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At least 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

The signature of H/+/ in the equatorial anomaly - An empirical model

Ion composition data from the OGO-6 satellite are used to develop an empirical model of the H(+) signature in the equatorial anomaly. The empirical model is an attempt to represent the generally repeatable details of the satellite data by a parameterized numerical model accounting for such variables as the altitude, local time and longitude of the observations. Although the resulting model is in general agreement with past findings on the variability of the equatorial anomaly phenomenon, there appears to be a complexity of short-term or narrowly localized variations which cannot be adequately understood on the basis of data from a single satellite.

Taylor, H. A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A local proton irradiation model for isotopic anomalies in the solar system

An attempt is made to explain the O-16 and Al-26 anomalies observed in solar-system bodies in the framework of a local irradiation model wherein a small amount of solar system matter of normal isotopic composition was irradiated by energetic protons from the primeval sun. Several isotopic constraints are summarized with which the model should be consistent, and a proton energy distribution and fluence and a target elemental composition are chosen such that the extraordinary component produced by irradiation satisfies the constraints. Detailed attention is given to the relevant oxygen reactions, Al-26 production, and effects of proton irradiation on isotopes of Mg, Ca, and Ba. A scenario is outlined which satisfies all the constraints. Consequences of the model are discussed with respect to the isotopic anomalies observed in Allende inclusions.

Lee, T.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The persistence and size of thermal anomalies on Venus

Thermal maps of Venus on 16 days during a span of 43 days just before inferior conjunction were obtained during 1973-1974 and are described. The research represents a first step towards the goal of using ground-based observations to determine the time and space scales of dynamical events taking place in the Venus clouds. The described average limb darkening differs from that reported by Ingersoll and Orton (1974). Real day-to-day changes in limb darkening, one occasion of a 4-day repetition of a thermal anomaly, solar-related anomalies, and a southern hemisphere solar-related disturbance are discussed.

Brown, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

On strontium isotopic anomalies and odd-A p-process abundances

Several aspects of the nucleosynthesis of Sr isotopes are considered in an attempt to shed light on the problem of the Sr isotopic anomalies discovered in an inclusion of the Allende meteorite. Decomposition of the Sr isotopes into average r-, s-, and p-process nucleosynthetic classes is performed. It is suggested that the Allende inclusion most likely has an excess of s-process Sr and that the initial Sr-87/Sr-86 isotopic ratio is probably slightly more primitive than basaltic achondrites. The results also show that Sn-115 is mostly due to the r-process and that odd-A yields are very small. It is concluded that if the Sr anomaly in the inclusion is an average s enhancement, it argues somewhat in favor of a model of gas/dust fractionation of s and r isotopes during accumulation of the inclusion parent in the protosolar cloud.

Clayton, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

An interpretation of special and general isotopic anomalies in r-process nuclei

My analysis of new discoveries by McCulloch and Wasserburg of Ba and Nd isotopic anomalies in inclusions of the Allende meteorite argues that (1) these anomalies contain special extinct radioactivities resulting from radioactive decay within grains formed in and ejected from the supernova interior, (2) the inclusions studied are fused assemblies of interstellar grains that were never totally vaporized, and (3) theoretical separation into r and s abundances suggests that fluctuations between r and s components has occurred during the accumulation processes. These points lend support to a new chemical picture of the early solar system that I have developed, although many interpretations remain possible. Measurements of the neutron-capture cross sections of Nd isotopes are urgently needed to experimentally validate these conclusions.

Clayton, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Isotopic anomalies from neutron reactions during explosive carbon burning

The possibility that the newly discovered correlated isotopic anomalies for heavy elements in the Allende meteorite were synthesized in the secondary neutron capture episode during the explosive carbon burning, the possible source of the O-16 and Al-26 anomalies, is examined. Explosive carbon burning calculations under typical conditions were first performed to generate time profiles of temperature, density, and free particle concentrations. These quantities were inputted into a general neutron capture code which calculates the resulting isotopic pattern from exposing the preexisting heavy seed nuclei to these free particles during the explosive carbon burning conditions. The interpretation avoids the problem of the Sr isotopic data and may resolve the conflict between the time scales inferred from 1-129, Pu-244, and Al-26.

