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At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2017

The Use of Sun Elevation Angle for Stereogrammetric Boreal Forest Height in Open Canopies

Stereogrammetry applied to globally available high resolution spaceborne imagery (HRSI; less than 5 m spatial resolution) yields fine-scaled digital surface models (DSMs) of elevation. These DSMs may represent elevations that range from the ground to the vegetation canopy surface, are produced from stereoscopic image pairs (stereo pairs) that have a variety of acquisition characteristics, and have been coupled with lidar data of forest structure and ground surface elevation to examine forest height. This work explores surface elevations from HRSI DSMs derived from two types of acquisitions in open canopy forests. We (1) apply an automated mass-production stereogrammetry workflow to along-track HRSI stereo pairs, (2) identify multiple spatially coincident DSMs whose stereo pairs were acquired under different solar geometry, (3) vertically co-register these DSMs using coincident spaceborne lidar footprints (from ICESat-GLAS) as reference, and(4) examine differences in surface elevations between the reference lidar and the co-registered HRSI DSMs associated with two general types of acquisitions (DSM types) from different sun elevation angles. We find that these DSM types, distinguished by sun elevation angle at the time of stereo pair acquisition, are associated with different surface elevations estimated from automated stereogrammetry in open canopy forests. For DSM values with corresponding reference ground surface elevation from spaceborne lidar footprints in open canopy northern Siberian Larix forests with slopes less than10, our results show that HRSI DSM acquired with sun elevation angles greater than 35deg and less than 25deg (during snow-free conditions) produced characteristic and consistently distinct distributions of elevation differences from reference lidar. The former include DSMs of near-ground surfaces with root mean square errors less than 0.68 m relative to lidar. The latter, particularly those with angles less than 10deg, show distributions with larger differences from lidar that are associated with open canopy forests whose vegetation surface elevations are captured. Terrain aspect did not have a strong effect on the distribution of vegetation surfaces. Using the two DSM types together, the distribution of DSM-differenced heights in forests (6.0 m, sigma = 1.4 m) was consistent with the distribution of plot-level mean tree heights (6.5m, sigma = 1.2 m). We conclude that the variation in sun elevation angle at time of stereo pair acquisition can create illumination conditions conducive for capturing elevations of surfaces either near the ground or associated with vegetation canopy. Knowledge of HRSI acquisition solar geometry and snow cover can be used to understand and combine stereogrammetric surface elevation estimates to co-register rand difference overlapping DSMs, providing a means to map forest height at fine scales, resolving the vertical structure of groups of trees from spaceborne platforms in open canopy forests.

Paul M Montesano↗
DOE OSTI2026

The Extent of Solar Energetic Particle Irradiation in the Sun’s Protoplanetary Disk

Solar flares emit X-rays and high-energy (MeV to GeV) ions called solar energetic particles (SEPs). Astronomical observations show solar-mass protostellar fluxes are a factor Φ ≈ 3 × 10 2 –3 × 10 3 times higher than the present-day Sun. Constraining Φ in the early solar system is important for modeling ionization in the Sun’s protoplanetary disk, the extent of magnetorotational instability or magnetocentrifugal outflows, or even production of short-lived radionuclides. Recent interpretations of meteoritic data—including cosmogenic Ne in hibonite grains, initial ( 10 Be/ 9 Be) 0 ratios in Ca-rich, Al-rich inclusions (CAIs), or even inferences of live 7 Be in CAIs—suggest values Φ > 10 5 , reaching as high as Φ ≈ 6 × 10 6 , which would make the young Sun extraordinarily active, even for a protostar. We constrain Φ by reexamining these data. We conclude that cosmogenic Ne was produced in hibonite grains as they resided in the disk; 36 Cl was created in Cl-poor grains after the disk dissipated; 10 Be was inherited from the molecular cloud, with almost no (<1%) 10 Be created in the disk; and there is no evidence whatsoever for any live 7 Be in CAIs. We show these data are consistent with a value Φ ≈ 3 × 10 3 for the first >5 Myr of the solar nebula. The early Sun evidently emitted a flux of X-rays and SEPs not atypical for a protostar.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1972

Why does the sun sometimes look like a magnetic monopole.

For three or four consecutive months in 1965 observations of the sun's magnetic field showed that it was predominantly directed out of the sun at all solar latitudes. This interval in the first part of 1965 is near the minimum of the sunspot cycle. Solar activity has been strongly associated with large-scale solar regions with field directed predominantly into the sun, while the observations noted seem to show that just near solar maximum there is almost no field observed to be directed into the sun. An attempt is made to describe and develop these interesting circumstances.

