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At least 1,099 records · Page 61
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NASA NTRS1991

Geomorphology and stratigraphy of Alba Patera, Mars

Geomorphic and stratigraphic analysis of Alba Patera suggests a volcanic construct built by lavas with rheologic properties similar to basalts. A series of evolving eruptive styles is suggested by changes in morphology and inferred progressive reductions in flow volume with higher stratigraphic position. Alba Patera's volcanic history has been summarized into four main phases. The first is characterized by extensive flood like flows presumably erupted from fissures associated with the initial intrusion of magma into the region. The second phase is associated with the emplacement of pyroclastic rock, a more speculative interpretation. The third phase produced the voluminous tabular, crested, and undifferentiated flows, probably from a more centralized vent source. The fourth and last phase is marked the effusion of levee like flows and the collapse of the summit calderas and final graben formation.

Schneeberger, Dale M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Stratospheric aerosol optical depth observed by the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment. II - Decay of the El Chichon and Ruiz volcanic perturbations

The decay of the El Chichon perturbation to the optical depth of stratospheric aerosols at 1.02 micron, 0.525 micron, and 0.453 micron is calculated from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II) data set for the period December 1984 to December 1988. It is found that the perturbed optical depths at middle and higher latitudes of both hemispheres exhibited an exponential decay superimposed by a seasonal oscillation with a maximum and a minimum occurring in local winter and local summer, respectively. Microphysical processes and variation of the tropopause height alone cannot explain this seasonal change of optical depth. The magnitudes of the exponential component at higher latitudes were, in general, larger than those at lower latitudes. For optical depths in tropical regions, the seasonal oscillations were small and were disturbed by the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz on November 13, 1985. The increase in the ratio of optical depth at 0.525 micron to that at 1.02 micron from about 2.0 at the beginning of 1985 to about 3.5 at the end of 1988 indicates the average size of aerosol particles in the stratosphere is diminishing since the eruption of El Chichon. The 1/e folding time for El Chichon decay derived from the SAGE II data set is in reasonably good agreement with those derived by other methods.

Yue, G. K.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Heterogeneous reactions with NaCl in the El Chichon volcanic aerosols

Previous investigations of the effects of the 1982 eruption of the El Chichon volcano could not explain all the observations of changes in O3, HCl, NO and NO2 simultaneously without proposing unproven chemical reactions. Since reactions between solid NaCl and gaseous ClNO3 and N2O5 rapidly produce photochemically active chlorine species and solid NaNO3 in laboratory experiments, it is suggested that these reactions could have occurred with the NaCl observed to be present in the El Chichon sulfuric acid areosols. As a consequence, it is predicted that HCl should increase substantially, while NO(x) should decrease, in agreement with the measurements after the eruption. Ozone should be only slightly affected by these reactions. Reactions between solid NaCl and the acids H2SO4 and HNO3 might prove to be important, but sufficient evidence regarding their efficiency and the pressure of HNO3 in the aerosols is lacking.

Michelangeli, Diane V.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Dynamics of quiescent prominences; Proceedings of the 117th Colloquium of IAU, Hvar, Yugoslavia, Sept. 25-29, 1989

Topics discussed include formation of a filament around a magnetic region, evolution of fine structures in a filament, the spatial distribution of prominence threads, high resolution analysis of quiescent prominences at NSO/Sacramento Peak Observatory, small-scale Doppler velocities in a quiescent prominence, Doppler velocity oscillations in quiescent prominences, oscillatory relaxation of an eruptive prominence, and matter flow velocities in an active region emission loop observed in H-alpha. Attention is also given to an automated procedure for measurement of prominence transverse velocities, the nonlinear evolution of magnetized filaments, thermal equilibrium of coronal loops and prominence formation, thermal instability in planar coronal strucutres, radiative transfer in cylindrical prominence threads, numerical simulation of a catastrophe model for prominence eruptions, and the law of evolution and destruction of solar prominences.

Ruzdjak, Vladimir↗
NASA NTRS1991

Factors controlling lava dome morphology

Research suggests that variations in lava dome morphology on different planets will depend much more critically on local gravity and the style of eruption than on the magma composition, ambient temperature, or the relative roles of convective and radiative cooling. Eruption style in turn reflects differences in tectonic conditions and the ability of magma to exsolve volatiles. Observed crude correlations between silica content and calculated yield strengths for terrestrial lava flows and domes probably are do to differences in extrusion rate and volatile solubility, rather than intrinsic rheological properties. Thus, even after taking the known effect of gravity into account, observed differences in gross dome morphology on different planets cannot by themselves be directly related to composition. Additional information such as the distribution of surface textures and structures, or spectroscopic data will be needed to conclusively establish dome compositions.

