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At least 1,189 records · Page 66

Photochemical ozone overburden correction

One-half of the total ozone column is predominantly under photochemical control under all conditions except polar winter. The other half is dynamically controlled. Since the photochemical forcing is phased with the solar declination and modulated by air temperature variation in the upper stratosphere and the dynamic forcing is tied to wave activity in the upper troposphere, the total ozone column is a mixture of the two drivers. If the total ozone is used to infer a property of the dynamic field, namely the tropopause height, it is necessary to correct for the photochemical variations. It should be possible to remove the photochemical component of the total ozone by using SBUV profile information along the orbital track as long as the spatial variations are low frequency. The column integral above the Umkehr levels in the lower stratosphere are examined to determine the level where the spatial variability decreases to the expected photochemical range to find an approximate dividing line between photochemical and dynamic control. Given this a spherical harmonic function will be fitted to the ozone field and subtracted from the TOMS total ozone field. This residual field will then be correlated with tropopause height to determine whether an improvement is obtained over the total ozone correlation.

Stefanick, Michael↗

A model El Nino-Southern Oscillation

A coupled atmosphere-ocean model is developed and used to study the ENSO (El Nino/Southern Oscillation) phenomenon. With no anomalous external forcing, the coupled model reproduces certain key features of the observed phenomenon, including the recurrence of warm events at irregular intervals with a preference for three to four years. It is shown that the mean sea surface temperature, wind and ocean current fields determine the characteristic spatial structure of ENSO anomalies. The tendency for phase-locking of anomalies is explained in terms of a variation in coupling strength associated with the annual cycle in the mean fields. Sensitivity studies reveal that both the amplitude and the time scale of the oscillation are sensitive to several parameters that affect the strength of the atmosphere-ocean coupling. Stronger coupling implies larger oscillations with a longer timescale. A critical element of the model oscillation is the variability in the equatorial heat content of the upper ocean. Equatorial heat content increases prior to warm events and decreases sharply during the events. A theory for this variability and the associated transitions between non-El Nino and El Nino states is presented. Implications of the model results for the prediction of El Nino events are discussed.

Zebiak, Stephen E.↗

The surface of near-Earth asteroids

The surfaces of near-Earth asteroids are expected to differ significantly from those of large objects like the moon because of their different origin and evolution. A selection of such objects for an extensive procurement of material will also be made on criteria like the surface roughness and the rotation rate with respect to the surface gravity. From the currently known distribution of near-Earth asteroid rotation rates it is shown that a significant fraction of them is rotating near their escape velocities. The determination of macroscopic surface roughness from rotation light curves under an assumption of a fractal surface geometry is discussed. Much information is expected from the variation of harmonic expansions of the light curves with the phase angle.

Hoffmann, Martin↗

Phase transitions triggered by quantum fluctuations in the inflationary universe

The dynamics of a second-order phase transition during inflation, which is induced by time-variation of spacetime curvature, is studied as a natural mechanism to produce topological defects of typical grand unification scales such as cosmic strings or global textures. It is shown that their distribution is almost scale-invariant with small- and large-scale cutoffs. Also discussed is how these cutoffs are given.

Nagasawa, Michiyasu↗

Conceptual analysis of a lunar base transportation system

Important to the planning for a lunar base is the development of transportation requirements for the establishment and maintenance of that base. This was accomplished as part of a lunar base systems assessment study conducted by the NASA Langley Research Center in conjunction with the NASA Johnson Space Center. Lunar base parameters are presented using a baseline lunar facility concept and timeline of developmental phases. Masses for habitation and scientific modules, power systems, life support systems, and thermal control systems were generated, assuming space station technology as a starting point. The masses were manifested by grouping various systems into cargo missions and interspersing manned flights consistent with construction and base maintenance timelines. A computer program that sizes the orbital transfer vehicles (OTV's), lunar landers, lunar ascenders, and the manned capsules was developed. This program consists of an interative technique to solve the rocket equation successively for each velocity correction (delta V) in a mission. The delta V values reflect integrated trajectory values and include gravity losses. As the program computed fuel masses, it matched structural masses from General Dynamics' modular space-based OTV design. Variables in the study included the operation mode (i.e., expendable vs. reusable and single-stage vs. two-stage OTV's), cryogenic specific impulse, reflecting different levels of engine technology, and aerobraking vs. all-propulsive return to Earth orbit. The use of lunar-derived oxygen was also examined for its general impact. For each combination of factors, the low-Earth orbit (LEO) stack masses and Earth-to-orbit (ETO) lift requirements are summarized by individual mission and totaled for the developmental phase. In addition to these discrete data, trends in the variation of study parameters are presented.