Wilcox, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Multistream and Monte Carlo calculations of the sun's aureole

The scattered UV intensities in the sun's aureole are calculated using both a multi-stream scattering method and a Monte Carlo approach. Angular distributions for both Rayleigh and aerosol scatterings are obtained with a realistic atmospheric model. Moderate- and sharply-forward-peaked phase functions of aerosol scattering, corresponding to realistic analytic size distributions, are incorporated. Results from the two independent calculations are in reasonable agreement for a realistic atmospheric model. The results indicate that the scattered UV intensity in the sun's aureole is about four orders smaller than the transmitted intensity while the scattered intensity for pure Rayleigh scattering is only 1-10 millionths times that of the transmitted sun. Based on these intensity ratios, we estimate that the integrated scattered contributions from the aureole to a well-collimated sun photometer of acceptance aperture 2-3 deg are below about 1% of the direct contribution.

Furman, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The Helios program and the sun

Helios A and B are the first two missions inside the orbit of the Mercury towards the sun. They were launched from Cape Kennedy December 10, 1974 and January 15, 1976 respectively. The interplanetary cruise in the ecliptic plane carried the Helios Solar Probes in an ecliptical orbit around the sun to perihelions as close as 0.31 (Helios A) and 0.29 (Helios B) Astronomical Units to the sun. In this technical paper the scientific mission and German and American plans and design versus accomplished mission are presented by the German and United States Project Managers and the Mission Operations Manager. A brief outline of the scope of the project, spacecraft and experiments development, integration and test programs is given. Engineering and system performance results from the Helios A and B flights, which succeeded in passing closer to the sun than any previous spacecraft, are presented. Some of the preliminary scientific findings of the ten active and two passive experiments of this ambitious German/United States cooperative project are outlined.

Ousley, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Solar tracking control system Sun Chaser

The solar tracking control system, Sun Chaser, a method of tracking the Sun in all types of weather conditions is described. The Sun Chaser follows the Sun from east to west in clear or cloudy weather, and resets itself to the east position after sundown in readiness for the next sunrise.

Scott, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Design and analysis of Galileo sun acquisition algorithm

The Galileo sun acquisition algorithm is used to align the spacecraft antenna with the sun in order to determine spacecraft attitude. It is also used to estimate the spin rate when the spacecraft antenna is not sun oriented, and is capable of performing a rhumb line turn maneuver in the case of two gyro failures. The design of the algorithm is presented in detail along with software implementation at the flowchart level. The six major portions of the algorithm are considered: initialization, sensor measurement mapping, path selection logic, sun detection logic, termination logic, and burn command generation. Analysis is performed to determine the major parameters of the algorithm, and results are verified by computer simulations.

Lin, H.-S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Periodic orbits of the elliptic restricted problem for the Sun-Jupiter-Saturn system

A systematic approach to generate periodic orbits in the elliptic restricted problem of three bodies is introduced. The approach is based on (numerical) continuation from periodic orbits of the first and second kind in the circular restricted problem to periodic orbits in the elliptic restricted problem. Two families of periodic orbits of the elliptic restricted problem are found by this approach. The mass ratio of the primaries of these orbits is equal to that of the Sun-Jupiter system. The sidereal mean motions between the infinitesimal body and the smaller primary are in a 2:5 resonance, so as to approximate the Sun-Jupiter-Saturn system. The lineaar stabilities of these periodic orbits are studied as functions of the eccentricities of the primaries and of the infinitesimal body. The results show that both stable and unstable periodic orbits exist in the elliptic restricted problem that are close to the actual Sun-Jupiter-Saturn system. However, the periodic orbit closest to the actual Sun-Jupiter-Saturn system is (linearly) stable.

Kwok, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The magnetic flux in the quiet sun network

Direct magnetic measurements are used to confirm that the Ca II K line emission from the quiet sun network does not vary with the 11 year cycle (White and Livingston, 1981). As the K emission intensity is correlated with magnetic field strength, magnetic flux measurements are valid for comparison. Data were taken from the full-disk Mount Wilson daily magnetograms, and the aperture was decreased from 17.5 to 12.5 during the interval 1970 through 1980. Measurements are restricted to the latitude zones centered on + or - 1.7 degrees. The mean total flux in the + or - 15.3 degree zones increased by a factor of 10 between activity minimum and maximum, and the quiet sun flux shows no variation, thus confirming White and Livingston's (1981) result. In order for the amplitude of the quiet sun magnetic flux to remain constant, a balance between increasing and decreasing factors must exist, and the primary factor in this balance is the rate of destruction of the quiet sun flux.

