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At least 415 records · Page 23
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NASA NTRS1977

High coronal structure of high velocity solar wind stream sources

It is shown analytically that the transition from a high-speed stream source to the ambient coronal conditions is quite rapid in longitude in the high corona. This sharp eastern coronal boundary for the solar wind stream sources is strongly suggested by the solar wind 'dwells' which appear in plots of solar wind velocity against constant-radial-velocity-approximation source longitudes. The possibility of a systematic velocity-dependent effect in the constant-radial-velocity approximation, which would cause this boundary to appear sharper than it is, is investigated. A velocity-dependent interplanetary propagation effect or a velocity-dependent 'source altitude' are two possible sources of such a systematic effect. It is shown that, for at least some dwells, significant interplanetary effects are not likely. The variation of the Alfvenic critical radius in solar wind dwells is calculated, showing that the high-velocity stream originates from a significantly lower altitude than the ambient solar wind.

Nolte, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Far-infrared scans of the Galactic plane

Results are reported for balloon-borne scans of the Galactic plane between longitudes of 348 and 32.5 deg, which were made in two broad spectral bands from 60 to 300 microns and from 150 to 300 microns. These results indicate that there are many bright H II regions embedded in a diffuse underlying band of emission in the examined longitude range, that the color temperatures range from 30 to 90 K, and that the width of the plane is at least 2 deg of arc in both spectral bands. A lower-limit IR luminosity of the order of 1 billion suns is computed for both the bright complex of sources at the nucleus and the underlying diffuse emission out to about + or -15 deg of arc from the nucleus. The strong relationship between far-IR emission and radio continuum expected for discrete sources is illustrated, and the results are compared with those of previous studies. It is concluded that the total far-IR luminosity of the central part of the Galaxy is understandable solely in terms of known distributions of stars and dust.

Low, F. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Solar activity during Skylab: Its distribution and relation to coronal holes

Solar active regions observed during the period of Skylab observations (May 1973-February 1974) were examined for properties that varied systematically with location on the sun, particularly with respect to the location of coronal holes. Approximately 90 percent of the optical and X-ray flare activity occurred in one solar hemisphere (136-315 heliographic degrees longitude). Active regions within 20 heliographic degrees of coronal holes were below average in lifetimes, flare production, and magnetic complexity. Histograms of solar flares as a function of solar longitude were aligned with H alpha synoptic charts on which active region serial numbers and coronal hole boundaries were added.

Speich, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Severe weather prediction studies

A numerical forecast model is described which uses three-dimensional primitive equations to predict the evolution of the wind, temperature and moisture fields along with the subsynoptic-scale convective activity. There are 15 vertical levels set on a longitude-latitude horizontal grid. In this study, the horizontal grid distance is 70 km (0.625 deg latitude and 0.816 deg longitude at 40 deg N) and the time step is 90 sec. Orography is included and terrain coordinates are adopted. The forecast model is used to test two tornado-producing storms with very different synoptic structures. A 12 hr forecast is carried out for both cases. The rms errors of the forecast indicate much smaller errors in the middle troposphere than in the lower troposphere. The results demonstrate that a rather fine-mesh limited-area numerical model is capable of providing a valuable short-range forecast of the circulation and the mesoscale precipitation features.

Chang, C.-B.↗
NASA NTRS1979

LS47: A DSN station location set compatible with JPL development ephemeris DE108

An updated Deep Space Network station location set, LS47, is presented which is compatible with JPL Development Ephemeris DE108. Analytic procedures for linearly correcting station spin axis and longitude estimates for an ephemeris update based on Brouwer-Clemence Set III parameters are briefly discussed. The validity of this technique is demonstrated by a comparison of a linearly corrected solution with one explicitly determined by reprocessing the data. A mission data base, including Viking 1 and 2 encounter data, is first used to obtain an updated DE96 compatible station location solution, LS46, which in turn is adjusted to form the DE108 solution, LS47. Improved station Z-heights are estimated by using available very long baseline interferometry data. Spin axis differences between LS46 and LS47 are relatively insignificant; however, the ephemeris change introduces a -0.8 x 10 to the -5 power degree rotation in the DE96 longitude ephemeris.

Ellis, J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

New Cepheid variables in the Crux-Centaurus region

Two star fields in the southern Milky Way, between galactic longitudes of approximately 294 and 320 deg, have been searched for new variables. At least three long-period (periods greater than 9 days) classical Cepheids have been tentatively identified, as well as one Virginis star. The resultant distribution of Cepheids along the Milky Way in the Crux-Centaurus region indicates a concentration of spiral tracers near a longitude of about 307 deg.

Grayzeck, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Global model of longitude/UT variations in thermospheric composition and temperature based on mass spectrometer data

Measurements of N2, O, He, and Ar densities from neutral gas mass spectrometers on four satellites and inferred O2 and H densities from an ion mass spectrometer have been combined to produce a model of longitude/UT variations in thermospheric neutral composition and temperature. The longitude/UT model is an extension of the mass spectrometer-incoherent scatter thermospheric model (Hedin et al., 1977) and uses spherical harmonic terms dependent on geographic latitude, longitude, and UT. The combined longitude and UT variations reflect the influence of the geomagnetic field but indicate that the variations may not simply be represented in magnetic coordinates.