Lee, T.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Thermal anomalies of the transmitter experiment package on the communications technology satellite

The causes of four temporary thermal-control-system malfunctions that gave rise to unexpected temperature excursions in the 12-gigahertz, 200-watt transmitter experiment package (TEP) on the Communications Technology Satellite were investigated. The TEP consists of a nominal 200-watt output stage tube (OST), a supporting power-processing system (PPS), and a variable-conductance heat-pipe system (VCHPS). The VCHPS, which uses three heat pipes to conduct heat from the body of the OST to a radiator fin, was designed to maintain the TEP at safe operating temperatures at all operating conditions. On four occasions during 1977, all near the spring and fall equinoxes, the OST body temperature and related temperatures displayed sudden, rapid, and unexpected rises above normal levels while the TEP was operating at essentially constant, normal conditions. The temperature excursions were terminated without TEP damage by reducing the radio frequency (RF) output power of the OST. Between the anomalies and since the fourth, the thermal control system has apparently functioned as designed. The results indicate the most probable cause of the temperature anomalies is depriming of the arteries in the variable-conductance heat pipes. A mode was identified in which the TEP, as presently configured, may operate with stable temperatures and with minimum change in performance level.

Alexovich, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Geoid Anomalies and the Near-Surface Dipole Distribution of Mass

Although geoid or surface gravity anomalies cannot be uniquely related to an interior distribution of mass, they can be related to a surface mass distribution. However, over horizontal distances greater than about 100 km, the condition of isostatic equilibrium above the asthenosphere is a good approximation and the total mass per unit column is zero. Thus the surface distribution of mass is also zero. For this case we show that the surface gravitational potential anomaly can be uniquely related to a surface dipole distribution of mass. Variations in the thickness of the crust and lithosphere can be expected to produce undulations in the geoid.

Turcotte, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Calcium isotopic anomalies and the lack of aluminum-26 in an unusual Allende inclusion

This letter reports the discovery of an unusual Allende inclusion that is rich in hibonite, Ca(Al, Ti, Mg)12O19, the most refractory and possibly the most primitive major oxide mineral from the solar nebula. The Mg and Ca isotopic compositions of this hibonite-rich inclusion are studied in order to investigate the distribution of Al-26 in the solar system and to extend the search for isotopic anomalies. The Mg results indicate that no Mg isotopic anomalies are present, that the initial Al-26/Al-27 ratio for the inclusion when it crystallized was less than 200 billionths, and that the Mg mass-fractionation effect in the inclusion must be less than about 20 per mil/amu for the hibonite and 10 per mil/amu for other phases. The Ca studies reveal that large Ca mass-fractionation effects of about 7.5 per mil/amu are present and that additional small 'nonlinear' effects of presumably nuclear origin at a level of about 1 to 2 per mil are present in at least Ca-42. A plausible model for the evolution of the hibonite-rich inclusion is outlined.

Lee, T.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Inversion of satellite magnetic anomaly data

A method of finding a first approximation to a crustal magnetization distribution from inversion of satellite magnetic anomaly data is described. Magnetization is expressed as a Fourier series in a segment of spherical shell. Input to this procedure is an equivalent source representation of the observed anomaly field. Instability of the inversion occurs when high frequency noise is present in the input data, or when the series is carried to an excessively high wave number. Preliminary results are given for the United States and adjacent areas.

Mayhew, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Geoid anomalies and the thickness of the lithosphere

By using accepted crustal density distributions and either error function or linear temperature distributions the difference in geoid height between stable continental areas and deep ocean basins has been determined as a function of the continental lithospheric thickness. If the continental lithosphere were greater than 200 km thick, the geoid anomaly over the continents would be systematically negative in relation to that over the ocean basins. By using the GEM 9 satellite geoid the mean geoid anomalies over ocean basins and stable continental areas have been obtained. No systematic difference between continental and oceanic geoids is observed. It is concluded that the thickness of the continental lithosphere is near 180 km. This is in good agreement with various interpretations of the surface heat flow observations.

Turcotte, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Techniques for interpretation of geoid anomalies

For purposes of geological interpretation, techniques are developed to compute directly the geoid anomaly over models of density within the earth. Ideal bodies such as line segments, vertical sheets, and rectangles are first used to calculate the geoid anomaly. Realistic bodies are modeled with formulas for two-dimensional polygons and three-dimensional polyhedra. By using Fourier transform methods the two-dimensional geoid is seen to be a filtered version of the gravity field, in which the long-wavelength components are magnified and the short-wavelength components diminished.

