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At least 595 records · Page 33

Geomagnetic storm particles in the high-latitude magnetotail.

Nearly monoenergetic positive ions flowing outward along magnetic-field lines in the high-latitude magnetotail, outside the plasma sheet, have been observed with Vela satellites. These ions, probably mainly protons, are detected only during geomagnetic storms. The ?storm particles' have average energies per charge ranging from about 0.3 to 3 kV, but at any instant the energy distribution is quite narrow, sometimes less than 10%. Their angular distribution is usually narrow, sometimes about 6 deg. Particles with storm-particle characteristics are not observed in the plasma sheet. Possible sources of the storm particles are considered, including the solar wind, magnetosheath, polar cusps, polar wind, or ionosphere, plasma sheet, solar neutral hydrogen streams, reconnection transfer of plasma into the magnetotail from the polar cusps, polar wind, or polar ionosphere, and parallel electric-field acceleration of the polar wind or ionosphere ions along the polar-cap magnetic-field lines. Of these possibilities, the electric-field acceleration is favored.

Bame, S. J.↗

Imp 5 magnetic-field measurements in the high-latitude outer magnetosphere near the noon meridian.

Results of Imp 5 magnetic-field measurements at geomagnetic latitudes up to 75 deg and at distances beyond six earth radii, revealing the permanent existence of a broad depressed field region centered on the polar or dayside cusp. Field strengths at seven earth radii on cusp field lines that connect to the earth are typically only 50 to 70% of that of an undistorted dipole field. The transition region between the magnetosheath and the point where the fields are clearly of dipolar origin is characterized by large-amplitude fluctuations and the lack of a clear magnetopause boundary. Magnetic-field perturbations are observed in the cusp region with magnitudes up to 45 gamma and in directions that are approximately perpendicular to the average field. These perturbations are suggestive of field-aligned currents, and their magnitudes are consistent with the low-altitude measurements obtained on polar-orbiting spacecraft.

Fairfield, D. H.↗

High-time resolution of the low-latitude asymmetric disturbance in the geomagnetic field.

The low-latitude asymmetric disturbance field is investigated by means of a Fourier harmonic analysis performed on 2.5-min interspaced values of magnetic records from eight stations, in lieu of the hourly values used in Crooker and Siscoe's (1971) study. The major advantage of the higher time resolution is that substorm activity, which has a time scale of 1-2 hr, can be studied in detail. Data covering four active periods in 1965 and five active periods in 1967 are used.

Crooker, N. U.↗

Magnetic latitude effects in the solar wind

The Weber-Davis model of the solar wind is generalized to include the effects of latitude. The principal assumptions of high electrical conductivity, rotational symmetry, the polytropic relation between pressure and density, and a flow-alined field in a system rotating with the sun, are retained. An approximate solution to the resulting equations for spherical boundary conditions at the base of the corona indicates a small component of latitudinal flow toward the solar poles at large distances from the sun as result of latitudinal magnetic forces.

Winge, C. R., Jr.↗

Neutral winds above 200Km at high latitudes

Motion from multiple chemical releases between 200 and 300 km from 15 rockets launched from 4 high latitude locations are analyzed. The observations in the evening and midnight hours at magnetic altitudes or = 65 deg suggest that in these regions ion drag is the dominant force in driving neutral winds between 200 and 300 km. This conclusion is based on both the agreement between ion and neutral drift directions, and the fact that there are distinct changes in the wind associated with (a) the reversal in east-west ion drift at the Harang discontinuity, and (b) the transition from auroral belt, sunward ion drift and polar cap, anti-solar ion drift.

Meriwether, J. W.↗

The Mean Ozone Distribution from Several Series of Rocket Sounding to 52 Km at Latitudes from 58 Deg S to 64 Deg N

The results of 21 rocket flights of Arcas optical ozonesondes were combined to produce estimates of the mean ozone distribution and its variability; these estimates apply to a broad range of latitudes. The flights were launched from sites near the equator to 58 S and to 64 N, in the years from 1965 to 1971. The local-noon mean ozone densities in molecules/cubic centimeter are 7.0 to the 10th power at 50 km, 6.7 x 10 to the 11th power at 40 km, 3.1 x 10 to the 12th power at 30 km, and 3.1 x 10 to the 12th power at 20 km. The range of observed densities is about + or - 30 percent of the mean value at 50 km; + or 40 percent at 40 km; + or - 40 percent at 30 km; and +200 percent, -66 percent at 20 km. The variabilities in this set of observations are much smaller than those indicated by previous measurements.

Krueger, A. J.↗

Evidence of a major fault zone along the California-Nevada state line 35 deg 30 min to 36 deg 30 min north latitude

The author has identified the following significant results. Geologic reconnaissance guided by analysis of ERTS-1 and Apollo-9 satellite imagery and intermediate scale photography from X-15 and U-2 aircraft has confirmed the presence of a major fault zone along the California-Nevada state line, between 35 deg 30 min and 36 deg 30 min north latitude. The name Pahrump Fault Zone has been suggested for this feature after the valley in which it is best exposed. Field reconnaissance has indicated the existence of previously unreported faults cutting bedrock along range fronts, and displacing Tertiary and Quaternary basin sediments. Gravity data support the interpretation of regional structural discontinuity along this zone. Individual fault traces within the Pahrump Fault Zone form generally left-stepping en echelon patterns. These fault patterns, the apparent offset of a Laramide age thrust fault, and possible drag folding along a major fault break suggest a component of right lateral displacement. The trend and postulated movement of the Pahrump Fault Zone are similar to the adjacent Las Vegas Shear Zone and Death Valley-Furnace Creek Faults, which are parts of a regional strike slip system in the southern Basin-Range Province.

