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At least 1,549 records · Page 86
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NASA NTRS1976

Molecular oxygen measurements at 200 km from AE-D near winter solstice, 1975

Utilizing the fly-through mode, the open source neutral mass spectrometer on Atmosphere Explorer-D (AE-D) has measured O2 densities, as well as N2 densities and in situ neutral temperatures, at midmorning during winter solstice over the latitude range 90 degrees S to 90 degrees N. The expected seasonal variation in N2 was found at 200 km together with a more complex behavior in molecular oxygen than might be expected from a diffusive equilibrium model with constant lower boundary values. Under geomagnetically quiet conditions the equatorial 200 km value of O2 was about 1.7 x 10 to the 8th/cu cm. A local maximum in the 200 km O2 densities was found near 70 degrees N, where an average quiet time value was 2.5 x 10 to the 8th/cu cm, implying a 120 km density of 8.3 x 10 to the 10th/cu cm. The in situ temperature measurements confirm the presence of higher temperatures near 70 degrees N latitude, even during geomagnetically quiet conditions.

Kayser, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The reaction Cl + H2CO yields HCl + HCO: Decreased sensitivity of stratospheric ozone to chlorine perturbations

The absolute rate constant for the reaction Cl + H2CO yields HCl + HCO was determined by the flash-photolysis resonance fluorescence method to be 7.5 plus or minus 0.9 (2 sigma) times 10 to the minus 11th power cu cm/molecule sec at 298 K and to have a negligible temperature dependence. This rate which is more than 2000 times faster than the rate of Cl + CH4 indicates that formaldehyde (H2CO) will compete significantly with methane (CH4) for the conversion of active chlorine in the stratosphere to the inactive reservoir HCl. Chlorine will thus be a less efficient destroyer of stratosphere ozone than previously believed. Ambient stratospheric ozone will depend less on the ambient chlorine amount and the predicted response to chlorine perturbations will be lessened. One-dimensional eddy-diffusion photochemical model calculations indicate a factor of 1.1 less sensitivity to chlorine than recently reported. For a steady-state CFM release at 1975 rates (750,000 tons/year) the eventual ozone depletion is now calculated to be 14%.

Stief, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

An image based information system - Architecture for correlating satellite and topological data bases

The paper describes the development of an image based information system and its use to process a Landsat thematic map showing land use or land cover in conjunction with a census tract polygon file to produce a tabulation of land use acreages per census tract. The system permits the efficient cross-tabulation of two or more geo-coded data sets, thereby setting the stage for the practical implementation of models of diffusion processes or cellular transformation. Characteristics of geographic information systems are considered, and functional requirements, such as data management, geocoding, image data management, and data analysis are discussed. The system is described, and the potentialities of its use are examined.

Bryant, N. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Kinetics data for diffusion of outgas species from RTV 560

A detailed analytical and experimental study was made of the outgassing behavior of RTV 560 silicone rubber. The four outgas species which predominate in the temperature range of 285 K to 425 K were separately identified. The initial concentration of these species in the parent material and their bulk volatilities were determined. The diffusion coefficients and activation energy for diffusion of the two major species were deduced from outgassing rate data. It is shown that by using these data in a diffusion theory model, the outgassing rates of these major species can be predicted for arbitrary geometry and any temperature within the range studied.

Liu, C. K.↗
NASA NTRS1978

The reaction Cl + H2CO yields HCl + HCO: Decreased sensitivity of stratospheric ozone to chlorine perturbations

The absolute rate constant for the reaction Cl + H2CO yields HCl + HCO has been determined by the flash-photolysis-resonance fluorescence method to be + or - 0.9 (2 sigma) x 10 to the -11th power cu cm/molecule per sec at 298 K and to have a negligible temperature dependence. This rate, which at stratospheric temperatures is more than 2000 times faster than the rate of Cl + CH4 and more than a factor of 2 faster than Cl + HO2, indicates that formaldehyde (H2CO) will compete significantly with methane (CH4) and HO2 for the conversion of active chlorine in the stratosphere to the inactive reservoir HCl. Chlorine will thus be a less efficient destroyer of stratospheric ozone than previously believed. One-dimensional eddy-diffusion photochemical model calculations indicate that the eventual ozone depletion for a steady-state chlorfluoromethane release at 1975 rates (750,000 tons/year) will be lowered from 20% to 18.5% by the inclusion of this reaction.

Stief, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Comparison of calculated and measured ion densities on the dayside of Venus

Data from the Pioneer Venus ion mass spectrometers are compared with model calculations of the ion density distributions appropriate for daytime conditions. The model assumes diffusive equilibrium upper boundary conditions for the major ions (O2(+), O(+), CO2(+), He(+), and H(+)); the agreement between the calculated and measured gross behavior of these ions is reasonably good except for H(+), which may be influenced strongly by convective transport processes. The distributions of five minor ions (C(+), N(+), NO(+), CO(+), and N2(+)) are also calculated for the chemically controlled region (less than approximately 200 km); the agreements are, in general, poor, an indication that the present understanding of the Venus minor ion chemistry is still incomplete.

