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NASA NTRS1984

Sharp edges in solar microwave spectra - Neutral current sheets or cyclotron lines?

Two solar active regions have been mapped using the VLA at three closely spaced frequencies (4496, 4716, and 4996 MHz) in an attempt to determine the origin of the steep spectra (index gamma equal to about -5 to -8) sometimes observed with large single telescopes. One of the regions observed indeed shows an anomalously large slope (gamma equal to about -6) compared to the usual (gamma equal to about -2 to -2.5). The other region shows a similar slope (gamma equal to about -5) but with a larger range of statistical error. Two possible explanations for such steep edges in solar spectra are (1) transmission effects of neutral current sheets, and (2) the appearance of cyclotron lines. The internal evidence of the microwave maps and simultaneous optical observations favor an explanation in terms of cyclotron lines.

Schmahl, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A case study of the energy dissipation of the gravity wave field based on satellite altimeter measurements

Wave breaking is proposed as the primary energy dissipation mechanism for the gravity wave field. The energy dissipation rate is calculated based on the statistical model proposed by Longuet-Higgins (1969) with a modification of the breaking criterion incorporating the surface stress according to Phillips and Banner (1974). From this modified model, an analytic expression is found for the wave attenuation rate and the half-life time of the wave field which depend only on the significant slope of the wave field and the ratio of friction velocity to initial wave phase velocity. These expressions explain why the freshly generated wave field does not last long, but why swells are capable of propagating long distances without substantial change in energy density. It is shown that breaking is many orders of magnitude more effective in dissipating wave energy than the molecular viscosity, if the significant slope is higher than 0.01. Limited observational data from satellite and laboratory are used to compare with the analytic results, and show good agreement.

Huang, N. E.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Digital image processing of Seabeam bathymetric data for structural studies of seamounts near the East Pacific Rise

The problem of displaying information on the seafloor morphology is attacked by utilizing digital image processing techniques to generate images for Seabeam data covering three young seamounts on the eastern flank of the East Pacific Rise. Errors in locations between crossing tracks are corrected by interactively identifying features and translating tracks relative to a control track. Spatial interpolation techniques using moving averages are used to interpolate between gridded depth values to produce images in shaded relief and color-coded forms. The digitally processed images clarify the structural control on seamount growth and clearly show the lateral extent of volcanic materials, including the distribution and fault control of subsidiary volcanic constructional features. The image presentations also clearly show artifacts related to both residual navigational errors and to depth or location differences that depend on ship heading relative to slope orientation in regions with steep slopes.

Edwards, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The energy spectra of solar energetic particles

A survey of recent results on the shapes and relative slopes of the spectra of various solar energetic particle populations is presented, with emphasis on the more extensive results currently available for protons, alphas and electrons. From previous work, it is found that proton spectra 0.8 to more than 400 MeV and alpha spectra 1.4 to 80 MeV/nucleon are best characterized, on average, by a functional form involving a Bessel function in momentum/nucleon. However, proton and alpha spectral slopes using this form are not equal, and there is significant variation from event to event. From other studies, electrons 0.02 to 20 MeV are also found to have curved spectra, but seem to be better fit with a double power law in energy. The spectral properties in both cases correlate with other measures of solar particle acceleration; e.g. gamma-ray line production, hard X-ray burst spectra and microwave fluxes.

Mcguire, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

An investigation of the equatorial orographic-dynamic mechanism

A barotropic model over an equatorial beta-plane is used to investigate the response when a uniform zonal current crosses an isolated hypothetical mountain centered at the equator. The bounded derivative initialization method is applied to suppress gravity-inertia motions. A quasi-stationary trough is generated at the top of the orography. Its intensity is greater in the easterly case than in the westerly case of the initial zonal current. A diagnostic equation is derived to interpret this difference in the solution. The quasi-stationary orographic divergence field which is positive on the windward slope and negative on the leeward slope (for both easterly and westerly cases of the initial zonal current) is responsible for maintaining the trough. The difference in the intensity of the trough is due to the contribution of the beta-u effect, which changes sign with the direction of the initial zonal flow.

Semazzi, F. H. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Fundamental aerodynamic characteristics of delta wings with leading-edge vortex flows

An investigation of the aerodynamics of sharp leading-edge delta wings at supersonic speeds has been conducted. The supporting experimental data for this investigation were taken from published force, pressure, and flow-visualization data in which the Mach number normal to the wing leading edge is always less than 1.0. The individual upper- and lower-surface nonlinear characteristics for uncambered delta wings are determined and presented in three charts. The upper-surface data show that both the normal-force coefficient and minimum pressure coefficient increase nonlinearly with a decreasing slope with increasing angle of attack. The lower-surface normal-force coefficient was shown to be independent of Mach number and to increase nonlinearly, with an increasing slope, with increasing angle of attack. These charts are then used to define a wing-design space for sharp leading-edge delta wings.