Liggett, M. A.↗

High-latitude dayside electric field and particle measurements

Two rockets carrying electric field and low energy particle instrumentation were launched near noon at 80 deg magnetic latitude. One flight encountered polar cap conditions only while the other traversed part of the polar cusp. Although weak particle precipitation was measured on both flights, bursts of intense magnetosheath-type electron fluxes were detected on the latter. Strong electric fields such as would result from anti-sunward convection were observed during both flights. The measurements are compared with results obtained by other types of space craft and interpreted in the light of those data.

Maynard, N. C.↗

Near earth magnetic disturbance in total field at high latitudes. 2: Interpretation of data from OGO's 2, 4, and 6

Variations in the scalar magnetic field (delta B) from the polar orbiting OGO 2, 4, and 6 spacecraft, with supporting vector magnetic field data from surface observatories, were analyzed at dipole latitudes above 55 deg. Although individual satellite passes, at low altitudes, confirm the existence of electrojet currents, neither individual satellite passes nor contours of average delta B are consistent with latitudinally narrow electrojet currents as the principal source of delta B at the satellite. The ratio of delta B magnitudes in positive and negative regions is variable. The characteristics of the negative delta B region indicate a latitudinally broad ionospheric source. Comparison of the surface magnetic disturbance caused by the equivalent current with the measured average surface disturbance shows good agreement except in localized details. Because delta B decreases very slowly with altitude in the positive delta B region, it is not possible to account for this disturbance in terms of ionospheric currents. The contribution to the satellite delta B due to a model electrojet, which reproduced the measured average surface horizontal disturbance, was computed. Definitive identification of all sources of positive delta B is not possible at this time.

Langel, R. A.↗

Near earth magnetic disturbance in total field at high latitudes. 1: Summary of data from OGO's 2, 4, and 6

Variations in the total (i.e. scalar) magnetic field data from the polar orbiting OGO-2, 4, and 6 spacecraft (altitudes 400-1510 km) are summarized for invariant latitudes above 55 deg. Data from all degrees of magnetic disturbance are included. The data are presented in terms of the quantity delta B(= measured field magnitude minus the field magnitude from a spherical harmonic model of the quiet field).

Langel, R. A.↗

Mariner 9 evidence for wind erosion in the equatorial and mid-latitude regions of Mars

Evidence for extensive wind erosion principally in the equatorial and mid-latitude regions of Mars is presented and compared with selected erosional landforms from the coastal desert of Peru known to be of eolian origin. The evidence for widespread erosion on Mars prompted an examination of certain aspects of its wind regime that are thought to be significant geologically.

Mccauley, J. F.↗

S-band radio occultation measurements of the atmosphere and topography of Mars with Mariner 9: Extended mission coverage of polar and intermediate latitudes

Radio occultation measurements from Mariner 9 orbits around Mars show that the radius of Mars changes by only about 2 km from a latitude of 65 deg to the north pole, that the north polar area is about average in elevation, and that polar temperature profiles are indicative of the possibility that the remnant north polar cap may be at least partially composed of water ice. It is also found that Mars, in addition to being asymmetrical equatorially, is also significantly asymmetrical in the north and south direction with the Southern Hemisphere lying 3 to 4 km higher. Temperature gradients in the clear Martian atmosphere of only about one-half of the adiabatic gradients of 5 deg K/km suggest the importance of dynamical processes.

Kliore, A. J.↗

Galactic-latitude dependence of low-energy diffuse X-rays.

A flux of low-energy diffuse X-rays has been observed which is qualitatively well correlated with 21-cm column densities of hydrogen from intermediate to high galactic latitude. The intensity exceeds that predicted by an extrapolation to low energies of the power-law spectrum observed above 1 keV. The observed X-ray intensity and the apparent correlation with interstellar hydrogen is accounted for by an additional component of extragalactic radiation plus a local component. For the latter, we cannot exclude the possibility that the X-rays are produced in the upper atmosphere. In addition, we have observed a large flux of X-rays near the galactic plane and a prominent feature in the constellation Gemini.

Yentis, D. J.↗

Calculated distributions of hydrogen and helium ions in the low-latitude ionosphere.

The simultaneous time-dependent continuity equations for O(+), H(+) and He(+) in the low latitude F-region are solved. Account is taken of E x B drift, a meridional neutral wind, and ion-ion and ion-neutral drag. The calculated profiles of O(+) and H(+) concentrations at 1630 LT are in fair agreement with the observations of Hanson et al. The He(+) field-aligned velocity is almost matched to the O(+) field-aligned velocity and, above the chemical equilibrium region and around the He(+) peak, the He(+) concentration is determined largely by production and transport. There is disagreement between the theoretical vertical He(+) profile and the profile observed by Hanson et al. Satisfactory agreement is obtained with Taylor's satellite results at fixed height for O(+) and H(+). It is found that the He(+) concentration is greater in the winter hemisphere than in the summer hemisphere, even if the neutral helium distribution is symmetrical about the Equator. The He(+) results are consistent with Taylor's results.

Moffett, R. J.↗

Observation of mesospheric ozone at low latitudes.

Stellar ultraviolet light near 2500 A is attenuated in the earth's upper atmosphere due to strong absorption in the Hartley continuum of ozone. The intensity of stars in the Hartley continuum region has been monitored by the University of Wisconsin stellar photometers aboard the OAO-2 satellite during occultation of the star by the earth's atmosphere. These data have been used to determine the ozone number density profile at the occultation tangent point. The results of approximately 12 stellar occultations, obtained in low latitudes, are presented, giving the nighttime vertical number density profile of ozone in the 60- to 100-km region.

Hays, P. B.↗