The polar exosphere near solar maximum.
Polar exosphere near solar maximum investigation by Explorer 19 and Explorer 24 drag satellites, considering density and atomic oxygen concentration measurements
Keating, G. M.↗
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Semiannual variations in the neutral composition
Model of global circulation induced by solar radiation and auroral heating, for determining semiannual effect in atomic oxygen concentration
Mayr, H. G.↗
Chemical composition of Apollo 14 soils 14163 and 14259
Apollo 14 lunar soils chemical element concentrations by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and isotope dilution
Nava, D. F.↗
Temporal variations of thermospheric hydrogen derived from in situ measurements
Thermospheric atomic hydrogen concentration temporal variations in situ measurement by Explorer 32 satellite
Brinton, H. C.↗
A thermosphere composition measurement using a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a side energy focussing quasi-open ion source
The atomic oxygen concentration in the altitude range 130 to 240 km was determined through the use of a quadrupole spectrometer with a strongly focussing ion source. The instrument is used in the Thermosphere Probe in a manner that greatly increases the proportion of measured oxygen ions that have not experienced a surface collision and permits quantitative evaluation of surface recombination and thermalization effects which inevitably enter all spectrometer determinations. The data obtained strengthen the concept that consideration of surface effects is significant in quantifying spectrometer measurements of reactive gases, and tend to be in agreement with von Zahn's recent results.
Niemann, H. B.↗
A model for the temperature and composition effects in the semiannual variations of the thermospheric density
A model is proposed in which latitudinal variations in composition and temperature are used to interpret the semiannual effect in the thermospheric density. Two heat sources are postulated for the semiannual circulation: one at high latitudes associated with the semiannual component in the occurance of magnetic storms and a second weaker one that peaks at the equator associated with the semiannual migration between both hemispheres. Depending on the relative magnitude of these sources, the latitude regions in which composition and temperature effects dominate vary. The temperature effects however should be expected weakest at low to mid latitudes where the relative concentration of atomic oxygen is enriched during equinox. At high latitudes the semiannual temperature component would peak, associated with an oxygen depletion in the lower thermosphere during equinox. In combining these features it is shown that the total atmospheric density could still exhibit a relatively small latitude dependence in the semiannual component with the tendency to decrease at high latitudes, in agreement with observations.
Mayr, H. G.↗
Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer experiment - Mars atomic oxygen 1304-A emission.
Selected results are presented for an analysis of Mariner 9 1304-A data from the first 100 passes. Based on a comparison of limb data, the exospheric temperature appears lower on several Mariner 9 passes than when Mariner 6 and 7 encountered the planet in 1969. Temperatures of 300 and 350 K are considered in the atmospheric modeling. At 300 K, derived values of the atomic oxygen concentration are typically between 0.5 and 1% of the total density at 135 km, based on fitting theoretical intensities to limb data from several passes. Structure in the limb data below 200 km suggests the possibility that approximately 0.2 kR of the observed approximately 0.8 kR near 150 km is due to dissociative excitation of CO2. There is variability in limb profiles, thus indicating changes in the O distribution with time. The variability does not appear to follow a recognizable pattern. Interpretation of the 1304-A disk data shows a correlation in intensity with the 10.7-cm solar flux and larger O concentrations in the afternoon than in the morning. The correlation in intensity with the 10.7-cm flux is probably due largely to variation in the solar 1304-A fluxes.
Strickland, D. J.↗
Horizontal variations in thermospheric composition.
Constant boundary conditions at 120 km have been so widely and successfully used in atmospheric modeling and in fitting atmospheric density data obtained from satellite drag to models that attention has been diverted from the variations that occur at 120 km, especially in composition. Atomic oxygen concentrations vary by factors as large as 4, with highest concentrations occurring in the winter hemisphere but at midlatitudes rather than over the polar region. A substantial additional degree of variability occurs that is especially associated with geomagnetic activity. The helium concentration varies by about an order of magnitude between poles, with the maximum concentration occurring at high winter latitudes and a secondary minimum occurring over the winter pole.
Johnson, F. S.↗
Variations in density and chemical composition at 120 km from chemical and dynamical processes.
