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At least 91 records · Page 5

An atlas of monthly mean distributions of SSMI surface wind speed, AVHRR/2 sea surface temperature, AMI surface wind velocity, TOPEX/POSEIDON sea surface height, and ECMWF surface wind velocity during 1993

The following monthly mean global distributions for 1993 are presented with a common color scale and geographical map: 10-m height wind speed estimated from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSMI) on a United States (U.S.) Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft; sea surface temperature estimated from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR/2) on a U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite; 10-m height wind speed and direction estimated from the Active Microwave Instrument (AMI) on the European Space Agency (ESA) European Remote Sensing (ERS-1) satellite; sea surface height estimated from the joint U.S.-France Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/POSEIDON spacecraft; and 10-m height wind speed and direction produced by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF). Charts of annual mean, monthly mean, and sampling distributions are displayed.

Halpern, D.↗

Non-gyrotropic proton and alpha-particle velocity distributions in the solar wind: TAUS observations and stability analysis

Ion velocity distribution functions have been measured with high time resolution by the TAUS plasma instrument on the PHOBOS mission to Mars in 1989. The unambiguous separation of protons and alpha-particles by TAUS enabled us to study the nonthermal features of their distributions separately and to analyze the stability of the distributions against excitation of waves in the cyclotron-frequency domain. Typical nonthermal features include temperature anisotropies, with T(sub perpendicular) larger than T(sub parallel), and ion beam populations drifting along the local magnetic field direction. Also, distinctly non-gyrotropic alpha-particle velocity distributions were sometimes found. Non-gyrotropy strongly changes the wave dispersion and gives rise to new growing modes, related to the coupling of the standard wave modes existing in gyrotropic plasma. It is found that for the measured non-gyrotropic ion distributions the right-hand polarized wave can also be excited by a temperature anistropy instead of the usual beam drift.

Astudillo, H. F.↗

An Investigation of the McDonnell XP-85 Airplane in the Ames 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel: Pressure-Distribution Tests

Pressure measurements were made during wind-tunnel tests of the McDonnell XP-85 parasite fighter. Static-pressure orifices were located over the fuselage nose, over the canopy, along the wing root, and along the upper and lower stabilizer roots. A total-pressure and static-pressure rake was located in the turbojet engine air-intake duct. It was installed at the station where the compressor face would be located. Pressure data were obtained for two airplane conditions, clean and with skyhook extended, through a range of angle of attack and a range of yaw.

Hunton, Lynn W.↗

Optimum windings for linear induction machines.

The matrix method of calculating linear induction machine performance as a function of winding current distribution was extended to determine the winding current distribution for maximum efficiency. Application of the method to typical magnetohydrodynamic generator geometries showed that electrical efficiencies of 0.5 to 0.6 are possible with fractional wavelength windings and without insulating vanes in the flow.

Elliott, D. G.↗

Latitudinal distribution of solar-wind speed from magnetic observations of the sun

Empirical studies suggest a close relationship between the solar-wind speed near the earth and the magnetic structure of the solar corona. The correlation can be used to infer the latitudinal distribution of wind speed at different phases of the sunspot cycle, and to identify the sources of fast, high-latitude wind streams such as those that might be encountered by the Ulysses spacecraft on its journey toward the solar poles during 1992-1995.

Wang, Y.-M.↗

Angular Distributions of Fe/O From Wind: New Insight Into SEP Transport

We examine the angular distributions of He, O, and Fe in large solar energetic particle (SEP) events measured on the Wind spacecraft. We report for the first time, that in a fixed velocity interval, Fe/O is often larger for particles flowing sunward along the magnetic field than for particles flowing outward from the Sun in many SEP events. This occurs because the anisotropy for O exceeds that for Fe, even though both species are streaming outward. There are no examples of events for which the outward Fe/O dominates. The behavior of Fe and O conflicts with the expectations of simple diffusion theory, that angular distributions should be independent of species. It also seems to conflict with the idea that energetic Fe scatters less than O of the same velocity. However, preliminary modeling suggests that the presence of a reflecting magnetic boundary beyond 1 AU, together with the increased scattering of O over Fe due to proton generated Alfven waves, can explain the direction and magnitude of the effect. These observations add a new dimension to the study of SEP transport.