Hoy, Trevor D.↗

The three-dimensional evolution of a plane mixing layer - The Kelvin-Helmholtz rollup

The hydrodynamic evolution of an incompressible plane mixing layer is addressed to elucidate scalar mixing in free shear flows. A detailed description of the onset of three-dimensionality in a mixing layer before or in the absence of pairing is presented. Various simulations were performed to investigate the sensitivity of these results to variations in initial conditions. These variations included changes in amplitude, wavelength, functional form, and relative phasing of the initial low-wavenumber disturbances. Pierrehumber and Widnall's (1982) translative instability eigenfunctions are found to include rib vortices in the braid region and oppositely signed streamwise vorticity in the roller core. The translative instability is an instability of the late-time oversaturated flow. Three-dimensional perturbation growth similar to that of the translative instability can occur whenever spanwise vorticity is present in the braid region. The nonlinear effects that occur when the initial rib circulation is sufficiently high are discussed.

Rogers, Michael M.↗

Magellan observations of extended impact crater related features on the surface of Venus

The hydrodynamic evolution of an incompressible plane mixing layer is addressed to elucidate scalar mixing in free shear flows. A detailed description of the onset of three-dimensionality in a mixing layer before or in the absence of pairing is presented. Various simulations were performed to investigate the sensitivity of these results to variations in initial conditions. These variations included changes in amplitude, wavelength, functional form, and relative phasing of the initial low-wavenumber disturbances. Pierrehumber & Widnall's (1982) translative instability eigenfunctions are found to include rib vortices in the braid region and oppositely signed streamwise vorticity in the roller core. The translative instability is an instability of the late-time oversaturated flow. Three-dimensional perturbation growth similar to that of the translative instability can occur whenever spanwise vorticity is present in the braid region. The nonlinear effects that occur when the initial rib circulation is sufficiently high are discussed.

Campbell, D. B.↗

The global structure of the annual and semiannual sea surface height variability from Geosat altimeter data

Two years of data from the Geosat Exact Repeat Mission are employed to study the annual and semiannual variability of sea-surface height on a global basis. The data are treated with atmospheric corrections and interpolations, and the orbit error of about 40 cm RMS is purged. The spatial variability of the Geosat data is constructed for particular frequencies, and the estimate of the M2 tidal error indicates that the error is aliased to 1.15 cycles/yr and has an unusual spatial pattern. Sine and cosine coefficients are derived for the annual and semiannual frequencies by means of a least squares fit yielding the amplitude and phase of the changes in sea-surface height. A 180-deg phase difference is noted between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres for the annual variability, and large-scale westward propagating waves are identified. The Geosat data also indicate the phase relationships between major current systems and the systems of variations at work in the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

Jacobs, Gregg A.↗

Solar system formation and the distribution of volatile species

To understand how the solar system formed we must understand the compositional distribution of the current system. Volatile species are particularly important in that their stability as condensed phases is limited in temperature-pressure space, and hence variations in their distribution at present potentially contain an imprint of processes by which temperature and pressure varied in the solar nebula. In this talk we restrict ourselves to species more volatile than water ice, and address issues related to processes in the outer solar system and the formation of bodies there; others in this conference will cover volatile species relevant to inner solar system processes. Study of the outer solar system is relevant both to understanding the interface between the solar nebula and the progenitor giant molecular cloud (since the chemical links to present-day observables in molecular clouds are species like methane, carbon monoxide, etc.), as well as the origin of terrestrial planet atmospheres and oceans (the latter to be covered by Owen). The wealth of compositional information on outer solar system bodies which has become available from spacecraft and ground-based observations challenges traditional simplistic views of the composition and hence dynamics of the solar nebula. The basic assumption of thermochemical equilibrium, promulgated in the 1950's, in which methane and ammonia dominate nitrogen- and carbon-bearing species, is demonstrably incorrect on both observational and theoretical grounds. However, the kinetic inhibition model which replaced it, in which carbon monoxide and molecular nitrogen dominate a nebula which is fully mixed and hence cycles outer solar system gases through a hot, chemically active zone near the disk center, is not supported either by observations. Instead, a picture of the outer solar system emerges in which the gas and grains are a mixture of relatively unaltered, or modestly altered, molecular cloud material, along with a fraction which has been chemically altered in the solar nebula itself (and perhaps giant planet nebulae).

