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At least 505 records · Page 28

The risk of solar proton events to space missions

The total dose in rads-tissue from solar protons was tabulated for weekly time intervals, and the number of weeks which gave a dose above 25 rads behind 10 g/sq cm of aluminum for the active 6 years of the 19th cycle were called dangerous or large event weeks. The number of such event weeks was found to be only 3 weeks for the past 20 years. Even though the chance for smaller events is examined, it was found that for any reasonable, high confidence level (95%), the smaller events could be ignored. Consequently, the total particle flux for the 19th cycle was divided by a factor of 3 and determined a single large event week. Using this spectrum, the tissue dose in rads is calculated at the center of an aluminum spherical shell.

Burrell, M. O.↗

Simultaneous satellite and riometer measurements of particles during solar cosmic ray events.

The expected 30 and 50 MHz riometer absorptions have been calculated for three events in 1969 using data from the MDAC-W charged particle experiment on OGO 6. Several times during each event, the satellite passed over the MDAC-W Arctic and Antarctic Geophysical Observatories. The calculated total absorption (using 2 minute averages of the data) agrees well with the measured absorption for the overpasses. The alpha particle and electron contributions usually amount to less than a few percent of the proton absorption. During the large November 2, 1969 event, however, the electrons produced the major part of the absorption up to the peak and a significant contribution during virtually its entire duration. With the two frequencies for which simultaneous riometer data were taken, it is possible to detect the softening of the particle spectra during the events, and the relative hardness differences between events.

Baker, M. B.↗

Studies of images of short lived events using ERTS data

The author has identified the following significant results. The program to study short-lived events with the ERTS-1 satellite has evaluated 97 events reported by the Center for Short-Lived Phenomena. Forty-eight of these events were listed as candidates for ERTS-1 coverage and 8 of these were considered significant enough to immediately alert the ERTS operation staff by telephone. Studies of the images received from six events indicate that useful data on short-lived events can be obtained from ERTS-1 that would be difficult or impossible to obtain by other methods.

Deutschman, W. A.↗

Variations in the nuclear abundances in solar particle events

Measurements of the flux of helium nuclei in the 24 January 1971 event and of helium and (C, N, O) nuclei in the 1 September 1971 event are combined with previous measurements to obtain the relative abundances of helium, (C, N, O), and Fe-group nuclei in these events. These data are then summarized together with previously reported results to show that, even when the same detector system using a dE/dx plus range technique is used, differences in the He/(C, N, O) value in the same energy/nucleon interval are observed in solar cosmic ray events. Further, when the He/(C, N, O) value is lower the He/(Fe-group nuclei) value is also systematically lower in these large events.

Bertsch, D. L.↗

The morphological and statistical properties of solar X-ray events with long decay times

Photographic data from the S-054 X-ray telescope on Skylab has been used to study the morphological and statistical properties of a class of X-ray events with long decay times. The events were selected for analysis based on their Solrad 1-8 A flux signatures. These events are associated statistically with long-lived active regions, white-light coronal transients, and H alpha prominence activations. These X-ray events usually consist of an arcade of loops with a bright linear structure running along the arcade. The heights of the loops, their expansion velocities, their lifetimes, and morphological appearances all suggest that at least some of these events are the X-ray analog of the loop prominence systems observed in H alpha by Bruzek.

Kahler, S.↗

Cosmic ray measurements on board Helios 1 from December 1974 to September 1975 Quiet time spectra, radial gradients, and solar events

The considered time period is characterized by a general decrease in solar activity towards a minimum which occurred in July 1976. The relatively quiet solar conditions facilitate the separation of the gradually varying galactic cosmic radiation from superimposed events of different characteristics. The inspection of neutron monitor data shows that the period is characterized by a slow increase of the high energy galactic cosmic radiation at a relatively constant rate. Attention is given to the instrumentation employed, intensity time profiles and preliminary radial gradients, and quiet time energy spectra. The solar particle events discussed include the January 5, 1976 event, the March 3, 1975 event, and the March 19/20, 1975 event.

Kunow, H.↗

A purely coronal hard X-ray event

OSO 7 observations of a hard X-ray event of coronal origin are described. This event had a duration of more than 42 min as well as an abnormally large hard/soft ratio and apparently occurred after the disappearance of a bright coronal streamer. This gradual hard X-ray event is tentatively associated with open field lines extending well above the closed loop structures that participated in the originating flare. It is noted that a gradual hardening of the hard X-ray spectral distribution occurred during the event. Physical conditions in the source are considered, and the results are compared with observations of other hard X-ray events associated with flares.