Chapman, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A study of the Rima Sirsalis lunar magnetic anomaly

The source of the lunar magnetic anomaly associated with the Rima Sirsalis linear rille has been modelled using the vector field intensities due to arbitrary uniform magnetization in a rectangular prism. It is shown that in order to match the Apollo 16 subsatellite data, the lunar surface near the rille must have a vertical magnetization of 6,000-9,000 G if the anomaly is due to flux leakage from a gap in the crust with the dimensions of the rille. An alternative explanation is that Rima Sirsalis and its surroundings are the site of a vertical magnetization contrast of 100,000-10,000 G which is at least as wide as the rille and extends to a depth of tens of kilometers in the crust. A wider magnetic source reduces the required magnetization (or depth) proportionately, since to first order the field at high altitude is proportional to the magnetic dipole moment per unit length.

Srnka, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

New results from old data - Lunar photometric anomalies in Wildey and Pohn's 1962 observations

The anomalies in V magnitude in photometric data on lunar features obtained by Wildey and Pohn (1964) are analyzed in the three colors of their UBV observations. The data have been averaged with respect to phase and graphed, and deviations from the average have been tabulated for each color. Sigma equal to or exceeding 3 for V, B-V, and U-B measures are shown on table. These variations are found to be similar to the much larger body of observations of lunar transient phenomena (LTP). The data for 25 features with 25 observations each show that in terms of individual measures the frequency of anomalies is approximately 3%, similar to frequencies obtained in other analyses of LTP data.

Cameron, W. S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Causes of the F region winter anomaly

Measurements made by the Atmosphere Explorer satellites are used to determine the causes of the F-region winter anomaly, i.e., seasonal variations which result in peak electron densities which are larger in winter than in summer. It is found that for the data examined there are three causes of the winter anomaly: (1) seasonal changes in neutral composition; (2) an increase in the vibrational temperature of N2 and hence in the rate coefficient for the reaction O(+)(4S) + N2 yields NO(+) + N; (3) an increase in winter in the production of O(+)(4S) due to enhanced electron quenching of O(+)(2D). The presence of vibrational excitation is inferred from an increase in the rate coefficient for the reaction O(+) + N2 yields NO(+) + N from winter to summer at heights above 260 km. It is demonstrated quantitatively that the initial increase in electron density produced in winter by causes (1) and (2) results in an increase in the quenching of O(+)(4S), thereby enhancing the source of O(+)(4S) ions. It is estimated that causes (1) to (3) account for approximately 55%, 20% and 25% respectively of the seasonal change in O(+)(4S) from summer to winter at solar minimum.

Torr, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Accuracy of the determination of mean anomalies and mean geoid undulations from a satellite gravity field mapping mission

Improved knowledge of the Earth's gravity field was obtained from new and improved satellite measurements such as satellite to satellite tracking and gradiometry. This improvement was examined by estimating the accuracy of the determination of mean anomalies and mean undulations in various size blocks based on an assumed mission. In this report the accuracy is considered through a commission error due to measurement noise propagation and a truncation error due to unobservable higher degree terms in the geopotential. To do this the spectrum of the measurement was related to the spectrum of the disturbing potential of the Earth's gravity field. Equations were derived for a low-low (radial or horizontal separation) mission and a gradiometer mission. For a low-low mission of six month's duration, at an altitude of 160 km, with a data noise of plus or minus 1 micrometers sec for a four second integration time, we would expect to determine 1 deg x 1 deg mean anomalies to an accuracy of plus or minus 2.3 mgals and 1 deg x 1 deg mean geoid undulations to plus or minus 4.3 cm. A very fast Fortran program is available to study various mission configurations and block sizes.

Jekeli, C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Use of MAGSAT anomaly data for crustal structure and mineral resources in the US midcontinent

Magnetic fields were measured from October 1979 until June 1980 using the satellite. The processed magnetic data yield long wavelength anomalies that arise from crustal and upper mantle sources. Analysis techniques are being developed to help interpret the structure and character of the lithosphere in central North America. The region includes the Midcontinent Gravity Anomaly peleorift zone and the New Madrid rift/seismic zone, both of which are of plaeotectonic and neotectonic interest. Preliminary analysis of the initial MAGSAT data combined with correlative geological and geophysical data shows the utility of the satellite data for regional crustal and basement study.

Carmichael, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Analysis of DSN software anomalies

A categorized data base of software errors which were discovered during the various stages of development and operational use of the Deep Space Network DSN/Mark 3 System was developed. A study team identified several existing error classification schemes (taxonomies), prepared a detailed annotated bibliography of the error taxonomy literature, and produced a new classification scheme which was tuned to the DSN anomaly reporting system and encapsulated the work of others. Based upon the DSN/RCI error taxonomy, error data on approximately 1000 reported DSN/Mark 3 anomalies were analyzed, interpreted and classified. Next, error data are summarized and histograms were produced highlighting key tendencies.

Galorath, D. D.↗