Atmospheric parameters show both systematic and random patterns of behavior at 120 km altitude. Variations in density, temperature, pressure, and especially atomic oxygen concentration are important. The variations are particularly significant because constant boundary conditions at this altitude have commonly been assumed in atmospheric model making. It is surprising how well the assumption of constant boundary conditions has served over the past decade. However, their use has probably introduced erroneous concepts into the field of atmospheric structure, or at least held off the recognition and introduction of important new concepts. The variations at 120 km are caused by changes in energy input into the upper atmosphere, including internal gravity waves and tidal energy from below, and changes in the transport processes within the atmosphere.
Johnson, F. S.↗
Equatorial composition in the 137- to 225-km region from the San Marco 3 mass spectrometer
The neutral atmospheric composition experiment (Nace) carried by the San Marco 3 (SM 3) satellite measured the equatorial atmospheric composition during the reentry period of Nov. 21-28, 1971. The mass density and molecular nitrogen density measured by the Nace are in agreement with values measured by rocket experiments and inferred from satellite experiments. The average total oxygen content measured by Nace is 30% below the value suggested by von Zahn at 150-km altitude. When it is assumed that his value for the molecular oxygen density at 150 km represents averaged rocket results applicable to the equatorial thermosphere, the Nace total oxygen content results in an atomic oxygen concentration comparable to the mean value of Cira (1965). The Nace helium measurements interpreted in terms of an altitude profile have an altitude distribution similar to that of molecular nitrogen below 165 km.
Newton, G. P.↗
Interstellar absorption lines in the spectrum of zeta Ophiuchi
Extensive high-resolution scans with the Copernicus UV spectrometer are combined with available ground-based data on interstellar lines to obtain temperatures, densities, and abundances in H I clouds and H II regions in the direction of zeta Oph. Column densities are obtained for 21 elements in various ionization stages, and upper limits are reported for 5 elements and 11 molecules. Analysis of radial velocities and growth curves indicates that H2, HD, and most neutral atoms are concentrated in one cloud with a heliocentric velocity of -14.4 km/s and that H II regions exist in addition to the Stroemgren sphere. The electron and proton densities are calculated for the -14.4 km/s cloud, and the temperatures required for the populations of the fine-structure levels in the C I ground state and the excited rotational levels of H2 are computed and indicate that the dense cloud must have some associated hotter regions. Relative to hydrogen, most of the elements in the H I clouds are found to be depleted by factors of 3 to 4000 as compared with solar system abundances, and several elements appear to be depleted in the H II regions as well.
Morton, D. C.↗
Ultraviolet spectrum of the Aurora /2000-2800 A/
Ultraviolet spectra between 2000 and 2800 delta-v of an IBC II(+) aurora were obtained by a rocket-borne Ebert-Fastie monochromator at 15-A resolution over Fort Churchill, Manitoba. The v-prime = 0-8 progressions of the N2 Vegard-Kaplan system, the delta-v = 8 sequence of the Lyman-Birge-Hopfield system, and a progression attributed to the Herman-Kaplan system were identified by a synthetic spectrum analysis. Relative populations of the first eight vibrational levels of the A3 Sigma u(+) state at high altitude were obtained from the theoretically generated spectra, and quenching rate coefficients were derived for these eight levels by using an atomic oxygen concentration derived from data from another experiment on board. For v = 0 the quenching rate coefficient was found to be 2.0 times 10 the minus 10th cu cm/sec and was not found to increase for higher vibrational levels. The intensity of the (0,2) band of the Herman-Kaplan system was found to be about 5 times the theoretically predicted value, but even so, the cascade from E3 Sigma g(+) provides less than 2% of the A3 Sigma u(+) state population.
Beiting, E. J., III↗
Atomic oxygen between 80 and 120 km - Evidence for a latitudinal variation in vertical transport near the mesopause
Analysis of the OGO 6 OI green line nightglow photometer experiment has been carried out for eight cases when the alignment of the spacecraft was such that local emission rates could be determined below the altitude of maximum emission and down to about 80 km. The results obtained show that the vertical gradient of the emission rate between 95 and 80 km alternates between regions of very rapid variation and very slow variation spaced on a scale of 5-10 deg of latitude. Maps showing isoemissivity contours and isodensity contours for atomic oxygen concentration in vertical meridional planes are presented. The densities are computed under three assumptions concerning excitation mechanisms. Comparisons of the vertical variations of oxygen density with the results of a time dependent theory suggest the regions of strong downward transport alternate in latitude with regions of weak transport near 90 km. In the first case, conversion of O to O3 at night appears to be overwhelmed by downward transport of O.
