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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

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NASA NTRS1978

Progress toward a circulation atlas for application to coastal water siting problems

Circulation data needed to resolve coastal siting problems are assembled from historical hydrographic and remote sensing studies in the form of a Circulation Atlas. Empirical data are used instead of numerical model simulations to achieve fine resolution and include fronts and convergence zones. Eulerian and Langrangian data are collected, transformed, and combined into trajectory maps and current vector maps as a function of tidal phase and wind vector. Initial Atlas development is centered on the Elizabeth River, Hampton Roads, Virgina.

Munday, J. C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Skylab/EREP application to ecological, geological, and oceanographic investigations of Delaware Bay

Skylab/EREP S190A and S190B film products were optically enhanced and visually interpreted to extract data suitable for; (1) mapping coastal land use; (2) inventorying wetlands vegetation; (3) monitoring tidal conditions; (4) observing suspended sediment patterns; (5) charting surface currents; (6) locating coastal fronts and water mass boundaries; (7) monitoring industrial and municipal waste dumps in the ocean; (8) determining the size and flow direction of river, bay and man-made discharge plumes; and (9) observing ship traffic. Film products were visually analyzed to identify and map ten land-use and vegetation categories at a scale of 1:125,000. Digital tapes from the multispectral scanner were used to prepare thematic maps of land use. Classification accuracies obtained by comparison of derived thematic maps of land-use with USGS-CARETS land-use maps in southern Delaware ranged from 44 percent to 100 percent.

Klemas, V.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Analysis of star pair latitudes

Star pair latitude observations forming the basis for the pole positions reported by the International Polar Motion Service (IPMS) are processed to produce a mean pole position. However, the time series of raw observations contains high frequency information which is lost in the calculation of the mean pole. Analysis of 2931 star pair observations reveals a possible large excitation at one cycle per solar day. The average power level in the frequency band of the tesseral tides is seen to be high, although the peaks do not occur at the expected tidal frequencies.

Graber, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1977

The use of Landsat for monitoring water parameters in the coastal zone

Landsats 1 and 2 have been successful in detecting and quantifying suspended sediment and several other important parameters in the coastal zone, including chlorophyll, particles, alpha (light transmission), tidal conditions, acid and sewage dumps, and in some instances oil spills. When chlorophyll a is present in detectable quantities, however, it is shown to interfere with the measurement of sediment. The Landsat banding problem impairs the instrument resolution and places a requirement on the sampling program to collect surface data from a sufficiently large area. A sampling method which satisfies this condition is demonstrated.

Bowker, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1977

ALSEP-quasar differential VLBI

A program of ALSEP-quasar very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) is being carried out. These observations employ primarily a 'four-antenna' technique whereby simultaneous observations with two antennas at each end of an intercontinental baseline are used to derive the differential interferometric phase between a compact extragalactic radio source (usually a quasar) and a number of ALSEP transmitters on the lunar surface. A continuous ALSEP-quasar differential phase history over a period of a few hours will lead to milliarcsecond angular accuracy in measuring the lunar position against the quasar reference frame if suitable calibration measurements are obtained. Development of this application of the four-antenna technique has been underway for more than a year and is producing high-quality data utilizing Deep Space Network stations. These high-accuracy observations are of value to tie the lunar ephemeris to a nearly inertial extragalactic reference frame, to test gravitational theories, and to measure the earth-moon tidal friction interaction.

Slade, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The rings of Saturn

Consideration is given to the development of theories concerning the rings of Saturn. Particular attention is given to ring structure, noting its thinness, the separations between rings, and observed variations in brightness. Data gathered via infrared, radio and radar techniques are described in terms of ring particle composition and size. Hypotheses about ring origin and evolution are outlined, including the tidal disruption model, calculations of Saturn's gravitational contraction history, grazing, and meteoroid bombardment. Prospects for future observations of Saturn's rings are reviewed, such as the variation in their radar reflectivity as a function of the tilt of the ring plane.