Wood, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Venus global radar reflectivity and correlations with elevation

A geological analysis of the global radar reflectivity data for Venus is presented. The statistical and map pattern distribution of the radar reflectivity rho is first analyzed in the context of the porosity structure of the surface. Rho is then correlated with elevation in order to examine the degree of topographic control on material properties which could depend on PT-sensitive chemical weathering phenomena. Comparison of the rms slope alpha and rho correlations with elevation demonstrates that there are distinct topographic zones defined on the basis of the rho and alpha trends. Finally, hierarchical clustering analysis is applied to the global rho, alpha, and 100-km baseline regional slope data sets in order to define radar property-related subregions.

Garvin, J. B.↗

NASA NTRS1985

AIS Investigation of Agricultural Monocultures

Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data were acquired over an agricultural area in eastern San Joaquin County, California in July, 1984. Cover type information was subsequently collected for all fields along this flight line. The lack of detailed ground data on individual fields, however, limited AIS data analysis to a qualitative comparison of the spectral reflectance curves for a total of nine cover types. Based on this analysis, it appears that cover types with a positive slope in the 1550 to 1700 nm region have a higher spectral response in the 1200 to 1300 nm region compared to those cover types with a negative slope in the 1550 to 1700 nm region. Within cover type, spectral variability was also found to be greater than that between cover types. Given the lack of additional field data, the reason for these differences is a matter of speculation.

Wood, B. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Gravity Waves

Atmospheric parameters fluctuate on all scales. In the mesoscale these fluctuations are occasionally sinusoidal so that they can be interpreted as gravity waves. Usually, however, the fluctuations are noise like, so that their cause is not immediately evident. Results of mesoscale observations in the 20 to 120 m altitude range that are suitable for incorporation into a model atmosphere are very limited. In the stratosphere and lower mesosphere observations are sparse and very little data has been summarized into appropriate form. There is much more data in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere, but again very little of it has been summarized. The available mesoscale spectra of horizontal wind u versus vertical wave number m in the 20 to 120 km altitude range are shown together with a spectrum from the lower atmosphere for comparison. Further information about these spectra is given. In spite of the large range of altitudes and latitudes, the spectra from the lower atmosphere (NASA, 1971 and DEWAN, 1984) are remarkably similar in both shape and amplitude. The mean slopes of -2.38 for the NASA spectrum and -2.7 for the Dewan spectra are supported by the mean slope of -2.75 found by ROSENBERG et al. (1974). The mesospheric spectrum is too short to establish a shape. Its amplitude is about an order of magnitude larger than the NASA spectrum in the same wave number range. The NASA and Dewan spectra suggest that the mesoscale spectra in the lower atmosphere are insensitive to meteorological conditions.

Vanzandt, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The preparation of new perfluoroether fluids exhibiting excellent thermal-oxidative stabilities

A series of low molecular weight perfluoroalkylethers (PFAE) were synthesized by direct fluorination. Viscosity-temperature properties and oxidation stabilities were determined. Viscosity-temperature correlations indicated that increases in branching and increases in the size of the branching substituent caused a deterioration in viscometric properties (i.e., an increase in ASTM slope). In addition, increasing the ratio of carbon to oxygen in these compounds also increased the ASTM slope. Preliminary oxidation stability tests indicated that highly branched PFAE fluids. (i.e., those containing quaternary carbons) may be less stable than either those containing a single trifluoromethyl pendant group or those containing no branching at all.

Jones, W. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A simple tectonic model for crustal accretion in the Slave Province: A 2.7-2.5 Ga granite greenstone terrane

A prograding (direction unspecified) trench-arc system is favored as a simple yet comprehensive model for crustal generation in a 250,000 sq km granite-greenstone terrain. The model accounts for the evolutionary sequence of volcanism, sedimentation, deformation, metamorphism and plutonism, observed througout the Slave province. Both unconformable (trench inner slope) and subconformable (trench outer slope) relations between the volcanics and overlying turbidities; and the existence of relatively minor amounts of pre-greenstone basement (microcontinents) and syn-greenstone plutons (accreted arc roots) are explained. Predictions include: a varaiable gap between greenstone volcanism and trench turbidite sedimentation (accompanied by minor volcanism) and systematic regional variations in age span of volcanism and plutonism. Implications of the model will be illustrated with reference to a 1:1 million scale geological map of the Slave Province (and its bounding 1.0 Ga orogens).

Hoffman, P. F.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Cosmic dust detection with large surface piezoceramics

Piezoelectric transducers mounted on targets made out of metal plates or plastic foils have been used in many former space missions to detect impacting dust particles and to determine some of their parameters (e.g., momentum). The proposed detector is based on a large disc made out of piezoceramic material. Dust particles impacting on the detector will cause electrical charge pulses due to the piezoelectric nature of the target material. These charge pulses are measured on the electrodes of the disc and transformed with a charge sensitive amplifier (CSA) to voltage pulses. Counting the number of pulses leads to the dust-flux impacting on the detector. Additionally the amplitude and the rise time of the pulse slopes are determinated to evaluate the momentum and the size of the dust particles. Due to the high charge production rate per force unit of piezoceramics and momentum transfer without loss the sensivity of this acoustic sensor is very high. A method to derive size and momentum from the rising slope of an acoustic signal is described.