Fink, Jonathan↗
NASA NTRS1992

Upper-atmosphere Aerosols: Properties and Natural Cycles

The middle atmosphere is rich in its variety of particulate matter, which ranges from meteorite debris, to sulfate aerosols, to polar stratospheric ice clouds. Volcanic eruptions strongly perturb the stratospheric sulfate (Junge) layer. High-altitude 'noctilucent' ice clouds condense at the summer mesopause. The properties of these particles, including their composition, sizes, and geographical distribution, are discussed, and their global effects, including chemical, radiative, and climatic roles, are reviewed. Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are composed of water and nitric acid in the form of micron-sized ice crystals. These particles catalyze reactions of chlorine compounds that 'activate' otherwise inert chlorine reservoirs, leading to severe ozone depletions in the southern polar stratosphere during austral spring. PSCs also modify the composition of the polar stratosphere through complex physiocochemical processes, including dehydration and denitrification, and the conversion of reactive nitrogen oxides into nitric acid. If water vapor and nitric acid concentrations are enhanced by high-altitude aircraft activity, the frequency, geographical range, and duration of PSCs might increase accordingly, thus enhancing the destruction of the ozone layer (which would be naturally limited in geographical extent by the same factors that confine the ozone hole to high latitudes in winter). The stratospheric sulfate aerosol layer reflects solar radiation and increases the planetary albedo, thereby cooling the surface and possibly altering the climate. Major volcanic eruptions, which increase the sulfate aerosol burden by a factor of 100 or more, may cause significant global climate anomalies. Sulfate aerosols might also be capable of activating stratospheric chlorine reservoirs on a global scale (unlike PCSs, which represent a localized polar winter phenomenon), although existing evidence suggests relatively minor perturbations in chlorine chemistry. Nevertheless, if atmospheric concentrations of chlorine (associated with anthropogenic use of chlorofluorocarbons) continue to increase by a factor of two or more in future decades, aircraft emissions of sulfur dioxide and water vapor may take on greater significance.

Turco, Richard P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Recent Elysium volcanism: Effects on the Martian atmosphere

A vast area of smooth plains in southeastern Elysium near 5 deg N, 195 deg was identified as young volcanic plains. These plains represent flood eruptions of very low viscosity lavas at a point in time much later than the volcanism that produced the major volcanoes of Elysium. Since volcanism is a principal mechanism by which gases are supplied to the atmosphere, and since these gases can have important climatic effects, it is important to consider the amount of H2O, CO2, and other gases that were possibly released. We present estimates of input and release rates from this volcanic episode. The age is defined by the density of superposed craters; there are 89 +/- 15 craters greater than or equal to 1 km per 10(exp 6) sq km corresponding to the Upper Amazonian making this the youngest major volcanic episode. Lavas, covering 1.5 x 10(exp 6) sq km and presumably erupted through fissures, filled a topographic low and then flowed through knobby terrain into westernmost Amazonis. The western plains are characterized by scattered low shields having radial lava flows. Unit thickness is uncertain, individual flows are about 10 m thick; the entire deposit buries older knobby terrain having local relief of 200-400 m (estimated by Earth-based radar data); hence the volcanics must be thick enough to bury that relief. On the basis of unit morphology, length of flows, and the extent of the deposit, it can be inferred that the lava was of low viscosity and mafic to ultramafic composition. The age and petrology of the shergottites suggest they may have come from this unit.

Plescia, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Long Term Stratospheric Aerosol Lidar Measurements in Kyushu

Lidar soundings of the stratospheric aerosols have been made since 1972 at Fukuoka, Kyushu Island of Japan. Volcanic clouds from eruptions of La Soufriere, Sierra Negra, St. Helens, Uluwan, Alaid, unknown volcano, and El Chichon were detected one after another in only three years from 1979 to 1982. In july 1991 strong scattering layers which were originated from the serious eruptions of Pinatubo in June and were almost comparable to the El Chichon clouds were detected. Volcanic clouds from pinatubo and other volcanos mentioned are examined and carefully compared to each other and to the wind and temperature which was measured by Fukuoka Meteorological Observatory almost at the same time as the lidar observation was made.