Hudson, H. S.↗

Event-driven displays for manipulator control

The problem of constructing event-related information displays from multidimensional data generated by proximity, force-torque and tactile sensors integrated with the terminal device of a remotely controlled manipulator is considered. Event-driven displays are constructed by using appropriate algorithms acting on sensory data in real time. Event-driven information displays lessen the operator's workload and improve control performance. The paper describes and discusses several event-driven display examples that were implemented in the JPL teleoperator project, including a brief outline of the data handling system which drives the graphics display in real time. The paper concludes with a discussion of future plans to integrate event-driven displays with visual (TV) information.

Bejczy, A. K.↗

Spatially dominated solar particle events 1972-1976

Low-energy solar-particle data from the APL/JHU experiments on IMP 7 and 8 during 50 solar rotations between September 1972 and May 1976 are examined, and it is found that spatial gradients which are nearly independent of particle rigidity and species dominate the time histories. There are 57 rounded events with gradients on each side, 17 spatially dominated decays of flare-associated temporal events, and 9 broad minima. These events fill about 70% of the total time period, and about 70% are associated with solar-wind streams. The e-folding lengths of the gradients average about 20 deg heliographic longitude, and the rounded events have soft spectra and are helium-rich. These events are consistent with coronal propagation from a central source by a mechanism independent of particle species and energy.

Gold, R. E.↗

Airglow events visible to the naked eye

During IR photographic airglow observations covering several years, three naked-eye events have been recorded. Two of these are moving luminous acoustic-gravity-wave groups of some 10-15-km wavelength, which occur near high lunar tide in the atmosphere. The events appear quickly, endure 0.5-1 h, then fade. Visible photos of two events appear enhanced, while little enhancement is present in the IR photos, although the structures are well correlated. If these events are due to OH, it is suggested that some unrecognized mechanism, perhaps a gravity wave interaction, enhances the visible transitions of the OH over the IR transitions. If the events are due to an unrecognized continuum emitter, perhaps NO, its emission must occur at the same height as the OH. Spectra seem to be the only reasonable approach to solving this problem.

Peterson, A. W.↗

Recurrent energetic particle events associated with forward/reverse shock pairs near 4 AU in 1978

The elemental composition at energies near 1 MeV/nucleon has been studied for three recurrent energetic particle events during the period August-October, 1978, with the low-energy-charged-particle instruments on Voyager 1/2 near 4 AU. These events are associated with forward/reverse shock pairs in the solar wind as identified by the MIT plasma experiments on Voyager. In all three events, the flux increases associated with the reverse shocks showed enhancements in the He/H and CNO/H ratios compared to typical solar flare composition. The average C/O ratio for the three events was 0.68 which is larger than for normal solar flares but somewhat smaller than the average value found for corotating events at 1 AU during the previous solar minimum (1974-1976).

Hamilton, D. C.↗

Energetic particle events /greater than or equal to 30 keV/ of Jovian origin observed by Voyager 1 and 2 in interplanetary space

Detailed observations of ion events of Jovian origin as observed by the low energy charge particle (LECP) instrumentation on Voyager 1 and 2 during the inbound and outbound pass for both spacecraft are reported. The general characteristics of these events are examined, and a comparison is made with similar observations at earth. Careful attention is given to the compositional signature of the Jovian ion events. Two of the specific events discussed in detail are selected to display the range of variability and complexity of the Jovian-produced interplanetary ion events. The observations are seen as strongly implying that the Jovian magnetosphere is the source of a significant fraction of the particles.

Zwickl, R. D.↗

A study of solar flare soft X rays and their relation to particle events observed with IMP 8

Data from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory charged particle measurement experiment aboard IMP 8 was used to study solar flare events and find correlations between soft X rays (4-17 A) and particle events. The results show that a greater probability exists of observing a proton event if the observed soft X ray flare has a relatively large decay time. It is also found that the H-alpha brightening area is a good indicator of the strength of the soft X ray burst. Results also show that the strength of the soft X ray burst can be used to estimate a probability that a proton event will occur, along with the strength of that particle event.