Labonte, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Magnetic fields on the Sun

Synoptic observations of solar magnetic fields are discussed. Seen in long-term averages, the magnetic fields of the Sun show distinctive behavior. The active-region latitudes are characterized by magnetic fields of preceding polarity. The flow of following polarity fields to make up the polar fields is episodic, not continuous. This field motion is a directed poleward flow and is not due to diffusion. The total magnetic flux on the solar surface, which is related linearly to the calcium emission in integrated sunlight, varies from activity minimum to maximum by a factor of 2 or 3. Nearly all this flux is seen at active-region latitudes-only about 1% is at the poles. The total flux of the Sun disappears from the surface at a very rapid rate and is replaced by new flux. All the field and flux patterns that we see originate in active-region latitudes. The polar magnetic fields of the Sun were observed to change polarity recently. The variations of the full-disk solar flux are shown to lead to the proper rotation rate of the Sun, but the phase of the variations is constant for only a year or two at most.

Howard, R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Sensor Tracks the Sun From Any Angle

Sensor system locates Sun from any angle and generates error signals to point object toward Sun and follow its motion. Sun-sensor system includes three photodetectors, each with separate field of view defined by set of apertures. As equipment rotates about axis, detectors put out time-varying signals processed by external electronics to determine rotation rate and direction to Sun.

Birnbaum, M., M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Helium and Hydrogen of the Local Interstellar Mdium Observed in the Vicinity of the Sun

The Sun illuminates the hydrogen and helium atoms of the interstellar medium through which it travels. As a result, the Sun and the whole solar system are imbedded in a glow of the resonance lines of hydrogen (H Lyman alpha; 121.6nm) and helium (58.4nm). From the intensity distribution of the glow in the solar system, the density of H and He in the local interstellar medium (LISM) and the direction of the relative motion between the Sun and the LISM in the vicinity of the Sun are derived. The velocity module and the LISM temperature are more adequately found from a measurement of the Lyman alpha line shape, which is an image of the velocity distribution of H atoms. The result is summarized and together the methods of interpretation and difficulties are dicusssed.

Bertaux, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Small-scale eruptive filaments on the quiet sun

A study of a little known class of eruptive events on the quiet sun was conducted. All of 61 small-scale eruptive filamentary structures were identified in a systematic survey of 32 days of H alpha time-lapse films of the quiet sun acquired at Big Bear Solar Observatory. When fully developed, these structures have an average length of 15 arc seconds before eruption. They appear to be the small-scale analog of large-scale eruptive filaments observed against the disk. At the observed rate of 1.9 small-scale eruptive features per field of view per average 7.0 hour day, the rate of occurence of these events on the sun were estimated to be greater than 600 per 24 hour day.. The average duration of the eruptive phase was 26 minutes while the average lifetime from formation through eruption was 70 minutes. A majority of the small-scale filamentary sturctures were spatially related to cancelling magnetic features in line-of-sight photospheric magnetograms. Similar to large-scale filaments, the small-scale filamentary structures sometimes divided opposite polarity cancelling fragments but often had one or both ends terminating at a cancellation site. Their high numbers appear to reflect the much greater flux on the quiet sun. From their characteristics, evolution, and relationship to photospheric magnetic flux, it was concluded that the structures described are small-scale eruptive filaments and are a subset of all filaments.

Hermans, Linda M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A near-earth optical communications terminal with a corevolving planetary sun shield

The umbra of a planet may serve as a sun shield for a space based optical communications terminal or for a space based astronomical observatory. An orbit that keeps the terminal or observatory within the umbra is desirable. There is a corevolution point behind every planet. A small body stabilized at the planet corevolution point will revolve about the sun at the same angular velocity as the planet, always keeping the planet between itself and the sun. This corevolution point is within the umbra of Mars but beyond the end of the umbra for Mercury, Venus, and earth. The Mars corevolution point is an ideal location for an astronomical observatory. There Mars obstruct less than 0.00024 percent of the sky at any time, and it shades the observatory completely from the sun. At the earth corevolution point, between 51 and 84 percent of the solar disk area is blocked, as is up to 92 percent of the sunlight. This provides a reduction from 3 dB to 11 dB in sunlight that could interfere with optical communications if scattered directly into the detectors. The variations is caused by revolution of the earth about the earth-moon barycenter.