Pollack, J. B.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Lagrangian drifter design for the determination of surface currents by remote sensing

In estuaries, the interaction of wind, tidal current, and mixing of fresh and saline water produces a variable depth profile of current, with foam lines and convergence zones between water types. Careful measurement of surface currents via Lagrangian drifters requires a drifter design appropriate to both the depth of current to be measured and the tide and wind conditions of interest. The use of remote sensing to track drifters contributes additional constraints on drifter design. Several designs of biodegradable drifters which emit uranine dye plumes, resolvable in aerial imagery to 1:60,000 scale, were tested for wind drag in field conditions against data from calibrated current meters. A 20 cm-vaned wooden drifter and a window shade drifter set to 1.5 m depth had negligible wind drag in winds to 8 m/sec. Prediction of oil slick trajectories using surface current data and a wind factor should be approached cautiously, as surface current data may be wind-contaminated, while the usual 3.5% wind factor is appropriate only for currents measured at depth.

Gordon, H. H.↗

NASA NTRS1978

On the accelerations of the moon and sun, the constant of gravitation, and the origin of mountains

On the assumption of a constant value for the gravitational constant G, the lunar and solar tidal couples and the rate of change of angular velocity of the earth are recalculated on the basis of the improved values for the apparent accelerations of the moon and sun arrived at by Muller and Stephenson (1977). These new values are then used to derive general dynamical equations with a changing moment of inertia and changing G connecting the apparent accelerations to the lunar and solar couples. The effect of a changing G is considered, and a value of (dG/dt)/G = -3 times 10 to the -11th power per yr can be reconciled only weakly with the improved accelerations, especially for the case of linear friction. For quadratic friction the situation is more favorable. The new accelerations, however, are best reconciled with a nonchanging G, and certainly cannot be reconciled with a value of (dG/dt)/G = -6 times 10 to the -11th power per yr.

Lyttleton, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1977

On the origin of the moon, with emphasis on bulk composition

A new analysis of altimetric, gravimetric, and seismological results, together with petrological and thermal history constraints, obtains an estimated Al2O3 content of 5.0%, 2.1 times chondritic. Hence the moon definitely has a refractory lithophile excess as well as an iron deficiency. In addition, the lunar surface is characterized by refractory siderophile depletions. The combination of these properties appears to require a previous stage of differentiation in a planetary body or bodies. Siderophile and chalcolphile depletions and dispersions in eucrites suggest that these bodies are not necessarily large. Possible mechanisms of lunar formation include impacting of a very large body into the earth; tidal disruption of sizeable differentiated planetesimals by the earth; and selective capture of differentiated planetesimal material by small moonlets. Each mechanism has its difficulties; the major unknown affecting all of them is the size distribution of planetesimals.

Kaula, W. M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The development of structure in the expanding universe

A model for clustering in an expanding universe is developed based on an application of the coagulation equation to the collision and aggregation of bound condensations. While the growth rate of clustering is determined by the rate at which density fluctuations reach the nonlinear regime and therefore depends on the initial fluctuation spectrum, the mass spectrum rapidly approaches a self-similar limiting form. This form is determined by the tidal processes which lead to the merging of condensations, and is not dependent on initial conditions.

Silk, J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The puzzling moons of Mars

Viking Orbiter observations of Phobos and Deimos are presented with attention to physical dimension and surface features. Both satellites are approximately 1.4 times as long as they are wide; Phobos having a length of 27 km, while Deimos is half that size. In addition, both satellites are tidally locked, as is earth's moon, and are held together by cohesive forces as well as by gravity. Phobos and Deimos are both heavily cratered, and Phobos has deep (30 m) grooves in the vicinity of its largest crater, Stickney; indicating surface fracturing under meteorite impact. The craters on Deimos are largely filled with a fine-grained substance, probably crater ejecta.

Veverka, J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Venus' rotation and atmospheric tides

On the basis of a presented theory, it is suggested that Venus' current rotation is a stable balance between atmospheric and solar body tides. The theory is concerned with Venus' atmospheric tides, driven by solar heating, and how these tides could serve as a third torque to balance the effects of solar body torque and to maintain a stable equilibrium resonance with regard to the earth's gravitational effects. In the absence of the atmospheric tidal torque, or some other torque, it would be expected that Venus would be despun until synchronous rotation (one side always facing the sun) is attained, rather than retain the retrograde rotation period of 243 days.