Fujiwara, Motowo↗
NASA NTRS1992

Observations of Ozone-aerosol Correlated Behaviour in the Lower Stratosphere During the EASOE Campaign

The question of possible interactions between ozone and stratospheric aerosol has been open for a long time. Measurements carried out after the Mt. Agung and El Chicon eruptions showed evidence of negative correlations between the presence of volcanic stratospheric aerosols and ozone concentration. Evidence for negative correlations in the polar winter has been also found. It is only after the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole that catalytic effects related to low temperature heterogeneous chemistry have become the object of much investigation, now extended to the role of volcanic aerosol in the ozone reduction. These phenomena can be the object of various interpretations, not mutually exclusive, including the effect of transport, diffuse radiation as well as heterogeneous chemistry. The present paper provides preliminary results of simultaneous measurements of ozone and aerosol, carried out at Thule, Greenland, during the winter 1991-92. The European Stratospheric Ozone Experiment (EASOE) was aimed at monitoring the winter Arctic stratosphere in order to obtain a deeper insight of the ozone destruction processes taking place in the polar regions. A large amount of aerosol was injected into the lower stratosphere by the recent eruption of Volcano Pinatubo. A lidar system, already operational in Thule since November 1990, has provided detailed measurements of the stratospheric aerosol concentration during EASOE. In the same period, a large number of ozonesondes were launched. Although no PSC formation was detected over Thule, the simultaneous measurement of the stratospheric aerosol and ozone profiles give the possibility to study interactions occurring in the stratosphere between these two constituents.

Digirolamo, P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Lidar Observations of the Pinatubo Stratospheric Aerosol Cloud over Frascati, Italy

The Pinatubo eruption of June 1991 introduced large plumes into the local stratosphere. On several occasions, volcanic gases and particles reached altitudes of about 30 km, and spread towards the west. A lidar system has been operating to monitor the evolution of the stratospheric aerosol cloud. The backscattering ratio profiles of eight different measurements were chosen to summarize the most significant occurrences of the event. Since the beginning of the winter planetary wave activity, the Pinatubo cloud integrated backscatter exceeded El Chichon's. In this context, the perturbation generated by El Chichon can only be assumed as a lower limit of the one which will follow the Pinatubo eruption. Observations of the event are still in progress.

Congeduti, Fernando↗
NASA NTRS1992

Dynamics and energetics of the solar corona

The primary objective of this research program is to improve our understanding of the dynamics and energetics of the solar corona both in the quiescent dynamic equilibrium state when coronal structure is dominated by the equatorial streamer belt and in the eruptive state when coronal plasma is ejected into the interplanetary medium. Numerical solutions of the time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations and comparisons of the computed results with observations form the core of the approach to achieving this objective. Some of the specific topics that have been studied are: (1) quiescent coronal streamers in an atmosphere dominated by a dipole magnetic field at large radii, (2) the formation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in quiescent streamers due to the emergence of new magnetic flux and due to photospheric shear motion, (3) MHD shock formation near the leading edge of CMEs, (4) coronal magnetic arcade eruption as a result of applied photospheric shear motion, and (5) the three-dimensional structure of CMEs.

Steinolfson, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Geology of the Uranian satellites

A geological analysis of six of the Uranus satellites observed in detail by Voyager 2 is presented. All of the satellites except the smallest, Puck, show evidence of cryovolcanic resurfacing: global on the largest four satellites, local in the spectacular coronae on Miranda. The cryovolcanic materials exhibit a range of albedos and morphologies, which are interpreted to reflect a variety of compositions and conditions of eruption at least as complex as those which occur on earth. Eruptions are predominantly large fissure flows that produce extensive flood deposits. Possible evidence of small circular vents and cryoclastic volcanic activity is seen on Miranda and Ariel. All of the satellites except Puck also have extensive sets of grabens and riftlike canyons that show remarkable similarity of pattern: intersection sets trending roughly NW-SW and NE-SW in the low latitudes grading into E-W trends near the poles. As a group, the Uranian satellites are somewhat more active geologically than similarly sized Saturnian satellites.

Croft, S. K.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Recent trends in stratospheric total ozone - Implications of dynamical and El Chichon perturbations

The recently reprocessed Nimbus-7 TOMS total ozone data from 1979 to 1989 are analyzed to assess the global impact of the El Chichon volcanic eruption on stratospheric total ozone. An apparent decrease in total ozone of 5 to 6 percent is present during the winter of 1982-1983 following the eruption of El Chichon. A regression analysis of total ozone with the equatorial zonal wind at 30 mb indicates that response to the quasi-biennial oscillation can explain much of the observed ozone anomaly, and that the total ozone decrease which can be attributed to El Chichon is at most 2 to 4 percent. This study also suggests that the interannual variability caused by the quasi-biennial oscillation and planetary wave activity may introduce apparent seasonal trends in total ozone and temperature in the lower stratosphere, particularly if the length of the data record is not very long. Such trends may affect the assessment of total ozone changes caused by chemical perturbations.