Lunine, Jonathan I.↗

Quiescent accretion disks in black hole X-ray novae

We present detailed time-resolved spectroscopy of the Balmer emission lines from two black hole binary systems in quiescence, A0620-00 and Nova Muscae 1991. We find extraordinary similarities between the two systems. There are 30-40 km/s velocity variations of the emission lines over the orbital period, the phases of which are not aligned with the expected phase of the motion of the compact primary. Detailed modeling of both systems is complicated by variable hot spot components, regions of optical thickness, and intermittent excess emission in the blue line wings of the H-alpha lines. Both sources also display low velocities at the outer edge of the accretion disk, implying a large primary Roche lobe and extreme mass ratios. These complications suggest that although simple optically thin, Keplerian alpha-disk models provide a useful parameterization of emission lines from these systems, the straightforward physical models they imply should be treated with great caution.

Orosz, Jerome A.↗

Physical Structure of Four Symbiotic Binaries

Disk accretion powers many astronomical objects, including pre-main sequence stars, interacting binary systems, and active galactic nuclei. Unfortunately, models developed to explain the behavior of disks and their surroundings - boundary layers, jets, and winds - lack much predictive power, because the physical mechanism driving disk evolution - the viscosity - is not understood. Observations of many types of accreting systems are needed to constrain the basic physics of disks and provide input for improved models. Symbiotic stars are an attractive laboratory for studying physical phenomena associated with disk accretion. These long period binaries (P(sub orb) approx. 2-3 yr) contain an evolved red giant star, a hot companion, and an ionized nebula. The secondary star usually is a white dwarf accreting material from the wind of its red giant companion. A good example of this type of symbiotic is BF Cygni: our analysis shows that disk accretion powers the nuclear burning shell of the hot white dwarf and also manages to eject material perpendicular to the orbital plane (Mikolajewska, Kenyon, and Mikolajewski 1989). The hot components in other symbiotic binaries appear powered by tidal overflow from a very evolved red giant companion. We recently completed a study of CI Cygni and demonstrated that the accreting secondary is a solar-type main sequence star, rather than a white dwarf (Kenyon et aL 1991). This project continued our study of symbiotic binary systems. Our general plan was to combine archival ultraviolet and optical spectrophotometry with high quality optical radial velocity observations to determine the variation of line and continuum sources as functions of orbital phase. We were very successful in generating orbital solutions and phasing UV+optical spectra for five systems: AG Dra, V443 Her, RW Hya, AG Peg, and AX Per. Summaries of our main results for these systems appear below. A second goal of our project was to consider general models for the outbursts of symbiotic stars, with an emphasis on understanding the differences between disk-driven and nuclear-powered eruptions.

Kenyon, Scott J.↗

Studying Biological Rhythms of Person's Skin-galvanic Reaction and Dynamics of Light Transmission by Isomeric Substance in Space Flight Conditions

Intensity and amplitude of human functional systems and human most important organs are wavelike, rhythmic by nature. These waves have constant periodicity, phase and amplitude. The mentioned characteristics can vary, however their variations have a pronounced reiteration in the course of time. This indicates a hashing of several wave processes and their interference. Stochastic changes in wave processes characteristics of a human organism are explained either by 'pulsations' associated with hashing (superposition) of several wave processes and their interference, or by single influence of environmental physical factors on a human organism. Human beings have respectively periods of higher and lower efficiency, state of health and so on, depending not only of environmental factors, but also of 'internal' rhythmic factor. Sometimes peaks and falls periodicity of some or other characteristics is broken. Disturbance of steady-state biological rhythms is usually accompanied by reduction of activity steadiness of the most important systems of a human organism. In its turn this has an effect on organism's adaptation to changing living conditions as well as on general condition and efficiency of a human being. The latter factor is very important for space medicine. Biological rhythmology is a special branch of biology and medicine, it studies rhythmic activity mechanisms of organs, their systems, individuals and species. Appropriate researches were also carried out in space medicine.