Reames, D. V.↗

Unusual electron distribution functions in the solar wind derived from the Helios plasma experiment - Double-strahl distributions and distributions with an extremely anisotropic core

Electron distribution functions with unusual features, which have been observed on rare occasions in the solar wind by the Helios probes, are presented. Two examples show a strong symmetric bidirectional anisotropy in the energy regime of the halo up to particle energies of 800 eV (double-strahl distributions). Another example shows an unusually strong bidirectional anisotropy in the energy regime of the core (below 150 eV). The infrequently observed double-strahl distributions provide evidence that magnetic field loops can exist in the solar wind where electrons are trapped. In addition, they provide evidence that in the case of electrons trapped in closed magnetic field structures the break in the energy spectrum separating the core from the halo is produced only by collisions. On the other hand, the class of distribution functions with strongly anisotropic cores indicates that in the case of 'open' magnetic field lines the break between core and halo is largely determined both by the interplanetary electrostatic potential and by collisions.

Pilipp, W. G.↗

Modeling the Strahl in the Solar Wind Using CLUSTER/PEACE Electron Distribution Functions

We present a study of kinetic properties of the strahl electron velocity distribution functions (VDF's) in the solar wind. These are used to investigate the pitch-angle scattering and stability of the population to interactions with electromagnetic (whistler) fluctuations. The study is based on high time resolution data from the Cluster/PEACE electron spectrometer. Our study focuses on the mechanisms that control and regulate the pitch-angle and stability of strahl electrons in the solar wind; mechanisms that are not yet well understood. Various parameters are investigated such as the strahl-electron density, temperature anisotropy, and electron heat-flux. The goal is to check whether the strahl electrons are constrained by some instability (e.g., the whistler instability), or are maintained by other types of processes. The electron heat-flux and temperature anisotropy are determined by modeling the 3D-VDFs to a spectral spherical harmonic model from which the moments are obtained directly from the spectral coefficients.

Vinas, Adolfo F.↗

Martian aeolian features and deposits - Comparisons with general circulation model results

The relationships between near-surface winds and the distribution of wind-related features are investigated by means of a general circulation model of Mars' atmosphere. Predictions of wind surface stress as a function of season and dust optical depth are used to investigate the distribution and orientation of wind streaks, yardangs, and rock abundance on the surface. The global distribution of rocks on the surface correlates well with predicted wind stress, particularly during the dust storm season. The rocky areas are sites of strong winds, suggesting that fine material is swept away by the wind, leaving rocks and coarser material behind.

Greeley, Ronald↗

The velocity distributions of cometary protons picked up by the solar wind

Velocity space distributions of picked up cometary protons were measured by the ion mass spectrometer on the Giotto spacecraft upstream of the Halley bow shock. Large pitch angle anisotropies were observed at all distances greater than 1.2 x 10 to the 6th km from the comet. As expected, pitch angle diffusion was much more rapid than energy diffusion. When the field was quasi-parallel to the solar wind velocity vector, it was possible to discern the effect of pitch angle scattering by sunward propagating, field-aligned hydromagnetic waves, but there is evidence for other scattering modes as well. For quasi-perpendicular geometries, the pitch angle distribution was very asymmetric with phase space density peaks near pitch angles of 180 deg. It is suggested that the asymmetric pitch angle distribution may be caused by global rather than local wave-particle interactions. Just outside the shock, the pitch angle distribution was nearly isotropic and the radius of the pickup shell increased significantly.

Neugebauer, M.↗

The Latitudinal Distribution of Magnetic Holes in the Solar Wind

%T The Latitudinal Distribution of Magnetic Holes in the Solar Wind%A D. Winterhalter%A M. Neugebauer%A E. J. Smith%A A. Balogh%J American Geophysical Union, 1995 Spring Meeting%C Baltimore, Maryland%D May 29-June 2, 1995%K Interplanetary Magnetic Fields%K Solar Wind%U http://techreports.jpl.nasa.gov/1995/95-0554.pdf!