Hedin, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The magnetic anomaly model of the Jovian magnetosphere - Predictions for Voyager

The magnetic anomaly model, in which the anomalously weak magnetic field region in the northern hemisphere of Jupiter influences the outer Jovian magnetosphere by one or more plasma interaction processes, has been put forth to account for the various observed Jovian magnetospheric phenomena that show evidence of Jovian longitudinal asymmetry or planetary spin periodicity. From this model, normalized by empirical fitting to Pioneer 10 and 11 flyby data and to ground-based radio data, a series of predictions are made that are subject to test by the forthcoming flybys of Jupiter by Voyagers 1 and 2. These predictions cover: (1) the longitude range and time intervals of enhanced interaction between Io (and possibly Europa) and Jupiter's ionosphere, (2) plasma, energetic particle, and magnetic field periodicities in the outer magnetosphere, and (3) the sub-spacecraft System III longitude and the time, modulo 10 hours, of the first and subsequent magnetopause crossings.

Dessler, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Jovian longitudinal control of Io-related radio emissions

A theoretical model is proposed to explain the control of Io-related radio emissions by Jupiter's rotational phase. The model is based on the hypothesis that the radio emissions are generated by Birkeland currents flowing between Io and the Jovian ionosphere. Specifically, it is suggested that the precipitation of radiation-belt electrons within a certain range of Jovian longitudes produces a restricted region of enhanced ionization and correspondingly enhanced conductivity in Jupiter's ionosphere and that the Io-Jupiter Birkeland current and the associated radio emissions are dramatically increased when Io's flux tube encounters this sector of enhanced ionization in Jupiter's ionosphere. The magnitude of the current is found to be about 100,000 A at most Jovian longitudes because of ionospheric resistance. It is estimated that within the favored longitudinal sector electron precipitation produces an enhancement of this current by one to three orders of magnitude. The model predictions are compared with observations made during the Pioneer 10 and 11 flybys, and satisfactory agreement is obtained.

Dessler, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Jupiter's radiation belts and atmosphere

Maps and stripscans of the radio emission from Jupiter were made during the Pioneer 10 flyby in December 1973 at wavelengths of 6 cm, 21 cm, and 50 cm using the Westerbork telescope in the Netherlands. With this instrument the disk of the planet was resolved at 6 and 21 cm. The pictures are averaged over 15 deg of Jovian longitude. At 21 cm the stripscans clearly show the existence of a 'hot region' in the radiation belts at a System III longitude (1965.0) of 255 + or - 10 deg. Its flux is about 9% of the total nonthermal flux, and it has a volume emissivity enhanced by a factor of about 1.6 with respect to the general radiation belts. The temperature of the thermal disk at 21 cm appears to be 290 + or - 20 K. This is likely due to a high ammonia mixing ratio in the atmosphere, a factor of 4-5 larger than the expected solar value of 0.00015.

De Pater, I.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Galactic distribution of Cepheids between l of approximately 294 and 331 deg

Previous observations of long-period Cepheids in the Crux-Centaurus-Circinus-Norma (CCCN) region (bounded by galactic longitudes of approximately 294 and 331 deg) are used to delineate spiral features that are consistent with available data for other spiral tracers, especially H I gas. The galactic distribution of the long-period Cepheids in the CCCN region is examined, and a possible interpretation of the spiral structure as viewed in the CCCN region is suggested. Specifically, it is concluded that: (1) the region that is often called the Centaurus link contains no Cepheids with periods longer than 11.25 days and may be part of a spiral feature characterized by older Population I material; (2) long-period Cepheids at large distances (4 kpc) are concentrated near 307 deg galactic longitude and are probably associated with the 'inner arm' identified by Kraft (1965); and (3) the velocities of the observed Cepheids differ significantly from the predictions of the Schmidt (1965) model.

Grayzeck, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The behavior of tropical ozone during the stratospheric warming of March-April 1976

The backscatter ultraviolet spectrometer on the Atmosphere Explorer-E satellite obtained ozone data for the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere from an equatorial orbit near the time of the March-April 1976 stratospheric warming. A simple inversion technique allows the extraction of information on the absolute ozone abundance and its longitudinal variation from the measured radiances. Between altitudes of 35 and 60 km tropical O3 in constant pressure layers exhibits increased spatial variations on length scales of 20 to 30 deg in longitude after the onset of the polar warming, indicating enhanced wave activity. One week after the polar vortex breakdown, upper stratospheric O3 begins a relaxation toward the unperturbed state, while that in the lower mesosphere continues to show maximum variations near + or 10% of the longitudinally averaged value. Although the degree of horizontal structure increases during the warming, the absolute O3 amounts averaged over longitude between 35 and 60 km in altitude remain nearly constant in time. The observed behavior is consistent with that expected from enhanced vertical transport of O3 in the tropics with accompanying adiabatic temperature changes which alter the chemical loss rate.