Glushko, Vladimir↗

High-Temperature Superconducting/Ferroelectric, Tunable Thin-Film Microwave Components

At the NASA Lewis Research Center, ferroelectric films such as SrTiO3 and Ba(sub x)Sr(sub 1-x)TiO3, are being used in conjunction with YBa(sub 2)Cu(sub 3)O(sub 7-delta) high-temperature superconducting thin films to fabricate tunable microwave components such as filters, phase shifters, and local oscillators. These structures capitalize on the variation of the dielectric constant of the ferroelectric film upon the application of a direct-current electric field, as well as on the low microwave losses of high-temperature superconductors relative to their conventional conductor counterparts. For example, the surface resistance for a YBa(sub 2)Cu(sub 3)O(sub 7-delta) thin film at 10 GHz and 77 K is more than two orders of magnitude lower than that of copper or gold at the same temperature and frequency. SrTiO3 and Ba(sub x)Sr(sub 1-x)TiO3 films are used because their crystal structure and lattice parameters are similar to those of YBa(sub 2)Cu(sub 3)O(sub 7-delta), thus enabling the growth of highly textured YBa(sub 2)Cu(sub 3)O(sub 7-delta) films with high critical current densities (i.e., greater than 1 MA/sq cm) on the underlying ferroelectric film, or alternatively, of highly textured ferroelectric film on the underlying YBa(sub 2)Cu(sub 3)O(sub 7-delta) film.

Miranda, Felix A.↗

Analysis of various two synodic period Earth-Mars cycler trajectories

Trajectories that regularly encounter Earth and Mars but use small or no propulsive maneuvers are known as cycler trajectories, or cyclers. For cyclers that repeat after two Earth-Mars synodic periods, several variations are possible. A detailed investigation is presented of a simple two synodic period cycler, along with several promising variations using combinations of one year and half-year phasing orbits. Analysis is included for both the circular co-planar model and with actual Earth and Mars ephemerides.

trajectory cycler repeat orbits↗

Constraining the Absolute Orientation of eta Carinae's Binary Orbit: A 3-D Dynamical Model for the Broad [Fe III] Emission

We present a three-dimensional (3-D) dynamical model for the broad [Fe III] emission observed in Eta Carinae using the Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (HST/STIS). This model is based on full 3-D Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of Eta Car's binary colliding winds. Radiative transfer codes are used to generate synthetic spectro-images of [Fe III] emission line structures at various observed orbital phases and STIS slit position angles (PAs). Through a parameter study that varies the orbital inclination i, the PA(theta) that the orbital plane projection of the line-of-sight makes with the apastron side of the semi-major axis, and the PA on the sky of the orbital axis, we are able, for the first time, to tightly constrain the absolute 3-D orientation of the binary orbit. To simultaneously reproduce the blue-shifted emission arcs observed at orbital phase 0.976, STIS slit PA = +38deg, and the temporal variations in emission seen at negative slit PAs, the binary needs to have an i approx. = 130deg to 145deg, Theta approx. = -15deg to +30deg, and an orbital axis projected on the sky at a P A approx. = 302deg to 327deg east of north. This represents a system with an orbital axis that is closely aligned with the inferred polar axis of the Homunculus nebula, in 3-D. The companion star, Eta(sub B), thus orbits clockwise on the sky and is on the observer's side of the system at apastron. This orientation has important implications for theories for the formation of the Homunculus and helps lay the groundwork for orbital modeling to determine the stellar masses.

