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At least 1,279 records · Page 71
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NASA NTRS1989

Variability of quasi-stationary planetary waves

The results of the analysis of nonzonal perturbations (m = 1, 2, 3) of the geopotential field at a 30 mb level are presented. A long period modulation of the harmonics' amplitude is discovered. Calculations of eigenfunctions and eigennumbers of the Laplace tidal equation are carried out for a real latitudinal wind profile. The observed first zonal harmonic in different years is caused by the same mode. Thus, the difference in the wave amplitudes could not be accounted for by the difference in stratospheric zonal circulation in different years and should be related to tropospheric processes.

Krivolutsky, A. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The Atmospheric Tides Middle Atmosphere Program (ATMAP)

Atmospheric tides, oscillations in meteorological fields occurring at subharmonics of a solar or lunar day, comprise a major component of middle atmosphere global dynamics. The purpose of the 1982 to 1986 Atmospheric Tides Atmosphere Program (ATMAP) was to foster an interaction between experimentalists, data analysts, and theoreticians and modelers, in order to better understand the physical mechanisms governing tides and their relationships to other scales of motion, and to thereby explain features of observed tidal structures in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The ATMAP consisted of seven observational campaigns, five workshops and a climatological study. A historical perspective is provided along with a summary of major results, conclusions, and recommendations for future study which have emerged from the ATMAP.

Forbes, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Global behavior of the height/seasonal structure of tides between 40 deg and 60 deg latitude

The radars utilized are meteor (2), medium frequency (2) and the new low frequency (1) systems: analysis techniques were exhaustively studied internally and comparatively and are not thought to affect the results. Emphasis is placed upon the new height-time contours of 24-, 12-h tidal amplitudes and phases, which best display height and seasonal structures; where possible high resolution (10 d) is used (Saskatoon), but all stations provide monthly mean resolution. At these latitudes the diurnal tide is generally smaller than the semidiurnal, and displays more variability. However, there is a tendency for vertical wavelengths and amplitudes to be larger during summer months. On occasions in winter and fall, wavelengths may be less than 50 km. The dominant semidiurnal tide shows significant regular season structure; wavelengths are generally small (about 50 km) in winter, large in summer (equal to or greater than 100 km), and these states are separated by rapid equinoctial transitions. There is some evidence for less regularity toward 40 deg. Coupling with mean winds is apparent. Data from earlier ATMAP campaigns are mentioned, and reasons for their inadequacies presented.

Manson, A. H.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The geomagnetic control of the lower thermosphere wind system over East Siberia

The geomagnetic control of ionospheric D region dynamics was revealed and confirmed on the basis of radiophysical wind measurements (1978 to 1983) over East Siberia. The monthly mean parameters of the wind system are different for quiet and disturbed conditions. There is an increase in stability of the meridional wind with increasing level of geomagnetic activity. The influence of geomagnetic storms on the measured wind is considered on the basis of 31 events. There are effects on the phase of the semidiurnal tidal wind, but variations of amplitude are weak. The effect of the geomagnetic storm depends on the intensity and is more clear-cut for the A sub p is greater than 100.

Kazimirovsky, E. S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Midlatitude seasonal behavior of tides near the mesopause level

Wind measurements near the mesopause level were provided in Badary (Eastern Siberia, USSR) by the D1 method using a low frequency (200 kHz) radio transmitter during 1976 to 1986. The seasonal variations of wind level are analyzed and compared with other midlatitude wind measurements and with some theoretical preditions. It is shown that tidal parameters depend not only on latitude but on the longitude as well. The annual variation of diurnal and semidurnal tide (zonal and meridional) have maxima in summer and minima in winter. There are significant differences between annual variations of phases for diurnal and semidiurnal tides. These differences are especially distinct for summer and autumn. There is no systematic seasonal variation of the phase of the semidiurnal tide (average value similar to 6 hours).

Kazimirovsky, E. S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Measurements of vertical motions by the Saskatoon MF radar (1983-1985): Relationships with horizontal winds and gravity waves

The continuing series of horizontal wind measurements by the spaced-antenna real time winds (RTW) method was supplemented by a phase coherent system for two years. Vertical motions are inferred from the complex autocorrelation functions, and an RTW system provides 5 min samples from 60 to 110 km. Comparisons with full interferometric 3-D velocity measurements confirm the validity of this approach. Following comparisons and corrections with the horizontal winds, mean summer and winter (24 h) days of vertical motions are shown. Tidal fluctuations are evident. In summer the motions are downward, consistent with data from Poker Flat, and the suggestion of Coy et al. (1986) that these represent Eulerian motions. The expected upward Lagrangian motion then results from adding up upward Stokes' drift. The winter motions are more complex, and are discussed in the context of gravity wave fluxes and possible meridional cells. The divergence of the vertical flux of zonal momentum is also calculated and found to be similar to the coriolis torque due to the meridional winds.