Chandra, S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Enhancement of atmospheric radiation by an aerosol layer

The presence of a stratospheric haze layer may produce increases in both the actinic flux and the irradiance below this layer. Such haze layers result from the injection of aerosol-forming material into the stratosphere by volcanic eruptions. Simple heuristic arguments show that the increase in flux below the haze layer, relative to a clear sky case, is a consequence of 'photon trapping'. The magnitude of these flux perturbations, as a function of aerosol properties and illumination conditions, is explored with a new radiative transfer model that can accurately compute fluxes in an inhomogeneous atmosphere with nonconservative scatterers having arbitrary phase function. One calculated consequence of the El Chichon volcanic eruption is an increase in the midday surface actinic flux at 20 deg N latitude, summer, by as much as 45 percent at 2900 A. This increase in flux in the UV-B wavelength range was caused entirely by aerosol scattering, without any reduction in the overhead ozone column.

Michelangeli, Diane V.↗
NASA NTRS1992

SAGE II measurements of early Pinatubo aerosols

SAGE II satellite measurements of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption cloud in the stratosphere during June, July, and early August 1991 show that aerosols in the tropics reached as high as 29 km altitude with most of the cloud between 20 and 25 km. The most optically thick portions of the cloud covered latitudes from 10 deg S to 30 deg N during the early part of this period. By late July, high stratospheric optical depths were observed to at least 70 deg N, with the high values north of about 30 deg N from layers below 20 km. High pressure systems in both hemispheres were observed to be correlated with the movement of volcanic material at 21 km into the westerly jet stream at high southern latitudes and similarly to high northern latitudes at 16 km. By August, the entire Southern Hemisphere had experienced a 10-fold increase in optical depth relative to early July due to layers above 20 km. Initial mass calculations using SAGE II data place the aerosol produced from this eruption at 20 to 30 megatons, well above the 12 megatons produced by El Chichon.

Mccormick, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Airborne lidar observations of the Pinatubo volcanic plume

A dual-polarization lidar aboard the NASA Electra aircraft was used in July 1991 to survey the stratospheric plume from the recent Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Many distinct layers were observed, ranging from 17 to 26 km in altitude. Peak scattering ratios of as high as 80 at 532 nm were recorded. Total particle mass of the plume 27 days after the eruption is estimated from these measurements to be on the order of 8 megatonnes, with perhaps half the original SO2 converted to aerosol at that point.

Winker, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Thermal disequilibrium at the top of volcanic clouds and its effect on estimates of the column height

Satellite images of large volcanic explosions reveal that the tops of volcanic eruptions columns are much cooler than the surrounding atmosphere. It is proposed that this effect occurs whenever a mixture of hot volcanic ash and entrained air ascends sufficiently high into a stably stratified atmosphere. Although the mixture is initially very hot, it expands and cools as the ambient pressure decreases. It is shown that cloud-top undercoolings in excess of 20 C may develop in clouds that penetrate the stratosphere, and it is predicted that, for a given cloud-top temperature, variations in the initial temperature of 100-200 C may correspond to variations in the column height of 5-10 km. It is deduced that the present practice of converting satellite-based measurements of the temperature at the top of volcanic eruptions columns to estimates of the column height will produce rather inaccurate results and should therefore be discontinued.

Woods, Andrew W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Apollo 15 green glass - Relationships between texture and composition

A suite of 365 Apollo 15 green-glass particles was analyzed by INAA and then described petrographically so that comparisons between composition and physical characteristics could be made. Nonuniform compositional distributions of crystalline and elongate particles were evident, although differences in the distribution of volatile-element coatings and extent of particle breakage were not as striking. A binomial evaluation of these textures on an intergroup basis supports the previously proposed hypothesis that the green-glass groups formed during discrete eruptive events because the groups that were defined compositionally also show significant differences in the average texture and structure of particles. Furthermore, in at least one case (Group D), intragroup differences in the distribution of vitrophyric and vitric particles were apparent. An extension of previous models for pyroclastic volcanism suggests that this feature may indicate that a systematic change in the composition of ejecta occurred as eruption progressed.

Steele, Alison M.↗