Madura, T. I.↗

First-results from the Perseverance SHERLOC Investigation: Aqueous Alteration Processes and Implications for Organic Geochemistry in Jezero Crater, Mars

The Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater, a site selected to fulfill the Mars-2020 mission goals of characterizing the geology of habitable environments and searching for signs of life while collecting samples for return to Earth [1]. Jezero hosted an open-basin lake during the late Noachian/early Hesperian (~3.7 Ga) [1-2], has units associated with the largest carbonate deposit identified on Mars [3-4], and has a well-preserved delta with clay and carbonate-bearing sediments, well-suited to preservation of organics [1,3-4]. Investigating the nature of organics and aqueous environments within their geologic con-text allows us to understand important aqueous processes and determine habitability within Jezero crater. Previous in situ landed measurements of organics could not resolve their spatial and mineralogical con-text [5-6]. Although Martian meteorites lack geological context, the spatial distribution of organic compounds in Martian meteorites have allowed recognition of an association between aqueous processes and organics [7-8]. Here, we show for the first time in-situ associations between carbonate-forming ultramafic alteration process, later stage aqueous sulfate and perchlorate formation, and organics on the Martian surface. Methodology and geological context: We use the Perseverance rover’s SHERLOC instrument (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Lumines-ence of Organics and Chemicals), a deep-ultraviolet fluorescence and Raman scattering spectrometer capable of mapping the organic and mineral composition with a spatial resolution of 100 μm resolution to report the presence of organics and aqueously formed minerals at Jezero crater [9]. These spectral detections were compared with co-located images obtained with the autofocus context imager (ACI) and the WATSON camera for textural analysis [9]. As of writing, the Per-severance rover has abraded five targets that were measured with the SHERLOC instrument. The five targets are located in two different orbitally-identified geological units within the floor of Jezero crater; the Crater Floor Fractured Rough unit (CF-Fr) and the Séítah region within the Crater Floor Fractured 1 unit (CF-F1) [10]. In orbital infrared spectroscopic data, the CF-Fr unit is associated with pyroxene spectral signatures and minor alteration, while the Séítah region is associated with olivine and minor Mg-rich carbonates and clays [3-4,10]. Carbonation of ultramafic protolith recorded within Jezero crater: All scans of abraded targets within the Séítah region reveal strong peaks at 1080–1090 cm−1 consistent with carbonate and peak singlets or doublets at 820–840 cm−1 attributed to olivine (Fig. 1), consistent with orbital infrared observations. Our detailed micron-scale petrographic and spectroscopic evidence shows that these carbonates formed through carbonation of an ultramafic protolith. The supporting observations include: (1) Carbonate cation compositions match those of olivine, suggesting mixed Fe- and Mg-olivine gave rise to mixed Fe- and Mg-carbonates, similar to observations of ultramafic systems on Earth and within Martian meteorites [3-4,7-8]. (2) The ob-served carbonates co-occur with hydrated materials, gypsum, and potentially aqueously-formed phases, amorphous silicates and phosphate. (3) The spectral and textural variation of olivine and carbonate dominated zones and olivine-carbonate mixtures within both primary grains and interstitial zones are expected for carbonated ultramafic protoliths. (4) These mineral associations and textures closely resemble those observed within the ALH84001 and Nakhlite meteorites attributed to olivine carbonation on Mars [6-7]. Taken together, micron-scale SHERLOC documentation of these phenomena bridge previous orbital and meteorite observations and demonstrate in-situ regionally extensive (~106 km2) ultramafic alteration resulting in geo-logical deposition of carbonates. Furthermore, we observe that olivine carbonation was involved in preserving and possibly synthesizing organics, which makes this environment potentially habitable, as previously suggested in [1,3-4] (Fig. 1). Late-stage aqueous perchlorate and sulfate in Jezero crater: An abrasion target within the CF-Fr unit contains combinations of high intensity 950-955 cm−1 peaks and minor 1090-1095 cm−1 and 1150-1155 cm−1 peaks that are spectral fits to anhydrous perchlorate (Fig. 1). Some spectra show a combination of 950-955 cm−1 peaks with equally strong 1010-1020 cm−1 peaks, low intensity broad features at 1120 cm−1, and occasional broad 3450 cm−1 hydration (-OH) features, indicating a mixture of Ca-sulfate and perchlorate that is minimally hydrated (Fig. 1). The detections of per-chlorates within Jezero crater differ from previous measurements (e.g. Phoenix lander, Curiosity rover, Tissint meteorite [7,11]) because they are observed to be intimately related to aqueous processes including sulfate formation, they present as a secondary white void-fill occurring within the interior of the rock, and they are found to likely be Na-perchlorate. implications for their formation: Three different types of organics embedded within three different lithologies were observed within the abraded targets. Organics associated with low intensity ~340 nm fluorescence were widespread within targets with no apparent association to particular minerals (Fig. 1). Organics associated with ~305 nm and ~275 nm fluorescence correlated with sulfates within the Bellegarde target in the CF-Fr unit, while organics associated with high intensity ~340 nm fluorescence correlated with carbonate, phosphate, and amorphous silicate mixtures within the Garde target in the Séítah region (Fig. 1). Although assignment of fluorescence signatures to specific organic compounds is not conclusive, ~340 nm fluorescence is generally more consistent with 2-ring aromatic organics, ~275 nm fluorescence is more consistent with 1-ring aromatic organics, and ~305 nm fluorescence can be created by either 2- or 1-ring aromatics [12]. These observations indicate that the strongest fluorescence signatures interpreted as organics were found in materials associated with aqueous processes, i.e. sulfate- and carbonate-bearing materials, suggesting both brines and ultramafic carbonation aqueous environments were capable of preserving organics on ancient Mars. In Martian meteorites, simple aromatic organics proposed to have been synthesized through aqueous processes can be found within minerals associated with olivine carbonation and in spatial association with perchlorate and sulfate materials [7-8], similar to SHERLOC observations. Hence, we advance an abiotic aqueous synthesis origin for the organics although we cannot rule out the presence of organics from meteoritic in-fall or putative organic biosignatures. Detailed analyses will be required upon return of these materials to Earth.