Manson, A. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

On the origin of the Orion and Monoceros molecular cloud complexes

A detailed model for the origin of the Orion and Monoceros cloud complexes is presented, showing that a single high-velocity H I cloud-galaxy collision can explain their main observed features. The collision generates massive shocked layers, and self-gravity can then provide the conditions for the transformation of these layers into molecular clouds. The clouds formed by the collision maintain the motion of their parental shocked gas and reach positions located far away from the plane. According to this model, both the Orion and Monoceros complexes were formed some 60 million yr ago, when the original shocked layer was fragmented by Galactic tidal forces.

Franco, J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Large molecular-cloud complexes

The properties of the large molecular cloud complexes in the solar vicinity and in the inner Galaxy are summarized. Particular attention is paid to the stability of the clouds against the tidal field of the Galaxy, associated clouds of warm atomic hydrogen gas and star formation in the clouds. The linewidth-size relation is discussed and the possibility that it is an artifact of the blending of unrelated clouds at different distances is raised.

Blitz, L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Discovery of a possible X-ray triple - 4U 1915-05

The optical counterpart of the 50 minute binary and X-ray burst source 4U 1915-05 has been identified with a 21st mag blue object. Extensive CCD photometric observations show that the optical modulation of the system defines a period of 50.4567 minutes with high precision and is thus probably the true orbital period, whereas the range of X-ray ray dip period values (49.7-50.1 minutes) reported previously are excluded. A model is described whereby the optical modulation is due to partial eclipse of the rim of the accretion disk by a low-mass companion star and the X-ray dips are due to absorption and scattering by blobs of material above and below the disk plane and with density proportional to the current mass transfer rate from the companion star. The 1 percent difference in periods may suggest that the system is a hierarchical triple with a third companion star of low-mass orbiting the binary ion in an about 2.5 day retrograde orbit. The possible origin of such a system by tidal capture in a globular cluster, since disrupted, is briefly discussed.

Grindlay, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Kinematics and ionization of extended gas in active galaxies. IV - The Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 4388

The results of direct CCD imaging and long-slit medium-dispersion spectroscopy of the extended narrow-line-emitting gas in the nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 4388 are presented. The spectra are used to investigate the distribution, kinematics, and ionization structure of the excited gas in the regions surrounding the nucleus out to a distance of about 4.8 kpc. The data support earlier suggestions that the galaxy, which appears to lie near the core of the Virgo cluster, has been tidally distorted, possibly by the nearby cluster core galaxies M84 or IC 3303. Much of the highly ionized gas in the galaxy appears to be distributed in two wide cones originating from the nucleus and extending above and below the disk. Explanations are offered for the distribution of this gas and for the remainder of the gas above and below the disk.

Corbin, Michael R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Star-formation rates, molecular clouds, and the origin of the far-infrared luminosity of isolated and interacting galaxies

The CO luminosities of 93 galaxies have been determined and are compared with their IRAS FIR luminosities. Strongly interacting/merging galaxies have L(FIR)/L(CO) substantially higher than that of isolated galaxies or galactic giant molecular clouds (GMCs). Galaxies with tidal tails/bridges are the most extreme type with L(FIR)/L(CO) nine times as high as isolated galaxies. Interactions between close pairs of galaxies do not have much effect on the molecular content and global star-formation rate. If the high ratio L(FIR)/L(CO) in strongly interacting galaxies is due to star formation then the efficiency of this process is higher than that of any galactic GMC. Isolated galaxies, distant pairs, and close pairs have an FIR/CO luminosity ratio which is within a factor of two of galactic GMCs with H II regions. The CO luminosities of FIR-luminous galaxies are among the highest observed for any spiral galaxies.

Solomon, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Variation in sulfur dioxide emissions related to earth tides, Halemaumau crater, Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

Variation in SO2 emissions from Halemaumau crater, Kilauea volcano, Hawaii is analyzed using a set of techniques known as exploratory data analysis. SO2 flux was monitored using a correlation spectrometer. A total of 302 measurements were made on 73 days over a 90-day period. The mean flux was 171 t/d with a standard deviation of 52 t/d. A significant increase in flux occurs during increased seismic activity beneath the caldera. SO2 flux prior to this change varies in a systematic way and may be related to variation in the tidal modulation envelope.

