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At least 1,549 records · Page 86

Atmospheric and surface properties of Mars obtained by infrared spectroscopy on Mariner 9.

During the almost 1-year operational lifetime of Mariner 9 the infrared spectroscopy experiment obtained data over a large portion of Mars. Between June and October 1972, improvements were made in the CO2 transmittances, which are necessary for the interpretation of the thermal emission spectra. Recently obtained spectra indicate that strong seasonal variations in the water vapor distribution occurred over both polar regions. The wettest atmospheric conditions observed so far contain 20 to 30 precipitable microns of water over the north polar cap during northern spring. A low-resolution pressure map is presented that covers that portion of the planet between latitudes -60 and +25 deg. A more detailed study of the Coprates canyon indicates that, at its lowest point, the canyon floor must be at least 5 km below the rim. Applications of tidal theory to temperature fields derived from the spectra indicate diurnal surface pressure fluctuations of as much as 12% during the Great Dust Storm of 1971-1972.

Conrath, B.↗

Reaction formulation for radiation and scattering from plates, corner reflectors and dielectric-coated cylinders

The reaction concept is employed to formulate an integral equation for radiation and scattering from plates, corner reflectors, and dielectric-coated conducting cylinders. The surface-current density on the conducting surface is expanded with subsectional bases. The dielectric layer is modeled with polarization currents radiating in free space. Maxwell's equation and the boundary conditions are employed to express the polarization-current distribution in terms of the surface-current density on the conducting surface. By enforcing reaction tests with an array of electric test sources, the moment method is employed to reduce the integral equation to a matrix equation. Inversion of the matrix equation yields the current distribution, and the scattered field is then obtained by integrating the current distribution. The theory, computer program and numerical results are presented for radiation and scattering from plates, corner reflectors, and dielectric-coated conducting cylinders.

Wang, N. N.↗

Possibility of using sources of vacuum ultraviolet irradiation to solve problems of space material science

An urgent problem in space materials science is simulating the interaction of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) of solar emission with solids in space conditions, that is, producing a light source with a distribution that approximates the distribution of solar energy. Information is presented on the distribution of the energy flux of VUV of solar radiation. Requirements that must be satisfied by the VUV source used for space materials science are formulated, and a critical evaluation is given of the possibilities of using existing sources for space materials science. From this evaluation it was established that none of the sources of VUV satisfies the specific requirements imposed on the simulator of solar radiation. A solution to the problem was found to be in the development of a new type of source based on exciting a supersonic gas jet flowing into vacuum with a sense electron beam. A description of this gas-jet source, along with its spectral and operation characteristics, is presented.

Verkhoutseva, E. T.↗

The influence of inhomogeneity of the reflectivity distribution on the accuracy of its measurement

The influence of pulse volume dimensions on the accuracy of reflectivity from various clouds is considered. It is shown that due to the spatial averaging and the inhomogeneities of the clouds, the dependence frequently breaks down, which is a cause of lower values of the spatial distribution estimate. Values of the corrections calculated for various conditions are presented.

Salman, Y. M.↗

Agricultural resources investigations in northern Italy and southern France (Agreste Project)

The author has identified the following significant results. The vegetation structure of rice was investigated and interpreted in dynamic terms as a significant factor governing the distribution of solar energy thoughout the canopy and therefore conditions the final yield. Radiometric characteristics of rice culture were described for various stages of development in relation to the vegetation structure in an attempt to establish correlations between data of total biomass and of grain yield. Qualitative classification results were encouraging although the discrimination achieved was far from complete.

Source record↗

Natural sampling strategy

A natural stratum-based sampling scheme and the aggregation procedures for estimating wheat area, yield, and production and their associated prediction error estimates are described. The methodology utilizes LANDSAT imagery and agrophysical data to permit an improved stratification in foreign areas by ignoring political boundaries and restratifying along boundaries that are more homogeneous with respect to the distribution of agricultural density, soil characteristics, and average climatic conditions. A summary of test results is given including a discussion of the various problems encountered.

Hallum, C. R.↗

Stress analysis and buckling of J-stiffened graphite-epoxy panel

A graphite epoxy shear panel with bonded on J stiffeners was investigated. The panel, loaded to buckling in a picture frame shear test is described. Two finite element models, each of which included the doubler material bonded to the panel skin under the stiffeners and at the panel edges, were used to make a stress analysis of the panel. The shear load distributions in the panel from two commonly used boundary conditions, applied shear load and applied displacement, were compared with the results from one of the finite element models that included the picture frame test fixture.

