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At least 1,081 records · Page 60
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Energy and mass transport in the thermosphere

Examples illustrating the effects of large scale energy and mass transport in the thermosphere discussed include: (1) The seasonal variations reveal temperature, composition, and ionospheric anomalies involving energy exchange between the thermosphere and mesosphere. (2) The midnight temperature maximum in the thermosphere is interpreted as a signature of tidal waves emanating from the mesosphere and momentum coupling associated with ion drag. (3) The ionospheric storm in the F region illustrates the intricate effects of large scale atmospheric winds driven by magnetospheric energization processes. (4) Atmospheric signatures of Joule heating and electric field momentum coupling are markedly different.

Mayr, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Remote monitoring of the Gravelly Run thermal plume at Hopewell and the thermal plume at the Surry Nuclear Power Plant on the James River

On May 17, 1977, a remote sensing experiment was conducted on the James River, Virginia, whereby thermal spectrometer and near-infrared photography data of thermal discharges at Hopewell and the Surry nuclear power plant were obtained by an aircraft for one tidal cycle. These data were used in subsequent investigations into the near field discharge trajectories. For the Gravelly Run thermal plume at Hopewell, several empirical expressions for the plume centerline were evaluated by comparisons of the computed trajectories and those observed in the remote sensing images.

Talay, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The tectonic and volcanic history of Mercury as inferred from studies of scarps, ridges, troughs, and other lineaments

Tectonic and volcanic modification of the Mercurian surface is discussed, and nine landform classes are defined. An evolutionary chronology, based on reported interpretations of scarp, ridge, trough, and other lineament features, is presented, and the roles (in chronological order) of accretion and differentiation, tidal spindown, plains volcanism, heavy bombardment, cooling/contraction, Caloris impact, intense surface modification, basin subsidence, local plains volcanism, isostatic basin uplift, and light cratering are considered. The observational data were obtained by Mariner 10.

Dzurisin, D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Aquatic sources and sinks for nitrous oxide

Data are presented which suggest the complexity of the aquatic nitrogen cycle as it affects N2O. The data are from studies made in the central and south-east tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean and in Chesapeake Bay. The data indicate that oxidation of ammonium and amino nitrogen and nitrification form the principle source for marine N2O. It is estimated that the yearly global yield for oceanic N2O is less than about 10 to the 7th power tons. The consumption of atmospheric N2O by the open ocean has not been evidenced, although data from the south-east tropical Pacific and Chesapeake Bay show the consumption of dissolved N2O in low-oxygen conditions. Preliminary observations have also indicated the consumption of atmospheric N2O by aquatic systems such as freshwater pond and a tidal saltmarsh.

Elkins, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1978

First measurements of mesospheric vertical velocities by VHF radar at temperate latitudes

A program of ground-based VHF measurements of turbulence and of wave and tidal motions in the mesosphere has been initiated by the University of Illinois using a high-power radar facility located at Urbana, Illinois. Observations show scattering occurring intermittently during the daytime throughout the mesosphere. Vertical velocities exhibit the presence of gravity waves with dominant periods near 10 min and amplitudes ranging from less than 1 m/s to approximately 5 m/s.

Miller, K. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Mapping ocean tides with satellites - A computer simulation

As a preliminary study for the future worldwide direct mapping of the open ocean tide with satellites equipped with precision altimeters we conducted a simulated study using sets of artificially generated altimeter data constructed from a realistic geoid and four pairs of major tides in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Recovery of the original geoid and eight tidal maps is accomplished by a space-time, least squares harmonic analysis scheme. The resultant maps appear fairly satisfactory even when random noises up to + or - 100 cm are added to the altimeter data of sufficient space-time density. The method also produces a refined geoid which is rigorously corrected for the dynamic tides.

