurrent net air‐sea heat flux into the ocean. The filament was then observed to rapidly collapse which we attribute to boundary layer turbulence and the breakdown of geostrophic balance. The collapsing fronts display behaviors indicative of gravity currents. These observations highlight how in salinity‐stratified regions, frontal dynamics can be associated with downward heat flux and how the submesoscale can play an important role in the oceanic heat budget.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

WHONDRS Surface Water Geochemistry and Organic Matter Characterization Data from Streams Distributed across Latin America

This dataset supports a broader study examining global transferability of stream biogeochemistry and was generated in collaboration with the MicroSudAqua (µSudAqua) network (https://microsudaqua.netlify.app/en/). The dataset provides surface water geochemistry (dissolved organic carbon, total dissolved nitrogen, cations) and organic matter characterization (FTICR-MS) from streams in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. Samples were collected across stream orders (1st to 6th order) within five basins. Related data were collected and will be published separately in collaboration with the µSudAqua network. For details on how to navigate data packages generated by this project, see https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. In addition to this readme, this data package also includes a file-level metadata (FLMD) file that describes each file and a data dictionary (DD) that describes all column/row headers and variable definitions. This dataset is comprised of (1) a folder of field photos; (2) a folder of surface water sample data, (3) a folder of raw Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) data; (4) file-level metadata; (5) data dictionary; (6) field metadata; (7) readme; (8) international generic sample number (IGSN) mapping file; and (9) field protocol. The sample data subfolder contains (1) dissolved organic carbon (DOC, measured as non-purgeable organic carbon, NPOC) data and averages; (2) total dissolved nitrogen data and averages; (3) anions and averages; (4) methods codes; (5) FTICR-MS methods; and (15) a subfolder of 9.4 Tesla (9.4T) FTICR-MS data. This folder contains the processed data and three subfolders, one containing the .xml files, one containing the water CoreMS output files, and the other containing instructions and scripts for processing the files in CoreMS (https://github.com/EMSL-Computing/CoreMS). All files are .csv, .pdf, .R, .xml, .d, .html, .Rmd, .py, .cal, .json, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .mov, or .mp4.

Anions↗

Experimental Searches for Muon to Electron Conversion in a Nucleus: COMET, DeeMe, and Mu2e (A Contributed paper for Snowmass 21)

Searches for charged lepton flavor violation (CLFV) offer deep probes for a range of new physics scenarios, such as super-symmetric models, theories involving scalar leptoquarks or additional Higgs doublets, and models explaining the neutrino mass hierarchy and the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe via leptogenesis. The coherent, neutrinoless conversion of a muon to an electron in the field of a nucleus, $\mu^{-}+N\rightarrow e^{-} +N$, is one example of a muonic CLFV process which has sensitivity to this new physics. This paper details three experiments: COMET, DeeMe and Mu2e which will search for $\mu^{-}+N\rightarrow e^{-} +N$ in the coming decade. These experiments offer sensitivity up to an effective new physics mass scale of $\mathcal{O}(10^{4}$ TeV/c$^{2}$), going far beyond what can be achieved in direct, collider-based, searches. The theoretical motivation, designs and anticipated timelines for these three experiments are presented. These experiments are a crucial part of a global search for CLFV. Continued support for all planned experimental searches for muonic CLFV is strongly encouraged.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Nuclear Forensics in Support of National Response Plans [Slides]

Become familiar with nuclear forensics methodologies in support of nuclear security investigations and how Los Alamos National Laboratory supports the development of sustainable global nuclear forensics capacities.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

PPI DataHub Project Data Package: High-density Lipoprotein (HDL) Structure and Function Proteomics

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate how the interactions between APOA1 and APOA2 on the surface of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) impact particle function. Interactions were investigated on HDL isolated from human blood plasma using structural proteomics tools such as chemical cross-linking and limited proteolysis (LiP). The structural proteomics data was acquired using a Q-Exactive HF-X mass spectrometer and data was processed and compiled using MaxQuant sofware (v.1.6.17.0). Processed datasets are openly accessible from the download button (~2.8 GB) and contain secondary processed LiP and global proteomic results files and supporting metadata materials. Processed data downloads include a sample naming key, processed MaxQuant results/parameters, and protein annotated relative abundance files.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