Weishaupt, U.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Effects of model error on control of large flexible space antenna with comparisons of decoupled and linear quadratic regulator control procedures

An analysis was performed to determine the effects of model error on the control of a large flexible space antenna. Control was achieved by employing two three-axis control-moment gyros (CMG's) located on the antenna column. State variables were estimated by including an observer in the control loop that used attitude and attitude-rate sensors on the column. Errors were assumed to exist in the individual model parameters: modal frequency, modal damping, mode slope (control-influence coefficients), and moment of inertia. Their effects on control-system performance were analyzed either for (1) nulling initial disturbances in the rigid-body modes, or (2) nulling initial disturbances in the first three flexible modes. The study includes the effects on stability, time to null, and control requirements (defined as maximum torque and total momentum), as well as on the accuracy of obtaining initial estimates of the disturbances. The effects on the transients of the undisturbed modes are also included. The results, which are compared for decoupled and linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control procedures, are shown in tabular form, parametric plots, and as sample time histories of modal-amplitude and control responses. Results of the analysis showed that the effects of model errors on the control-system performance were generally comparable for both control procedures. The effect of mode-slope error was the most serious of all model errors.

Hamer, H. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Magnetoacoustic stress measurements in steel

Uniaxial stress effects on the low-field magnetoacoustic interaction have been studied using bulk compressional waves and Rayleigh surface waves in numerous steel samples having various impurity concentrations (Namkung et al., 1984). The results invariably showed that the initial slope of acoustic natural velocity variations, with respect to net induced magnetization parallel to the stress axis, is positive under tension and negative under compression. The results of current measurements in railroad rail steel having about 0.68 wt percent carbon content are typical for medium range carbon steels. The low-field natural velocity slope in this particular type of steel, which is almost zero when unstressed, becomes steeper with increased magnitude of stress in both directions. Hence, the nondestructive determination of the sign of residual stress in railroad wheels and rails is possible using this technique. This paper discusses the basic physical mechanism underlying the experimental observations and presents the results obtained in railroad rail steel.

Namkung, M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Space Shuttle night landing

The tracking and guidance requirements of the Indian National Satellite during its transition from the low-earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit dictated a night launch and subsequent night landing. The development of an Orbiter-independent external lighting system (ELS) that would work in conjunction with the Orbiter navigation, guidance, and control systems used for day approach and landing is described. The ELS includes the night landing visual aids; the heading alignment circle precision approach path indicator lights, as an aid for the outer glide slope; the runway floodlight, to accommodate for the transition area between preflare and intercepting inner glide slope (IGS) system; the ball/bar reference IGS system; and heads-up displays. The aspects of the lakebed dust problems are discussed. Diagrams illustrating the approach trajectory, final night-lighting configurations, and the approach and land symbology are included.

Brandenstein, D. C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Characteristics of Arctic winter sea ice from satellite multispectral microwave observations

A coplanarity test using three scanning multichannel microwave radiometer channels shows the potential as well as the limitation of the sensor in discriminating different ice types. However, the capability for accurate determination of sea ice concentration, especially in the central Arctic, is evident from scatter plots of the emissivities using the two polarizations at 37 GHz. The consolidated ice data in the central Arctic form a very compact and linear set of points in these plots, and they slope the same way throughout the winter of 1979 and in other years (1980-1984). An ice concentration algorithm based on the utilization of this slope (about 1.03) is developed that yields retrieved values with an accuracy of about 5 percent in the central Arctic and 10 percent in the seasonal sea ice region. The total areal ice extent and actual ice cover were also derived from ice concentration retrieved by using the algorithm, and the results from several years of midwinter data show a relatively stable ice cover in the northern hemisphere.

Comiso, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The nature of symmetric instability and its similarity to convective and inertial instability

It is presently noted that, even for the case of fully nonlinear viscous motion, there exists a local similarity among symmetric, buoyancy or convective, and inertial instabilities. The most unstable slope angles for symmetric instability are analyzed through consideration of parcel energetics; the results obtained suggest that qualitatively conditional symmetric instability circulations will be slantwise, and will lie between the moist and most unstable and the dry and least stable slopes of the basic state.

Xu, Q.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Crystal/liquid partitioning of REE in basaltic systems Extreme fractionation of REE in olivine

The calculation of partial coefficients for Nd, Sm, Gd, and Yb between olivine and synthetic basaltic melts using the percent level doping technique and microprobe analytical techniques is examined. The experimental and analytical procedures are described. The relationship between rare earth elements (REEs) concentrations and crystal margins caused by Rees X-rays from surrounding glass is discussed. Average olivine/liquid distribution coefficients for Nd, Sm, Gd, and Yb for mare and highlands basaltic melts are presented. The data reveal that the distribution coefficients for light REEs are lower than those obtained in previous studies, and the slope of the olivine/liquid distribution coefficient pattern is steeper; potential sources of error in the previous and present studies which could explain the differences in distribution coefficients and slope are investigated.

Mckay, G. A.↗