Evidence for a geomagnetic wake at 500 earth radii
Geomagnetic wake in solar wind at 500 earth radii, correlating Explorer 35 and Pioneer 8 data
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Geomagnetic wake in solar wind at 500 earth radii, correlating Explorer 35 and Pioneer 8 data
Particle detection equipment and particle data processing systems used with Explorer 15 and Explorer 26 satellites
Results of plasmapause measurements made onboard S cubed A (explorer 45) satellite are presented. Data cover model calculations made to explain the observed probe potential behavior, comparison of satellite data with VLF data to establish that certain effects seen are interpretable as the plasmapause, and plasmapause behavior during the December 17, 1971 magnetic storm.
A test study was conducted to assess the value of ERTS images for mapping geologic features of the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec. The specific objectives of the study were: 1) to ascertain the best procedure to follow in order to obtain valuable geologic data as a result of interpretation; and 2) to indicate in which way these data could relate to mineral exploration. Of the four spectral bands of the Multispectral scanner, the band from 700 to 800 nanometers, which seems to possess the best informational content for geologic study, was selected for analysis. The original ERTS image at a scale of 1:3,700,000 was enlarged about 15 times and reproduced on film. Geologically meaningful lines, called structural lineaments, were outlined and classified according to five categories: morpho-lithologic boundaries, morpho-lithologic lineaments, fault traces, fracture zones and undefined lineaments. Comparison with the geologic map of Gaspe shows that morpho-lithologic boundaries correspond to contacts between regional stratigraphic units. Morpholithologic lineaments follow bedding trends, whereas fracture traces appear as sets of parallel lineaments, intersecting at high angles the previous category of lineaments. Fault traces mark more precisely the location of faults already mapped and spot the presence of presumable faults, not indicated on the geologic map.
Short-lived (about 15 min), low-energy proton increases associated with the passage of interplanetary shock waves have been previously reported. In the present paper, we have examined in a fine time scale (about 1 min) the concurrent particle and magnetic field data, taken by detectors on Explorer 34, for four of these events. Our results further support the view that these impulsive events are due to confinement of the solar cosmic-ray particles in the region just ahead (about 1,000,000 km) of the advancing shock front.
A sudden commencement occurred at 2348 UT on Feb. 15, 1967, when the ATS-1 satellite was about 2 hr past local noon at a geocentric distance of 6.6 earth radii. Plasma was observed by the Suprathermal Ion Detector first to flow in the antisolar direction, as expected, but then to flow westward, for about 2 min, at about 50 km/sec. Analysis of ground magnetograms suggests that the surprising westward flow, which must have involved an electric field of about 10 mV/m at 6.6 earth radii, resulted from the ionosphere's reaction to the sudden commencement. Beginning about 2 min before the start of the westward flow at ATS-1, ground magnetometers near the foot of the ATS-1 field line typically recorded magnetic-field deflections of about 70 gamma, to the northeast. Taking the ground observations, assuming a height-integrated Hall conductivity of 1 mho, and a standoff distance of 7.2 earth radii inferred from Explorer 33 solar-wind data, a magnetospheric electric field is derived which agrees in magnitude and direction with that required to produce the observed flow at ATS-1.
The author has identified the following significant results. Studies were conducted in key field areas in the Sierra Nevada, the Basin Range Province and the Colorado Plateau to evaluate the origins and significance of geologic and structural anomalies expressed in the ERTS-1 data. The investigation included development of image enhancement and analysis techniques and comparison of remote sensing data available over the test site. The ERTS-1 MSS imagery has proven to be an effective tool for studying the interrelationsships between Cenozoic tectonic patterns and the distributions of Cenozoic plutonism and volcanism, seismic activity, geologic hazards, and known mineral, geothermal and ground water resources. Recommendations are made for applications of ERTS-1 data to natural and resource exploration and management.
Explorer 35 proton anisotropic flux data (proton energies between 0.3 and 6.3 MeV) and simultaneous magnetic field measurements were used to supply more information on the propagation characteristics of low-energy protons in the interplanetary medium. During the rising portions of the proton events, large field-aligned anisotropies were observed. During the decaying part of the proton events, either radial anisotropy or near-isotropy was noticed. In addition, certain observations made during the decaying part of the proton events revealed anisotropies deviating significantly from the radial direction.
Data from the Atmosphere Explorer-C satellite clearly exhibit wavelike variations in neutral composition, ion density, and electron temperature, which appear to be a general feature of the atmosphere. The neutral constituents do not exhibit uniform wave characteristics since the density variations of argon are approximately twice those of molecular nitrogen and helium structure has about one-half the amplitude of the N2 variation. The waves evident in the ion density are nearly in phase with the heavy neutrals, while the electron-temperature variations are predominantly out of phase with those in the ion density. A simple model is suggested to explain the neutral composition results, wherein the enhancements in the major gas densities are in phase with the vertical component of the perturbation velocity of the gas. The vertical velocity modifies the composition by transporting parcels of air to higher or lower regions where the composition is different. The phase relationship between density and velocity implies phase velocities (assuming that these are gravitational waves) of the order of 500 meters per sec.