Ingersoll, A. P.↗

NASA NTRS1977

The origin of the grooves on Phobos

Various theories for the long, linear depressions on the surface of Phobos are reviewed. Imagery from Viking Orbiters is used to map the surface distribution of the grooves, study their morphology, and date them by means of the density of superimposed impact craters. Data is presented which tends to support the hypothesis that the deep-seated fracturing was caused by a large, nearly catastrophic cratering event. It is suggested that the grooves were produced during the creation of the Stickney crater, rather than as the result of tidal stresses induced by Mars or by drag forces during the hypothetical capture of the satellite by Mars.

Thomas, P. C.↗

NASA NTRS1978

D-region differential-phase measurements and ionization variability studies

Measurements of electron densities in the D region are made by the partial-reflection differential-absorption and differential-phase techniques. The differential-phase data are obtained by a hard-wired phase-measuring system. Electron-sensity profiles obtained by the two techniques on six occasions are plotted and compared. Electron-density profiles obtained at the same time on 30 occasions during the years 1975 through 1977 are averaged to form a single profile for each technique. The effect of varying the assumed collision-frequency profile on these averaged profiles is studied. Time series of D-region electron-sensity data obtained by 3.4 minute intervals on six days during the summer of 1977 are examined for wave-like disturbances and tidal oscillations.

Weiland, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

High-precision gravimetric survey in support of lunar laser ranging at Haleakala, Maui, 1976 - 1978

The planning, observations and adjustment of high-precision gravity survey networks established on the islands of Maui and Oahu as part of the geodetic-geophysical program in support of lunar laser ranging at Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii are described. The gravity survey networks include 43 independently measured gravity differences along the gravity calibration line from Kahului Airport to the summit of Mt. Haleakala, together with some key points close to tidal gauges on Maui, and 40 gravity differences within metropolitan Honolulu. The results of the 1976-1978 survey are compared with surveys made in 1961 and in 1964-1965. All final gravity values are given in the system of the international gravity standardization net 1971 (IGSN 71); values are obtained by subtracting 14.57 mgal from the Potsdam value at the gravity base station at the Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu.

Schenck, B. E.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The measurement of long period and secular deformation with deep borehole tiltmeters

Two clusters of instruments were emplaced in fractured bedrock in eastern Massachusetts in 1970 and 1975. The intrasite agreement at tidal periods was about two percent, but there is no agreement at longer periods. A strong temperature-induced annual component ranging from 3 to 15 urads was present on instruments installed at depths of 15-20m; it was not apparent on those at 100-120m. One instrument, in continuous operation for three years at 100m, showed a net drift of 0.3 urads down to the SW, with a maximum departure of 2.0 urads from the trend. Pore pressure variations, material corrosion and creep, and local movements are apparently the limiting factors to long-term measurements.

Cabaniss, G. H.↗

NASA NTRS1978

What can earth tide measurements tell us about ocean tides or earth structure?

Current experimental problems in Earth tides are reviewed using comparisons of tidal gravity and tilt measurements in Europe with loading calculations are examples. The limitations of present day instrumentation and installation techniques are shown as well as some of the ways in which they can be improved. Many of the geophysical and oceanographic investigations that are possible with Earth tide measurements are discussed with emphasis on the percentage accuracies required in the measurements in order to obtain new information about Earth or its oceans.

Baker, T. F.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Shoreline as a controlling factor in commercial shrimp production

The author has identified the following significant results. An ecological model was developed that relates marsh detritus export and shrimp production. It was based on the hypothesis that the shoreline is a controlling factor in the production of shrimp through regulation of detritus export from the marsh. LANDSAT data were used to develop measurement of shoreline length and areas of marsh having more than 5.0 kilometers of shoreline per square kilometer of area for the Louisiana coast, demonstrating the capability of remote sensing to provide important geographic information. These factors were combined with published tidal ranges and salinities to develop a mathematical model that predicted shrimp production for nine geographic units of the Louisiana coast, as indicated by the long term average commercial shrimp yield.

Faller, K. H.↗