Interplanetary↗

Geometric and structural properties of a rectangular supercritical wing oscillated in pitch for measurement of unsteady transonic pressure distributions

Wind-tunnel tests to measure unsteady aerodynamic data in the transonic region have been completed on an aspect ratio 2.0 rectangular wing with a supercritical airfoil. The geometric and structural properties of the wing are presented. (Other references contain the measured aerodynamic data.) Both measured and design airfoil coordinates are presented and compared. In addition, measured wing bending and torsional stiffness distributions and some trailing-edge flexibility influence coefficients are presented.

Ricketts, R. H.↗

Inferences about the solar wind dynamics from observed distributions of electrons and ions

Recent measurements, mostly from Helios and Voyager, were reviewed. The observational material was compiled into a series of radial profiles for various macroscopic plasma parameters. Several examples for experimentally determined three-dimensional distribution functions of protons are shown. The physical properties of the solar wind electrons were surveyed. The still unresolved question of the driving mechanism of the solar wind is considered. The problem of the energy balance in pure, high velocity streams emanating from solar coronal holes was outlined. It is suggested that the suprathermal electrons may play an important role in driving the wind. Numerical estimates, referring to the lower corona, are offered in support of this hypothesis.

Olbert, S.↗

A review of solar wind ion and electron plasma distribution functions: Present understanding and Ulysses results

Our present understanding of the distribution functions of the solar wind ion and electron thermal/suprathermal populations will be reviewed covering selected theoretical and observational topics. Roughly half the review will be devoted to recent discoveries (since Solar Wind 7). Among recent results are those of the Ulysses mission. The SWICS experiment observed pick-up protons and alpha particles, and acceleration of these particles at interplanetary shocks. Positive ion phenomena observed by SWOOPS include enhanced proton-alpha particle differential streaming both: (1) at high latitudes; and (2) in the ecliptic beyond 1 AU in the vicinity of shocks. The SWOOPS positive ion observations also demonstrate relative constancy of the entropy per proton at high latitudes beyond about 2.5 AU. Double beaming in both protons and alphas is observed by SWOOPS on either side of the current sheet, but not within; a possible explanation is reconnection at the edge of the current sheet. SWOOPS observed bi-directional streaming of electrons beyond 2 AU not only within Coronal Mass Ejections, but also upstream of corotating interplanetary shocks. Latitudinal and radial gradients of Ulysses electron core and halo temperatures will be discussed, as will work in progress on the three dimensional (in velocity space) properties of ion distributions.

Goldstein, B. E.↗

Retrieving the global distribution of the threshold of wind erosion from satellite data and implementing it into the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory land–atmosphere model (GFDL AM4.0/LM4.0)

Dust emission is initiated when surface wind velocities exceed the threshold of wind erosion. Many dust models used constant threshold values globally. Here we use satellite products to characterize the frequency of dust events and land surface properties. By matching this frequency derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Deep Blue aerosol products with surface winds, we are able to retrieve a climatological monthly global distribution of the wind erosion threshold (V(threshold)) over dry and sparsely vegetated surfaces. This monthly two-dimensional threshold velocity is then implemented into the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory coupled land–atmosphere model (AM4.0/LM4.0). It is found that the climatology of dust optical depth (DOD) and total aerosol optical depth, surface PM10 dust concentrations, and the seasonal cycle of DOD are better captured over the “dust belt” (i.e., northern Africa and the Middle East) by simulations with the new wind erosion threshold than those using the default globally constant threshold. The most significant improvement is the frequency distribution of dust events, which is generally ignored in model evaluation. By using monthly rather than annual mean V(threshold), all comparisons with observations are further improved. The monthly global threshold of wind erosion can be retrieved under different spatial resolutions to match the resolution of dust models and thus can help improve the simulations of dust climatology and seasonal cycles as well as dust forecasting.

Bing Pu↗

Adapting the NSCAT data system to changing requirements

The data system of the spaceborne eight-beam NASA scatterometer for measuring ocean backscatter is a nonreal-time ground-based science data processing system which inputs backscatter telemetry, processes the data into wind vectors, and archives and distributes the wind vector data and other products. Special attention is given to changes to the baseline design intended to meet new requirements for the data granularity, the data needs of the science team receiving the data, and the telemetry data source.

Benada, J. R.↗