Wasser, B.↗
Kinetics study of the Cl/2P/ + Cl2O yields Cl2 + ClO reaction at 298 K
The kinetics of the Cl + Cl2O reaction, a possible source of ClO(2 Pi) radicals for atmospheric photochemical studies, are investigated at 298 K. The discharge flow/mass spectrometry and discharge flow/resonance fluorescence techniques were used to monitor the decay of C12O in the presence of excess concentrations of atomic chlorine and chlorine monoxide, respectively. The pseudo-first order rate constants obtained from both experiments are found to be in excellent agreement, averaging 9.8 + or - 0.8 x 10 to the -11th cu cm/molecule per sec. Results are consistent with the lower limit obtained by Edgecombe et al. (1957) but differ by a factor of 150 from those of Basco and Dogra (1971). The present value is also noted to be consistent with a lower value for the rate constant of the reaction of oxygen atoms with Cl2O.
Ray, G. W.↗
IUE observations of the Jovian HI Lyman alpha emission (1979 - 1982)
Observations of the Jovian H ion Lyman emission made with the IUE observatory beginning in December 1978 just before the time of the Voyager encounters and extending through January 1982 are presented. A constant disk center brightness of about 8 kR is observed for the central meridian longitude range wavelength III approximately equal 200 deg to 360 deg and a variable brightness 9-15 kR is found for the range lambda III approximately 50 deg to 150 deg. These brightness values persisted throughout the three years of observation. The hydrogen bulge near wavelength III approximately equal 100 deg appears to be a permanent feature of the Jovian atmosphere, and no long term change of the planetary Lyman emission is seen. Since the early IUE observations were made near the two Voyager encounters, this indicates that no substantial changes in the atomic hydrogen concentration or the average atmospheric conditions took place between then and now.
Skinner, T. E.↗
Temporal variation of the Jovian H I Lyman-alpha emission /1979-1982/
Observations of the Jovian H I Lyman-alpha emission have been made with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) observatory beginning in 1978 December, just before the time of the Voyager encounters, and extending through 1982 January. A nearly constant disk center brightness of about 8.5 kilorayleighs is observed for the central meridian longitude range lambda(III) = 200 to 360 deg and a variable brightness of between 9 and 15 kilorayleighs is found for the range lambda(III) = 50 to 150 deg. These brightness values have persisted throughout the three years of observation, and the hydrogen bulge near lambda(III) = 100 deg appears to be a fixed feature of the Jovian atmosphere. These results indicate that no substantial changes in the Jovian atomic hydrogen concentration or the average atmospheric conditions have taken place between the time immediately preceding the Voyager encounters and the present. The question of Jovian Lyman-alpha variability prior to 1978 is reexamined in the light of the IUE results.
Skinner, T. E.↗
Free radicals in the stratosphere - A new observational technique
A new approach to in situ observations of trace reactive species in the stratosphere is described. A balloon-borne system, floating 40 kilometers above the earth's surface, successfully lowered and then retracted a cluster of instruments a distance of 12 kilometers on a filament of Kevlar. This instrument cluster is capable of detecting gas-phase free radicals at the part-per-trillion level. The suspended instrument array has excellent stability and has been used to measured atomic oxygen concentrations in the stratosphere.
Anderson, J. G.↗
Containerless laser-induced flourescence study of vaporization and optical properties for sapphire and alumina
Evaporation of aluminum oxide was studied from 1800 to 2327 K by laser-induced flourescence (LIF) detection of Al atom vapor over sapphire and alumina spheres that were levitated in an argon gas jet and heated with a continuous wave CO2 laser. Optical properties were determined from apparent specimen temperatures measured with an optical pyrometer and true temperatures deduced from the LIF intensity versus temperature measurements using the known temperature dependence of the Al atom vapor concentration in equilibrium with Al2O3. The effects of impurities and dissolved oxygen on the high-temperature optical properties of aluminum oxide were discussed.
Nordine, Paul C.↗