Participants in the investigation of problem areas in oil exploration are listed and the data acquisition methods used to determine categories to be studied are described. Specific aerospace techniques applicable to the tasks identified are explained and their costs evaluated.
Data from the equatorial satellite Explorer 45 were used to study ion fluxes during the geomagnetically quiescent period June 1-15, 1972. A heavy-ion solid-state ion detector system obtained count rates close to the equatorial plane in the energy passband 1.82-4.8 MeV per ion during a single satellite pass through the radiation belts. Fluxes of these ions are interpreted as oxygen ions and are found to maximize in the L shell range 3-3.5 with peak equatorially mirroring flux of 0.38 ions/(sq cm s sr keV). This peak is not as sharply confined in L shell as is the helium ion peak.
The backscatter ultraviolet spectrometer on the Atmosphere Explorer-E satellite obtained ozone data for the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere from an equatorial orbit near the time of the March-April 1976 stratospheric warming. A simple inversion technique allows the extraction of information on the absolute ozone abundance and its longitudinal variation from the measured radiances. Between altitudes of 35 and 60 km tropical O3 in constant pressure layers exhibits increased spatial variations on length scales of 20 to 30 deg in longitude after the onset of the polar warming, indicating enhanced wave activity. One week after the polar vortex breakdown, upper stratospheric O3 begins a relaxation toward the unperturbed state, while that in the lower mesosphere continues to show maximum variations near + or 10% of the longitudinally averaged value. Although the degree of horizontal structure increases during the warming, the absolute O3 amounts averaged over longitude between 35 and 60 km in altitude remain nearly constant in time. The observed behavior is consistent with that expected from enhanced vertical transport of O3 in the tropics with accompanying adiabatic temperature changes which alter the chemical loss rate.
The photochemistry of N(+) ions in the daytime thermosphere is studied using the data base of the Atmosphere Explorer C Satellite. The reaction O(+) + N(2D) yields O + N(+) is considered a major source of N(+) ions at altitudes between 250 and 500 km. At altitudes below 300 km, N(+) is removed by reactions with O2, but at higher altitudes the reactions of N(+) with O and with H are the most important loss mechanisms. The empirical rate coefficients for reactions N(+) + O yields N and O(+) and N(+) + H yields N + H(+) are derived.
The paper presents measurements of the thermospheric molecular oxygen density obtained from the Atmosphere Explorer (AE) satellites and composition data obtained from rocket-based experiments which provide information on the distribution of O2 between 120 and 200 km as a function of solar flux. The rocket experiment data can be analyzed for long-term variations, which show that the O2 density at 200 km shows little variation but at 120 km decreases approximately 30% for the F sub 10.7-cm flux.
Data from the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite have revolutionized many concepts in extragalactic astronomy. These include the physical processes at work in the emitting gas characteristic of active objects, the nature of the continuum source itself in those objects, and the constituent hot stellar and gaseous components of normal galaxies. Several problems of extragalactic research investigated with IUE were reviewed.
Digital processing of data from the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite are used to obtain monochromatic mosaic images of the most prominent UV spectra lines at 35 locations in the central region of the Orion Nebula. The image processing techniques include calculations of the spectrograph orientation and the thermal effects, normalization for exposure time, background subtraction, correction for sensitivity variation within the IUE spectrograph aperture, correction to an absolute flux scale, sample interpolation, and display on graphic devices. The resulting UV emission line intensity maps may be used in conjunction with observations of other wavelength regions to determine the spatial distribution of ionization and abundance levels of carbon and oxygen in Orion.
Data from the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) have been used to derive extinction curves for several stars chosen because of unusual diffuse band strength or location within dense clouds. Both the strength and position of the 2200 A extinction maximum were assessed, as well as the level of extinction in the far-ultraviolet. A variety of combinations of these features were found, ranging from near or complete absence of a 2200 A bump (HD 29647), to low far-ultraviolet extinction (Rho Oph), to unusually steep, far-ultraviolet extinction (HD 169454). Anomalous extinction apparently shows up frequently in stars associated with nebulosity or dense clouds. The apparent independence of 2200 A and far-ultraviolet extinction supports earlier suggestions that these two features are created by distinct populations of grains.
Atmospheric Explorer C (AE-C) data are analyzed to study wavelike perturbations in the thermosphere at an altitude of about 260 km. Four geophysical parameters are analyzed. These are nitrogen and oxygen densities, electron density and ion temperature as measured by three different instruments on board AE-C. The data are processed by normalizing them to their average values and their fluctuations are obtained by passing the normalized data through a high pass filter. These fluctuations exhibit strong periodicities that persist throughout the records, regardless of the filter cutoff frequency. The fluctuations are cross correlated by direct comparison, by comparison of their spectral content as obtained by the MEM and FFT, and by computing cross correlation functions.