Kerr, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Variation of the quiet sun at 21 cm - 1981-1987

The sun was imaged at a wavelength of about 21 cm during 1981-1987 using the VLA, the Green Bank 91-m telescope, the Arecibo 305 m telescope, and powerful maximum entropy image reconstruction techniques. There was a systematic decrease in the quiet sun's brightness temperature at 21 cm as the sun declined from sunspot maximum to sunspot minimum; this was accompanied by a systematic decrease in the sun's radius. The two-fold decrease in the electron number density in the solar transition region and low corona could have been the cause of these variations.

Bastian, T. S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A near-earth optical communications terminal with a corevolving planetary sun shield

The umbra of a planet may serve as a sun shield for a space-based optical communications terminal or for a space-based astronomical observatory. An orbit that keeps the terminal or observatory within the umbra is desirable. There is a corevolution point behind every planet. A small body stabilized at the planet corevolution point will revolve about the sun at the same angular velocity as the planet, always keeping the planet between itself and the sun. This corevolution point is within the umbra of Mars but beyond the end of the umbra for Mercury, Venus, and earth. The Mars corevolution point is an ideal location for an astronomical observatory. There, Mars obstruct less than 0.00024 percent of the sky at any time, and it shades the observatory completely from the sun. At the earth corevolution point, between 51 and 84 percent of the solar disk area is blocked, as is up to 92 percent of the sunlight. This provides a reduction from 3 dB to 11 dB in sunlight that could interfere with optical communications if scattered directly into the detectors. The variations is caused by revolution of the earth about the earth-moon barycenter.

Kerr, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Energetic neutrinos from heavy-neutralino annihilation in the Sun

Neutralinos may be captured in the sun and annihilated therein producing high-energy neutrinos. Present limits on the flux of such neutrinos from underground detectors such as IMB and Kamiokande 2 may be used to rule out certain supersymmetric dark matter candidates, while in many other supersymmetric models the rates are large enough that if neutralinos do reside in the galactic halo, observation of a neutrino signal may be possible in the near future. Neutralinos that are either nearly pure Higgsino or a Higgsino/gaugino combination are generally captured in the sun by coherent scattering off nuclei via exchange of the lightest Higgs boson. If the squark mass is not much greater than the neutralino mass, then capture of neutralinos that are primarily gaugino occurs predominantly by spin-dependent scattering off hydrogen in the sun. The neutrino signal from annihilation of WIMPs with masses in the range of 80 to 1000 GeV in the sun should generally be stronger than that from weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) annihilation in the earth, and detection rates for mixed-state neutralinos are generally higher than those for Higgsinos or gauginos.

Kamionkowski, Marc↗
NASA NTRS1994

Convection and electrodynamic signatures in the vicinity of a Sun-aligned arc: Results from the Polar Acceleration Regions and Convection Study (Polar ARCS)

An experimental campaign designed to study high-latitude auroral arcs was conducted in Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland, on February 26, 1987. The Polar Acceleration Regions and Convection Study (Polar ARCS) consisted of a coordinated set of ground-based, airborne, and sounding rocket measurements of a weak, sun-aligned arc system within the duskside polar cap. A rocket-borne barium release experiment, two DMSP satellite overflights, all-sky photography, and incoherent scatter radar measurements provided information on the large-scale plasma convection over the polar cap region while a second rocket instrumented with a DC magnetometer, Langmuir and electric field probes, and an electron spectrometer provided measurements of small-scale electrodynamics. The large-scale data indicate that small, sun-aligned precipitation events formed within a region of antisunward convection between the duskside auroral oval and a large sun-aligned arc further poleward. This convection signature, used to assess the relationship of the sun-aligned arc to the large-scale magnetospheric configuration, is found to be consistent with either a model in which the arc formed on open field lines on the dusk side of a bifurcated polar cap or on closed field lines threading an expanded low-latitude boundary layer, but not a model in which the polar cap arc field lines map to an expanded plasma sheet. The antisunward convection signature may also be explained by a model in which the polar cap arc formed on long field lines recently reconnected through a highly skewed plasma sheet. The small-scale measurements indicate the rocket passed through three narrow (less than 20 km) regions of low-energy (less than 100 eV) electron precipitation in which the electric and magnetic field perturbations were well correlated. These precipitation events are shown to be associated with regions of downward Poynting flux and small-scale upward and downward field-aligned currents of 1-2 micro-A/sq m. The paired field-aligned currents are associated with velocity shears (higher and lower speed streams) embedded in the region of antisunward flow.

Weiss, L. A.↗