Nagy, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Jovian electron propagation close to the sun /at about 0.5 AU/

On the basis of interplanetary electron flux measurements in the energy range 0.7-25 MeV made on the Mariner 10 spacecraft launched in 1973 for successive encounters with planet Mercury (R approximately equal 0.5 AU), it is shown that the dominant interplanetary flux of electrons close to the sun is Jovian in origin (except for times of solar flares) and that these observations are consistent with a three-dimensional diffusion-convection model which describes Jovian electron propagation in the outer solar system.

Eraker, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The latitudinal variation of the charge exchange induced atomic hydrogen escape flux

Using plasma data from the Isis 2 spacecraft and Arecibo radar, diffusive equilibrium models of the ionosphere were constructed for equinox conditions. These plasmaspheric models were combined with models of the neutral atmosphere to calculate the atomic hydrogen escape flux due to charge exchange between thermal protons and to calculate cooler hydrogen and oxygen atoms as a function of dipole latitude and local time. These calculations showed that the daytime escape flux increases as the absolute value of the dipole latitude decreases, reaching its maximum value at the magnetic equator. At 15 hours local time (LT) on March 23, 1972, the calculated escape flux varied from an insignificant amount at 55 deg dipole latitude, to 3 x 10 to the 8th atoms/sq cm sec at the magnetic equators.

Maher, L. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A comparison of equatorial electron densities measured by whistlers and by a satellite radio technique

Magnetospheric equatorial electron densities determined from whistler observations are compared with in situ satellite measurements of electron density along near-equatorial orbits. Whistler data was recorded at Siple and Palmer, Antarctica, while the sweep frequency receiver on ISEE-1 was used to measure plasma densities during passes within about 15 deg of the whistler station longitudes at L values between 3 and 5.2. The whistler and satellite data sets are found to be in good agreement for the three rendezvous considered, suggesting that the diffusive equilibrium model applied to calculate electron densities from whistler measurements was appropriate for the description of electron density distributions along field lines in the outer plasmasphere. Data also indicate that density enhancements within the whistler ducts were not more than about 30% of the mean or interduct level, and that there were no significant east-west density gradients within about 15 deg of whistler station longitudes over the L range of the study.

Carpenter, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Diffusive-convective physical vapor transport of PbTe from a Te-rich solid source

Crystal growth of PbTe by physical vapor transport (sublimation) in a closed ampoule is governed by the vapor species in thermal equilibrium with the solid compound. Deviations from stoichiometry in the source material cause diffusion limitation of the transport rate, which can be modified by natural (gravity-driven) convection. Mass-transport experiments have been performed using Te-rich material wherein sublimation rates have been measured in order to study the effects of natural convection in diffusion-limited vapor transport. Linear velocities for both crystal growth and evaporation (back sublimation) have been measured for transport in the direction of gravity, horizontally, and opposite to gravity. The experimental results are discussed in terms of both the one-dimensional diffusive-advective model and current, more sophisticated theory which includes natural convection. There is some evidence that convection effects from radial temperature gradients and solutal density gradients have been observed.

Zoutendyk, J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A basic code for the prediction of transient three-dimensional turbulent flowfields

A primitive pressure-velocity finite difference code has been developed to predict transient three-dimensional turbulent flow. The code is a simplified yet effective prediction procedure for use by persons with little experience in computational fluid dynamics, and into which user-oriented complexities can easily be added. The method is based on the transient two-dimensional Los Alamos SOLA prediction technique for laminar flows. Turbulence is simulated by means of a two-equation turbulence model; species diffusion and buoyancy are also included. Two applications of the code are presented to local destratification near the release structure of a reservoir and to the deflection of a jet entering normally into a uniform cross-flow. Predicted results exhibit good agreement with experimental data, showing that a useful characterization of fully three-dimensional flows is now available.

Busnaina, A. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The well-posedness of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation

The Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation arises in a variety of applications, among which are modeling reaction diffusion systems, flame propagation and viscous flow problems. It is considered here, as a prototype to the larger class of generalized Burgers equations: those consist of a quadratic nonlinearity and an arbitrary linear parabolic part. It is shown that such equations are well posed, thus admitting a unique smooth solution, continuously dependent on its initial data. As an attractive alternative to standard energy methods, existence and stability are derived in this case, by patching in the large short time solutions without loss of derivatives.