Won, I. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Occultation of Epsilon Geminorum by Mars. III - Temperature structure of the Martian upper atmosphere

High-quality photoelectric observations of the April 8, 1976, occultation of Epsilon Gem by Mars are analyzed which were obtained at five different observatories. Temperature profiles are derived by numerical inversion of the star's light curves and found to be in mutual agreement. This is taken as evidence for the presence of strong atmospheric waves in the Martial upper atmosphere between number densities of 10 to the 13th and 10 to the 15th per cu cm. It is estimated that the vertical wavelength is about 20 km, the horizontal wavelength is greater than 600 km, and the peak-to-peak wave amplitude is approximately 40 K. The results are shown to be qualitatively consistent with Zurek's (1976) model of thermally driven tidal modes. No compelling evidence for turbulence effects is found in the occultation data.

French, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Passive seismic experiment - A summary of current status

The data set obtained from the four-station Apollo seismic network including signals from approximately 11,800 events, is surveyed. Some refinement of the lunar model will result, but its gross features remain the same. Attention is given to the question of a small, molten lunar core, the answer to which remains dependent on analysis of signals from a far side impact. Seventy three sources of repeating, deep moonquakes have been identified, thirty nine of which have been accurately located. Concentrated at depths from 800 to 1000 km, the periodicities of these events have led to the hypothesis that they are generated by tidal stresses. Lunar seismic data has also indicated that the meteoroid population is ten times lower than originally determined from earth based observations. Lunar seismic activity is much lower and mountainous masses show no sign of sinking, in contrast to earth, as a result of the lunar crust being four times thicker. While much work remains to be done, significant correlation between terrestrial and lunar observations can be seen.

Latham, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Strains and tilts on crustal blocks

Geodetic work done over the past century is examined to investigate block motion in areas of intense tectonic deformation, with special attention to geodetic releveling data obtained for Japan. Problems in interpreting strainmeter and tiltmeter to study the behavior of crustal blocks and block boundaries are discussed. Block dimensions of 5 to 50 km seem to occur frequently in regions of intense tectonic activity. Block boundaries are often considerably weaker than contiguous crustal blocks, resulting in a concentration of strains at boundaries and decrease of strains within blocks. Block to block variations in tilt phase and magnitude are observed. There is some evidence that block boundaries may exhibit strain-dependent elastic properties or respond viscoelastically, possibly accounting for the slow transmission of tectonic deformation reported in Japan. If nonlinear behavior is characteristic of regions fragmented by crustal blocks, it will generally not be possible to apply a site correction factor based on the observed distortion of tidal or seismic strains in interpreting secular strains.

Bilham, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Tides and the midnight temperature anomally in the thermosphere

Spectral analysis of the midnight temperature anomaly observed on Atmosphere Explorer-E indicates that the phenomenon can be adequately represented with wave numbers between 1 and 5. Results from a multiconstituent circulation model suggest that this feature and associated variations in composition are the result of a complex interaction between the semidiurnal tide generated in the lower atmosphere and ion-neutral momentum coupling associated with the diurnal variation of the ion density which, in turn, also generates higher order tidal models.

Mayr, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The influence of the Martian polar caps on the diurnal tide

The large horizontal heating gradients that exist near the edge of the Martian polar caps during spring are shown to be capable of exciting large oscillations in the diurnal tide. To a lesser extent, the daily mass cycling between cap and atmosphere can also contribute. The calculations which demonstrate this are based on classical tidal theory as applied to the cylindrical coordinate system. This is done to facilitate the representation of the heating function. Results are presented for the horizontal surface winds only. They indicate a circulation at the cap edge somewhat analogous to the smaller scale terrestrial sea breeze. The amplitude of the zonal component is largest and is increased from 1 to 10 m/sec by the modeled influence of the polar cap. When coupled with the basic flow these cap-edge tides can produce strong surface winds during spring. Such a mechanism may contribute to the ability of the south polar cap winds to generate the local dust storms observed near the cap edge at this season.

Haberle, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The rings of Uranus - Nature and origin

Effects of a resonance between a set of ring particles and individual satellites are considered. It is suggested that the resonances are 1:1 for the rings of Uranus and that each ring must contain an as-yet unseen satellite. A model is proposed in which the rings of Uranus were caused by small satellites that entered the Roche zone due to tidal drag. According to this model, the satellites gradually lost material from their surfaces in this zone, the particles left a satellite with relatively low speeds and must have entered orbits similar to that of the satellite, and the gravitational force of the satellite compelled these particles to remain in a narrow sharply defined ring.