Nonnast, J. H.↗

Type 2 radio bursts, interplanetary shocks and energetic particle events

Using the ISEE-3 radio astronomy experiment data 37 interplanetary (IP) type II bursts have been identified in the period September 1978 to December 1981. These events and the associated phenomena are listed. The events are preceded by intense, soft X ray events with long decay times (LDEs) and type II and/or type IV bursts at meter wavelengths. The meter wavelength type II bursts are usually intense and exhibit herringbone structure. The extension of the herringbone structure into the kilometer wavelength range results in the occurrence of a shock accelerated (SA) event. The majority of the interplanetary type II bursts are associated with energetic particle events. These results support other studies which indicate that energetic solar particles detected at 1 A.U. are generated by shock acceleration. From a preliminary analysis of the available data there appears to be a high correlation with white light coronal transients.

Cane, H. V.↗

Dependence of 50-keV upstream ion events at IMP 7 and 8 upon magnetic field bow shock geometry

Results are presented for a statistical study of four years (1972-1976) of IMP 7 and 8 observations at approximately 40 R(E) of 50-200 keV upstream ion events measured with the Energetic Particle Experiment. A monotonic increase in the probability of observing upstream particle events is found with a decrease in the angle (theta-Bn) between the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and the local shock normal at the point where the IMF intersects the bow shock, independent of the length of time of bow shock connections exceeding approximately 10 min. Approximately equal probabilities are found for observing an event above a given flux from any portion of the bow shock with the same value of theta-Bn, a growth time of the 50-200 keV events of approximately 10 min, a maximum attainable flux of approximately 25,000/sq cm s sr, and a positive correlation between the probability of exceeding a given flux and the 3 hr Kp index. It is concluded that the local structure of the bow shock in the immediate vicinity of the field line connection is the dominant influence in the generation process of energetic upstream particle events and that wave-particle interactions produce a self-throttling mechanism that limits the maximum flux of ions escaping the upstream foreshock.

Mitchell, D. G.↗

Associations between coronal mass ejections and soft X-ray events

The association between white light coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and full-disk X ray events have been examined as a function of X ray duration during the recent years of high sunspot activity (1979-1981). On a time scale of hours, no duration interval has been found that separates X ray events into two distinct classes depending on whether or not they have associated CMEs. Rather, the tendency for long-duration X ray events to have associated CMEs reflects the fact that, as X ray duration increases, the differential distribution of events without CMEs falls off faster than the distriution of X ray events with CMEs.

Sheeley, N. R., Jr.↗

Survey of He(+)/He(2+) abundance ratios in energetic particle events

The helium charge distribution in the energy range 0.4 to 0.62 MeV/nucleon in energetic particle events was studied. An average He+/He2+ ratio of 0.12 + or - 0.04 with ratios exceeding 0.3 for 41 out of 420 days events richest in He+ and no significant differences of the proton energy spectra, and the abundance of helium relative to protons and heavy ions for He+ rich events (He+/He2+ 0.3) and for events with He+/He2+ 0.3, respectively. It is also found that He+ rich events are predominantly low in energetic particle intensity.

Hovestadt, D.↗

Nitrate in the Greenland ice sheet in the years following the 1908 Tunguska event

The Tunguska event on June 30, 1908 has been subjected to much speculation within different fields of research. Publication of the results of the 1961 expedition to the Tunguska area (Florensky, 1963) supports the view that a cometary impact caused the event. Based on this interpretation, calculations of the impactor energy release and explosion height have been reported by Ben-Menahem (1975), and velocity, mass, and density of the impactor by Petrov and Stulov (1975). Park (1978) and Turco et al. (1981, 1982) used these numbers to calculate a production of ca. 30,000,000 tons of NO during atmospheric transit. This paper presents a high-resolution study of nitrate concentration in the Greenland ice sheet in ca. 10 years covering the Tunguska event. No signs of excess nitrate are found in three ice cores from two different sites in Greenland in the years following the Tunguska event. By comparing these results with results for other aerosols generally found in the ice, the lack of excess NO3(-) following the Tunguska event can be interpreted as indicating that the impactor nitrate production calculated by Park (1978) and Turco et al. (1981, 1982) are 1-2 orders of magnitude too high. To explain this, it is suggested, from other lines of reasoning, that the impactor density determined by Petrov and Stulov (1975) probably is too low.

Rasmussen, K. L.↗