An Evaluation of AI Models’ Performance for Three Geothermal Sites

Current artificial intelligence (AI) applications in geothermal exploration are tailored to specific geothermal sites, limiting their transferability and broader applicability. This study aims to develop a globally applicable and transferable geothermal AI model to empower the exploration of geothermal resources. This study presents a methodology for adopting geothermal AI that utilizes known indicators of geothermal areas, including mineral markers, land surface temperature (LST), and faults. The proposed methodology involves a comparative analysis of three distinct geothermal sites—Brady, Desert Peak, and Coso. The research plan includes self-testing to understand the unique characteristics of each site, followed by dependent and independent tests to assess cross-compatibility and model transferability. The results indicate that Desert Peak and Coso geothermal sites are cross-compatible due to their similar geothermal characteristics, allowing the AI model to be transferable between these sites. However, Brady is found to be incompatible with both Desert Peak and Coso. The geothermal AI model developed in this study demonstrates the potential for transferability and applicability to other geothermal sites with similar characteristics, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of geothermal resource exploration. This advancement in geothermal AI modeling can significantly contribute to the global expansion of geothermal energy, supporting sustainable energy goals.

Energy & Fuels↗

Analysis of navigation performance for the Earth Observing System (EOS) using the TDRSS Onboard Navigation System (TONS)

Use of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Onboard Navigation System (TONS) was proposed as an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS) for supporting the Earth Observing System (EOS) mission. The results are presented of EOS navigation performance evaluation with respect to TONS based orbit, time, and frequency determination (OD/TD/FD). Two TONS modes are considered: one uses scheduled TDRSS forward link service to derive one way Doppler tracking data for OD/FD support (TONS-I); the other uses an unscheduled navigation beacon service (proposed for Advanced TDRSS) to obtain pseudorange and Doppler data for OD/TD/FD support (TONS-II). Key objectives of the analysis were to evaluate nominal performance and potential sensitivities, such as suboptimal tracking geometry, tracking contact scheduling, and modeling parameter selection. OD/TD/FD performance predictions are presented based on covariance and simulation analyses. EOS navigation scenarios and the contributions of principal error sources impacting performance are also described. The results indicate that a TONS mode can be configured to meet current and proposed EOS position accuracy requirements of 100 and 50 m, respectively.

Elrod, B.↗

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) mission

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is a NASA program aimed at improving our knowledge of the physical and chemical processes controlling the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere, emphasizing those levels that are known to be particularly susceptible to change by human activities. The spacecraft was launched by the Space Shuttle Discovery on September 12, 1991 into a near-circular orbit at 585 km altitude and 57 deg inclination. Measurements include vertical profiles of temperature, many trace gases, and horizontal wind velocities, as well as solar energy inputs. Many of the limb-scanning instruments can measure to as high as 80 deg latitude, providing near-global coverage. The mission is supported by a large international correlative measurement program, yielding data both for validation of the UARS measurements and for complementary scientific studies. A dedicated data system provides rapid processing to geophysical quantities and makes these data available to UARS scientists.

Reber, Carl A.↗

An empirical model relating the auroral geomagnetic activity to the Interplanetary Magnetic Field

A damped linear oscillator (LRC circuit) predicts a significant amount of the AL index variations when it is driven by the IMF's B(South) component. The model parameters are determined from fitting the AL time series and show a small, apparently nonsystematic variation with the activity level. Following an isolated external disturbance the LRC model's response peaks at 15 min - 0.5 h and decays after 1-2 more hours. The time scales and the correlation between observed AL and the circuit output (60-80 percent) are in good agreement with earlier linear prediction filter results. The results support the modeling of the global magnetospheric behavior with dynamical systems of a few degrees of freedom.

Vassiliadis, D.↗