Tadmor, E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Aerodynamic design of the contoured wind-tunnel liner for the NASA supercritical, laminar-flow-control, swept-wing experiment

An overview is presented of the entire procedure developed for the aerodynamic design of the contoured wind tunnel liner for the NASA supercritical, laminar flow control (LFC), swept wing experiment. This numerical design procedure is based upon the simple idea of streamlining and incorporates several transonic and boundary layer analysis codes. The liner, presently installed in the Langley 8 Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel, is about 54 ft long and extends from within the existing contraction cone, through the test section, and into the diffuser. LFC model testing has begun and preliminary results indicate that the liner is performing as intended. The liner design results presented in this paper, however, are examples of the calculated requirements and the hardware implementation of them.

Newman, P. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Relative abundance of the light ions in the winter nighttime topside ionosphere

Ion concentration measurements with the retarding potential analyzer onboard OGO 6 satellite have served as basis for investigation of the distribution of the light ions, H(+) and He(+), relative to that of O(+) in the 500- to 800-km height range in the winter nighttime ionosphere. This concentration ratio exhibits distinct large-scale horizontal variations, with a relative depression in the ratio observed over a broad region about -45 deg longitude northward of approximately 40 deg dip latitude. The lower ratios are associated primarily with well-defined relative increases in the abundance of O(+), and occur in the same longitude sector that has been characterized in an earlier study by both an observed concurrent relative enhancement in ion temperature and the presence of large fluxes of energetic electrons. Comparisons are presented for the altitude distributions of the concentration ratio between regions representing extremes of the horizontal variation. A simple diffusive-equilibrium model demonstrates that the effects of ion temperature on the O(+) vertical distribution are a significant factor leading to the observed variation of the concentration ratio.

Sanatani, S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Voyager observations of ion phase space densities in the Jovian magnetosphere

Data from the Voyager low-energy charged particle experiment (LECP) were used to calculate ion phase space densities in Jupiter's magnetosphere. The calculation of F at constant mu and J(2) requires the determination of particle fluxes at specific pitch angles and energies. It is shown that the greatest uncertainties in the determination of F from LECP data arise from the fits to the measured pitch angle distributions and differential energy spectra. An estimate is provided of this uncertainty and of others arising from model radial diffusion coefficients and magnetic fields. The general nature of the curves is consistent with inward diffusion of these energetic ions from the outer magnetosphere combined with losses near but starting beyond the orbit of Io. These losses are not consistent with simple satellite sweeping by Io alone and are probably due to an Io-torus wave-particle interaction. The lifetime against loss deduced from the data is approximately 20,000 s near Io and is a value consistent with strong diffusion losses. The measured ion loss rate declines much more rapidly than the strong diffusion loss rate as L increases from 7 to 9, suggesting that the loss rate is well below the strong-diffusion rate beyond 7 Jupiter radii for ions observed by the LECP.

Paonessa, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Further comments on segregation during Bridgman growth of Cd(x)Hg(1-x)Te

The authors comment on recent papers published by Capper et al. (1983) and Jones et al. (1983) which report and discuss the variation of composition with axial position in Bridgman-grown Cd(x)Hg(1-x)Te alloys. The validity of a diffusion-controlled model for non-mixing growth conditions is particularly noted.

Lehoczky, S. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Unimolecular diffusion-mediated reactions with a nonrandom time-modulated absorbing barrier

A diffusion-reaction model with time-dependent reactivity is formulated and applied to unimolecular reactions. The model is solved exactly numerically and approximately analytically for the unreacted fraction as a function of time. It is shown that the approximate analytical solution is valid even when the system is far from equilibrium, and when the reactivity probability is more complicated than a square-wave function of time. A discussion is also given of an approach to problems of this type using a stochastically fluctuating reactivity, and the first-passage time for a particular example is derived.

Bashford, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

An analysis of the role of drift waves in equatorial spread F

An account is given of results of rocket measurements of the wave number spectrum of equatorial spread F irregularities, with emphasis on wavelengths less than 100 m. The measurements were made from two sounding rockets launched from Peru as part of Project Condor. The Condor density fluctuation spectra display a break at a wavelength near 100 m, identical to that found in the PLUMEX experiment (Kelley et al., 1982). The Condor data also confirm a subrange in which the density and the wave potential obey the Boltzmann relation - a strong indication of the presence of low-frequency electrostatic waves with finite wavelength parallel to the magnetic field, perhaps low-frequency drift waves as proposed by Kelley et al. The Condor data are also consistent with the previous conjecture that drift waves only exist above 300 km altitude. To investigate the difference in spectra observed over two altitude ranges, the data must be fitted to a form for the power spectrum taken from Keskinen and Ossakow (1981). The fitted spectrum, along with empirically determined growth and dissipation rates, is used to calculate the energy pumped into the spectrum at long wavelengths as well as the energy dissipated at shorter wavelengths. It is found that the energy is balanced by classical collisional effects in the low-altitude case, but energy balance in the high-altitude case requires an enhanced dissipation of about 500 times that due to classical diffusion. The model is consistent with, but does not uniquely imply, an inverse cascade of drift wave turbulence in equatorial spread F.

Labelle, J.↗