E L Scheller↗

Compostional Variation of Venusian Melts as A Function of Thermal Gradient and Protolith

Average surface pressure and temperature conditions of 92 bars and 460 °C and thermal gradients in the range of 5-25 °C/km and up to 50 °C/km for specific cases on Venus suggest that the lower crust and upper mantle are exposed to conditions suitable for partial melting. Further, constraints from terrestrial crystallization experiments are indicative of magmatic diversity on Venus due to variations in melting depths and volatile content. Here, we use phase equilibria modeling to determine the melt compositions resulting from partial melting of a mantle protolith and two mafic crustal compositions for sever-al Venusian thermal gradients. The modeled melt compositions are then compared to experimental eclogite and peridotite melt compositions and analyses from the Venusian surface to further constrain melting processes.

J Semprich↗

Qualification and Performance of a High-Efficiency Laser Transmitter for Deep-Space Optical Communications

A high-power Laser Transmitter Assembly (LTA) was developed to support the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology demonstration being developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NASA’s Psyche Mission plans to host the DSOC flight subsystem for testing space-to-ground high-bandwidth laser communications en route to the 16 Psyche asteroid. We review the design, performance, and qualification of the LTA Engineering Model and Flight Model (EM and FM) delivered to JPL. The LTA uses a master-oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) design and delivers up to 4.5 W at 1550 nm, with a highly efficient, cladding-pumped, polarization-maintaining erbium-ytterbium fiber amplifier. The master oscillator generates a range of pulse widths and repetition rates to support modulation formats from 16- to 128-PPM for optical data transmission at >100 Mbps. The LTA was designed for high reliability and radiation hardness, and includes redundant signal and pumping paths to reduce single points of failure, hardware interlocks to ensure safe operation and protection against damage, closed-loop control of optical power, and detailed health and status via telemetry. The LTA EM and FM were subjected to unit-appropriate space qualification testing. We describe the performance testing of the EM and FM, for the characterization of key metrics such as wavelength stability, signal linewidth, optical pulse width, jitter, and extinction ratio, and polarization extinction ratio. The management of optical nonlinearities (self-phase modulation, Brillouin scattering, or pulse-to-pulse energy variation), which could result in an optical link penalty or damage to the LTA, is also detailed, and factors affecting the power efficiency are discussed.

Jaques, J.↗