Davis, R. C.↗

Estimating probabilities of cloud-free fields-of-view from the earth through the atmosphere

The paper is an extension of previous papers by Lund and Shanklin (1972, 1973). It presents probabilities of cloud-free fields-of-view (CFFOV) to supplement probabilities of cloud-free lines-of-sight (CFLOS) contained in the earlier papers. A model is developed for estimating the probability of obtaining a CFFOV as a function of ground-observer-reported total sky cover for earth-to-space applications. The development of the model and examples of its application are described. A comparison of CFFOV and CFLOS results is made. In conclusion, climatic probabilities of CFFOV overhead through the entire atmosphere between the surface of the earth and space can be estimated for any desired geographical location through the use of a specified equation and conditional probabilities contained in the paper, if the frequency distribution of total sky cover categories for the desired location is known.

Lund, I. A.↗

Additional extensions to the NASCAP computer code, volume 1

Extensions and revisions to a computer code that comprehensively analyzes problems of spacecraft charging (NASCAP) are documented. Using a fully three dimensional approach, it can accurately predict spacecraft potentials under a variety of conditions. Among the extensions are a multiple electron/ion gun test tank capability, and the ability to model anisotropic and time dependent space environments. Also documented are a greatly extended MATCHG program and the preliminary version of NASCAP/LEO. The interactive MATCHG code was developed into an extremely powerful tool for the study of material-environment interactions. The NASCAP/LEO, a three dimensional code to study current collection under conditions of high voltages and short Debye lengths, was distributed for preliminary testing.

Mandell, M. J.↗

Development of mathematical techniques for the assimilation of remote sensing data into atmospheric models

The problem of the assimilation of remote sensing data into mathematical models of atmospheric pollutant species was investigated. The data assimilation problem is posed in terms of the matching of spatially integrated species burden measurements to the predicted three-dimensional concentration fields from atmospheric diffusion models. General conditions were derived for the reconstructability of atmospheric concentration distributions from data typical of remote sensing applications, and a computational algorithm (filter) for the processing of remote sensing data was developed.

Seinfeld, J. H.↗

Development of mathematical techniques for the assimilation of remote sensing data into atmospheric models

The problem of the assimilation of remote sensing data into mathematical models of atmospheric pollutant species was investigated. The problem is posed in terms of the matching of spatially integrated species burden measurements to the predicted three dimensional concentration fields from atmospheric diffusion models. General conditions are derived for the "reconstructability' of atmospheric concentration distributions from data typical of remote sensing applications, and a computational algorithm (filter) for the processing of remote sensing data is developed.

Seinfeld, J. H.↗

Redesign and cascade tests of a supercritical controlled diffusion stator blade-section

A supercritical stator blade section, previously tested in cascade, and characterized by a flat-roof-top suction surface Mach number distribution, has been redesigned and retested. At near design conditions, the losses and air turning were improved over the original blade by 50 percent and 7 percent respectively. The key element in the improved performance was a small blade reshaping. This produced a continuous flow acceleration over the first one-third chord of the suction surface which successfully prevented a premature laminar separation bubble. Several recently available inviscid analysis and one fully viscous (Navier-Stokes) analysis code were used in the redesign process. The validity of these codes was enhanced by the test results.

Schmidt, J. F.↗

Carbon and oxygen isotope fractionation in dense interstellar clouds

It is pointed out that isotope fractionation as a result of chemical reactions is due to the small zero-point energy differences between reactants and products of isotopically distinct species. Only at temperatures near absolute zero does this energy difference become significant. Favorable conditions for isotope fractionation on the considered basis exist in space within dense interstellar clouds. Temperatures of approximately 10 K may occur in these clouds. Under such conditions, ion-molecule reactions have the potential to distribute isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen unequally among the interstellar molecules. The present investigation makes use of a detailed model of the time-dependent chemistry of dense interstellar clouds to study cosmological isotope fractionation. Attention is given to fractionation chemistry and the calculation of rate parameters, the isotope fractionation results, and a comparison of theoretical results with observational data.

Langer, W. D.↗

Large deflection, large amplitude vibrations and random response of symmetrically laminated rectangular plates

An analytical method is presented for determining large-deflection static bending, large-amplitude free and forced vibrations, and large-amplitude random response of a clamped, symmetrically laminated, rectangular, thin plate subjected to a uniformly distributed transverse loading. Both movable and immovable inplane boundary conditions are considered. Numerical results for bending deflections and strains, frequency ratios, mean-square center deflections and mean-square maximum strains are presented showing the parametric effects of plate length-to-width ratio, orientation of layers, and intensities of applied force for both the linear and nonlinear cases. The analytical results for large-deflection random response are verified through comparison with experimental data.