Connor, Charles B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Theoretical investigation of the oceanic inverted barometer response

Dynamic tidal theory is generalized in order to predict the oceanic response to atmospheric pressure variations. The oceans are found to exhibit distinct dynamic behavior when forced at periods less than one week; depending on the harmonic type of forcing, the amplitude of the response can differ by about 20 percent or more from the static response. Even at roughly two months the traditional 'inverted barometer' may not be sufficiently accurate for applications in which detection of long-term sea level trends or vertical crustal motion is the goal. For forcing at periods of order one year the oceanic response differs by at most a few percent from the static (not the inverted barometer) response; thus calculations of meteorological excitation of the annual and Chandler wobbles can employ the static approximation without reservation.

Dickman, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Buoyant surface jet analysis of the Yukon River

Thermal infrared satellite imagery of the discharge from the Yukon River obtained on July 5, 1985 was compared with hydraulic theory for the dilution of buoyant surface jets. In a crossflow, the theory predicts that the plume will follow an x exp 1/3 trajectory where x is distance alongshore, and that the plume temperature will decay according to x exp - 1/6 due to mixing with the receiving water. Measurements of the Yukon River discharge indicate very good agreement with the predicted trajectory, and less, but acceptable, agreement with the predicted dilution. Large scale thermal fronts are also observable in the thermal imagery; the fronts may be associated with excursions of the plume due to tidal currents.

Gosink, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The double-nucleus galactic merger Mkn 463

Deep CCD imaging in broadband and forbidden O III wavelengths of the twin-nucleus active galaxy Markarian 463 is presented. These data show that the system has triple curved tails indicative of a strong tidal interaction and probable merger. Colors, morphology, and their implications are discussed. The forbidden O III line emission is seen to be extended and linear, perhaps filling twin cones with apex at the eastern optical nucleus. It is argued that this indicates nonisotropic radiation from an obscured AGN. Spatially resolved spectroscopy on and off the nuclei reveals that the radial velocities of the gas lie in a small range, unlike some other multiple nucleus systems. The nature of the emission-line regions is discussed, along with the evolutionary state of the system indicated by the present data and IR and radio data.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Temporal variations in low degree zonal harmonics from Starlette orbit analysis

The dynamical effect of temporal variations in the zonal harmonics of the earth's gravitational potential due to tidal and meteorological mass redistribution has been observed using satellite laser ranging (SLR) measurements to Starlette. The secular variations in the Earth's zonal harmonics and the year-to-year fluctuation of the even degree annual and semi-annual tides, S(a) and S(sa) have been determined from a continuous Starlette orbit spanning from 1983 through 1985. The mean values for S(a) and S(sa) tides are in good agreement with other tide solutions. The year-to-year fluctuations of the even degree S(a), deduced from Starlette node variations, are about 25 percent of the mean value obtained during the three-year Starlette orbit span.

Cheng, M. K.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Photographic, near-infrared, and CCD photometry of the distant globular cluster AM-1

New photographic, CCD, and near-infrared photometry of stars in the distant globular cluster AM-1 are presented. Based on the photographic and CCD photometry down to the horizontal branch, a distance modulus (m-M)v = 20.4 mag is derived, with E(B-V) = 0.0 mag, corresponding to a distance of 120 kpc from the sun. Using the (V-K) colors of two giants in AM-1, a metallicity of Fe/H = -2.0 + or - 0.2 is deduced, in good agreement with earlier determinations. Using complete photometry and star counts, a core radius of 10 arcsec (6 pc) and a tidal radius of 100 arcsec (58 pc) are derived. Despite the low intrinsic luminosity (Mv = -5.0 mag) and the large galactocentric distance of this globular cluster, the apparent magnitude distribution of the giant branch stars of AM-1 is not found to be unusual.

Madore, Barry F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The tectonics of Mercury

The probable tectonic history of Mercury and the relative sequence of events are discussed on the basis of data collected by the Mariner-10 spacecraft. Results indicate that Mercury's tectonic activity was confined to its early history; its endogenic activity was principally due to a small change in the shape of its lithosphere, caused by tidal despinning, and a small change in area caused by shrinkage due to cooling. Exogenic processes, in particular the impact activity, have produced more abundant tectonic features. Many features associated with the Caloris basin are due to loading of Mercury's thick lithosphere by extrusive lavas or subsidence due to magma withdrawal. It is emphasized that tectonic features observed on Mercury yield insight into the earliest tectonic events on planets like Mars and, perhaps, the earth, where subsequent events obscured or erased the most ancient tectonic records.

Melosh, H. J.↗