Dermott, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Cardiopulmonary readjustments in passive tilt

The readjustment of cardiopulmonary variables in human volunteers at various tilt angles on a tilt board is studied. Five healthy subjects (18-31 yr) with thorough knowledge of the experimental protocol are tested, passively tilted from the supine to the upright position in 15-deg increments in random sequence. The parameters measured are cardiac output (Q), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), minute and alveolar ventilation /V(E) and V(A)/, functional residual capacity (FRC), and arterial-end-tidal P(CO2) pressure difference. It is found that changes in Q and FRC are linearly related to the sine of the tilt angle, indicating that either reflexes are absent or their net effect is proportional to the effects of gravity. This is clearly not the case for other variables /HR, SV, V(E), V(A)/, where it is possible to demonstrate threshold values for the appearance of secondary changes.

Matalon, S. V.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The interaction between giant gaseous protoplanets and the primitive solar nebula

The manner in which a giant gaseous protoplanet becomes embedded in the primitive solar nebula determines surface boundary conditions which must be used in studying the evolution of such objects. On the one hand, if the system resembles a contact binary system, then the envelope of the protoplanet should approach the entropy of the surrounding nebula. On the other hand angular momentum transfer by resonance and tidal effects between the nebula and the protoplanet may cause the nebula to exhibit a zone of avoidance near the protoplanet, thus inhibiting exchange of material. This problem has been studied with a computer program developed by D. N. C. Lin which simulates disk hydrodynamics by particle motions with dissipation. These studies suggest that for expected values of the protoplanet/protosun mass ratios, significant inhibition of mass exchange is likely, so that it is a reasonable next step to undertake protoplanet evolution studies with the imposition of minimum protoplanet surface temperatures.

Cameron, A. G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Dynamic satellite geodesy

The paper describes operation of the GEOS-3 and Lageos spacecraft launched by NASA as part of the Earth and Ocean Dynamic Program. The investigations conducted by using GEOS-3 include the determination of tracking station coordinates, polar motion, and the use of altimetry in orbit determination. Lageos was designed as a precision target for making geodetic measurements with ground laser systems. Consideration is given to the progress made in the investigation and determination of tidal parameters by means of satellite perturbation methods. Satellite geodetic methods based on the ability to determine precise satellite orbits and orbit determination are outlined. Emphasis is placed on the future studies employing Spaceborne Laser and Global Positioning System concepts.

Smith, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Analysis of star pair latitudes

Star pair latitude observations form the basis for the pole positions reported by the International Polar Motion Service (IMPS). The IPMS processes these observations to produce a mean pole position. However, the time series of observations contains high-frequency information which is lost in the calculation of the mean pole. In this study, 2931 star pair observations are analyzed. A possible large excitation at one cycle per solar day is observed. The average power level in the frequency band of the tesseral tides is seen to be high, although the peaks cannot be conclusively identified as tidal phenomena.

Graber, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The enhanced nodal equilibrium ocean tide and polar motion

The tidal response of the ocean to long period forcing functions was investigated. The results indicate the possibility of excitation of a wobble component with the amplitude and frequency indicated by the data. An enhancement function for the equilibrium tide was postulated in the form of an expansion in zonal harmonics and the coefficients of such an expansion were estimated so as to obtain polar motion components of the required magnitude.

Sanchez, B. V.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Sea surface temperature of the coastal zones of France. Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM)

The author has identified the following significant results. HCMM data analysis shows some mesoscale features which were previously expected to occur: summer coastal upwellings in the Gulf of Lions, tidal fronts bordering the English Channel, and cooler surface waters at the continental shelf break. The analysis of the spectral variance density spectra show that the interpretation of the data usually is limited by the HCMM radiometric performance (noise levels) at wavenumbers below 5 km in the oceanic areas; from this analysis it may also be concluded that a decrease of the radiometric noise level down to 0.1 k against an increase of the ground resolution up to 2 km would give a better optimum of the radiometric performances in the oceanic areas. HCMM data appear to be useful for analysis of the sea surface temperature field, particularly in the very coastal area by profiting from the ground resolution of 500 m.

Deschamps, P. Y.↗