Gray, C. E., Jr.↗

Redesign and cascade tests of a supercritical controlled diffusion stator blade-section

A supercritical stator blade section, previously tested in cascade, and characterized by a flat-roof-top suction surface Mach number distribution, has been redesigned and retested. At near design conditions, the losses and air turning were improved over the original blade by 50 percent and 7 percent, respectively. The key element in the improved performance was a small blade reshaping. This produced a continuous flow acceleration over the first one-third chord of the suction surface which successfully prevented a premature laminar separation bubble. Several recently available inviscid analysis codes and one fully viscous (Navier-Stokes) analysis code were used in the redesign process. The validity of these codes was enhanced by the test results. Previously announced in STAR as N84-22533

Schmidt, J. F.↗

A one-dimensional photochemical model of the troposphere with planetary boundary-layer parameterization

A time-dependent, one-dimensional photochemical model of the troposphere is used to describe the vertical distribution of atmospheric trace constituents for summer-time conditions at midlatitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. The model incorporates a planetary boundary layer (PBL) parametrization and a detailed chemical mechanism that includes the photochemistry of important nonmethane hydrocarbon species formed during the oxidation process. One result of the parametrized PBL is that the concentrations of some trace species in the free troposphere are 20-30 percent higher than when mixing processes are described by a vertical eddy diffusion coefficient which is held constant with respect to height and time. The lifetime of the oxides of nitrogen against photochemical conversion to nitric acid during summertime conditions is on the order of six hours. This lifetime is short enough to deplete most of the NO(x) in the PBL so that other reactive nitrogen species are more abundant than NO(x) throughout the free troposphere.

Fishman, J.↗

Translucent molecular clouds: Theory and observations

Few suitable stars behind molecular clouds have been identified. A limited survey was performed of interstellar lines toward highly reddened stars in the southern sky, using the ESO 1.4 m CAT telescope with a Reticon detector, and the Cerro Tololo 4 m telescope equipped with a GEC charge coupled device (CCD) detector. Because of the reduced extinction at longer wavelengths, molecules were searched for with transitions in the red part of the spectrum such as C2 and CN. For some lines-of-sight for which C2 was detected, the 4300 A line of CH was also observed. Absorption lines of interstellar C2 around 8750 A were detected in the spectra of about 1/4 of the 36 observed stars. The inferred C2 column densities range between 10 to the 13th power and 10 to the 14th power sq. cm., and are up to an order of magnitude larger than those found for diffuse clouds. The observed column densities of CH correlate very well with those of C2 over this range. In contrast, the measured column densities of CN vary by orders of magnitude between the various regions, and they do not correlate with those of C2 and CH. The observed rotational population distribution of C2 also provides information about the physical conditions in the clouds. Models of translucent molecular clouds have been constructed along the lines described by van Dishoeck and Black (1986) for diffuse clouds. The models compute accurately the fractions of atomic and molecular hydrogen as functions of depth into the clouds, as well as the excitation of H2 by ultraviolet pumping. They also incorporate a detailed treatment of the photodissociation processes of the molecules (cf. van Dishoeck 1986), which play an important role in the chemistry up to depths of about 3 mag.

Vandishoeck, E. F.↗

Ray propagation path analysis of acousto-ultrasonic signals in composites

The most important result was the demonstration that acousto-ultrasonic (AU) energy introduced into a laminated graphite/resin propagates by two modes through the structure. The first mode, along the graphite fibers, is the faster. The second mode, through the resin matrix, besides being slower is also more strongly attenuated at the higher frequencies. This demonstration was accomplished by analyzing the time and frequency domain of the composite AU signal and comparing them to the same for a neat resin specimen of the same chemistry and geometry as the composite matrix. Analysis of the fine structure of AU spectra was accomplished by various geometrical strategies. It was shown that the multitude of narrow peaks associated with AU spectra are the effect of the many pulse arrivals in the signal. The shape and distribution of the peaks is mainly determined by the condition of nonnormal reflections of ray paths. A cepstrum analysis was employed which can be useful in detecting characteristic times. Analysis of propagation modes can be accomplished while ignoring the fine structure.

Kautz, Harold E.↗