Frederick, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Cosmic diffuse gamma-rays at medium energies

Cosmic diffuse gamma-ray fluxes have been measured in six energy intervals from 2 to 25 MeV with a balloon-borne gamma-ray telescope. It is found that the observed fluxes are compatible with an energy distribution of 0.0265 times E to the -2.08 (photon/sq cm-s-sr-MeV) at lower energies and steepen at higher energies to meet a power law of 0.017 (E/MeV) to the -2.4. No deviation of the gamma-ray flux from isotropy is observed for five different times during the balloon flight for 10-deg intervals up to 50 deg from the zenith and at celestial coordinates varying from latitude -27 deg, longitude 102 deg to latitude 56 deg, longitude 195 deg, excluding the region in the galactic-anticenter direction. Upper limits to fluxes of 3-25-MeV gamma rays are deduced for a number of possible galactic and extragalactic sources.

White, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Jovian longitudinal asymmetry in Io-related and Europa-related auroral hot spots

Auroral emissions generated by the Jovian moons Io and Europa, originating at the foot of the magnetic flux tubes of the satellites, may be largely limited to longitudes where the planet's ionospheric conductivity is enhanced. The enhanced conductivity is produced by trapped energetic electrons that drift into the Jovian atmosphere in regions where the planet's magnetic field is anomalously weak. The most active auroral hot-spot emissions lie in a sector of the northern hemisphere defined by decametric radio emission. Weaker auroral hot spots are found in the southern hemisphere along a magnetic conjugate trace. The brightness and the longitude of the Jovian hot spots predicted in this paper are in agreement with observations reported by Atreya et al. (1977).

Dessler, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A large-beam sky survey at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths made from balloon altitudes

A survey has been made of a quarter of the celestial sphere from balloon altitudes with a telescope having a 1.6-deg beamwidth and two spectral bands: 3-10 kaysers and 10-25 kaysers. The limiting sensitivity of the survey was 10,000 Jy. The galactic disk was detected from 358 to 45 deg galactic longitude. The total far-infrared flux from several regions on the galactic plane measured in this survey is 5-10 times larger than that observed by others using smaller beamwidths and small-amplitude spatial chopping, indicating that a substantial part of the emission comes from extended sources. Two other extended sources were also observed, one in the Cygnus region and the other a spur running off the galactic plane at 130 deg galactic longitude toward the north celestial pole. In addition, lower limits for the spectral index of interstellar dust emission are presented.

Owens, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A search for geographic control on the occurrence of magnetospheric ELF emissions

Search coil magnetometer data obtained in the magnetosphere on Ogo 5 and Ogo 6 were studied for evidence of man-induced stimulation of the two dominant electromagnetic emissions, chorus and plasmaspheric hiss. Variability of chorus with geographic longitude and enhancements, onsets, and quantum jumps in chorus emissions at frequencies related to harmonics of the earth's transmission lines are discussed. The enhancement of weak emissions in the 340-360 deg dipole longitude region during quiet geomagnetic conditions is present only when ELF hiss is weak, and will not contribute to the non-adiabatic dynamics of radiation belt electrons. It is concluded that the data analyzed is consistent with a predominantly natural origin for chorus and plasmaspheric hiss, and that triggered waves do not play a major role in the non-adiabatic dynamics of geomagnetically trapped electrons.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Exospheric perturbations by radiation pressure. 2: Solution for orbits in the ecliptic plane

The instantaneous rates of change for the orbital elements eccentricity, longitude of perigee from the Sun, and longitude from the Sun of the ascending node are integrated simultaneously for the case of the inclination i = 0. The results confirm the validity of using mean rates when the orbits are tightly bound to the planet and serve as examples to be reproduced by the complicated numerical solutions required for arbitrary inclination. Strongly bound hydrogen atoms escaping from Earth due to radiation pressure do not seem a likely cause of the geotail extending in the anti-sun direction. Instead, radiation pressure will cause those particles' orbits to deteriorate into the Earth's atmosphere.

Chamberlain, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Influence of the solar magnetic field on tropospheric circulation

The solar and interplanetary magnetic sector structure has its source in a large-scale photospheric magnetic field structure that is carried away from the sun by the solar wind to form a warped equatorial current sheet in the heliosphere; this current sheet makes one complete rotation past the earth in the solar rotation period of 27 days. Several advantages in using the heliospheric warped current sheet in sun-weather investigations are noted. Sun-weather analyses are described, where the time at which the warped current sheet is observed to be carried past the earth by the solar wind gives the phase information. Individual troughs crossing 180 deg longitude when the IMF is directed away from the sun are significantly larger than troughs crossing 180 deg longitude when the field is toward the sun. Possible physical mechanisms are identified, including an observed influence of the heliospheric current sheet on the vertical electric field in the troposphere.

Wilcox, J. M.↗